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Dharsha, Sugath to bag more medals for Sri Lanka
Shirajiv Sirimane reporting from Thailand
BANGKOK, Dec. 17: Damayanthi Darsha hinted of a third Gold Medal for Sri Lanka, when she won the 200m semi final with a new Asian Games record clocking 23.16 seconds at the Thamarshatt Athletic Stadium here yesterday.Dharsha, the former Sri Lankan national 200m record holder was a late nominee for the event. According to her Coach Sunil Gunawardane she was included when they found that Susanthika Jayasinghe decided not to take part in the event. "We thought that we should try our luck with her in the 200m event since there was no competitor from us, he said. "I knew that she will enter the final but a new Asian Games record is a bonus," he added.
The Asian record is currently held by Susanthika Jayasinghe, who clocked 23.00 seconds and won the Gold at the Asian Track and Field Championships in Jakarta in 1995.
Dharsha, who did her nation proud by winning the 400m Gold medal two days ago, said that she was not thinking of a record but ran to enter the finals. Asked to comment on her final tomorrow she said that she aim the Gold medal. "Final is a much more complicated affair and I will do my best," she said.
Her timing of 23.16 over ran the former games record of 23.34 seconds established by Chen Wag of Taipei at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games. In Hiroshima, Dharsha with a time of 23.61 seconds won the Bronze while the silver went to Susanthika.
Dharsha's accomplishment yesterday, also gives her a psychological advantage over Asia's fastest women Xuemei Li of China who finished second in the semi final stopping at 23.35 seconds. The 100m Gold medalist, Li, did not run an all out and reserved her best for today's final. Uzbekistan's P. Lyubov was third. (23.71 sec.)
In the second semi final Arai Mokota of Japan with a time of 23.54 breezed to the top while Malaysia's G. Shanthi (23.56 sec.) and Jiankui Yan of China (23.57 sec.) secured the second and third places respectively.
A battle for the Gold between Dharsha and Xuemei is on, and it will be a touch and go affair for the Gold. Whoever win this Gold, will make a strong bid for the Samsun's most valued player of the Games award that will also carry a prize tag of USD 100,000.
Dharsha's achievement suppresses the Sri Lankan national 200m mark of 23.28 which was established by Susanthika Jayasinghe at the last Athletic Nationals in November. Her timing incidentally is her personal best for this event. Her best so for had been her last Asian Games timing.
Sugath in too in final
While Dharsha was taking the audience attention, Sugath Tilakaratne too ran himself for a place in the 200m final. His performance of 20.81 seconds in the heats and 20.69 in the semi finals, also placed him line as a strong contender for at least a Bronze.Sugath who won a 400m Gold for Sri Lanka, earlier in the competition is relatively a newcomer to the 200m event at international level and this performance is his personal best. He also betters his own national mark of 21.09 seconds and becomes the first Sri Lankan ever to run the 200m event under the 21.00 seconds.
Sugath said that he was happy to run the event under 21.00 seconds. "This has given me a lot of confidence for my final today. I am running for a medal today," he said.
While Sugath was placed second in his second heat, Faraj Ibrahim of Qatar won the heat with a time of 20.76 seconds while C. Han of China timing 20.85 was third. The first heat was slower, with the winner Ito Koji of Japan, the fastest man in Asia, finishing first with a clear lead. (20.84 sec.) Hamood Halhami of Oman (21.16 sec.) and E. Janatha of Thailand (21.28 sec.) was second and third.
In the semi final Ito Koji finished in spectacular fashion by winning it with an effortless dash of 20.66 seconds which equalled the former games record established by Talal Mansoor of Qatar in 1994.
In the second semi final Sugath got the third place while Ibrahim timing 20.66 won the semi final.
According to the start list Sugath's timing of 21.69 placed him in the 5th place and he has to run in the 8th lane which would not be to his advantage.
Head Coach Darwin Perera said that both the Sri Lankans have a very good chance of winning a medal. "I can't say who is winning which medal, but I can assure you that both finals will produce new Games records. The competition is very tough," he said.
Earlier in the day a computer error sent shock waves through the Sri Lankan athletic officials since Sugath's name was not included for the starters list for yesterday.
Hurdler 5th
Lanka Hurdler Harijan Ratnayake had to satisfy with the fifth place in the 400m hurdles yesterday. He clocked a time of 50.93 seconds. If this soldier had retained his own national record time of 50.61 seconds he could have been fourth.The final was won by Hiedeki Kawamura of Japan with a time of 49.59 seconds. Saito Yoshihiko (Japan 49.94 sec.) and T. Wen Chen of Taipei (50.46 sec.) was third.
Debutante Anoma Sooriyarachchi too did not have an impressive performance and finished tenth (last).
Today other than the 200m men's and women's finals the 4 X 400m men and women's relays too relays will be worked off. Sriyani Kulawansa and Mahesh Perera will star in the 100 and 110m hurdles while K. Samarakoon runs in the 10,000m final.
The Bronze medal play off Rugby match is scheduled for the evening with Sri Lanka taking on Taipei, Japan and Korea will clash in the final.
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