Asian Games medallist Dilhani Lekamge and her coach Pradeep Nishantha have set themselves a huge target to accomplish at the Paris Olympics which commences on Friday.
Sri Lanka’s track and field athletes and their coaches are set to leave for Paris today. Athletics, the number one Olympic sport will start on August 1.
Qualified thrower Lekamge is the second Sri Lankan female thrower to represent the country at an Olympics after former national record holder Nadeeka Lakmali took part in the Beijing Games in 2008.
“Qualifying for the final is the target we have set ourselves. We know that is a tough target but we want to achieve that,” said Pradeep Nishantha who is participating in his second Olympics as a coach.
The Deputy Head of Sports at Gateway College, Nishantha first accompanied Sumeda Ranasinghe to Rio Olympics.
Lekamge, famous for bringing the best at big championships, enhanced the national record on more than one occasion on her way to winning Asian medals last year.
In July she cleared 60.93 metres to recover the national record on her way to winning the Asian Championship bronze. Two months later she won the Asian Games silver with a new national record mark of 61.57 metres.
This year, a throw of 57.94 metres gained her the third place at the Asian Throwing championships.
Lekamge is ranked 25 among the 32 throwers competing at the Paris Games. With her best throws yet to be performed this year one can only imagine her to deliver her best at the Olympics.
Surpassing some of the best athletes in the world to spread the final will be a massive accomplishment indeed.
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