Kalinga set to run at Asian Relays after finishing second in Tokyo

by Reemus Fernando

Sprinter Kalinga Kumarage became the only athlete from Sri Lanka to be in the top three at a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Label event when he clocked 45.57 seconds to be placed second in the 400 metres at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Sunday.

Italy based sprinter Yupun Abeykoon and long jumper Sarangi Silva have competed at World Athletics gold label events but had not reached top three positions at those events.

Kumarage is the second ranked Sri Lankan sprinter in the 400 metres behind Aruna Dharshana.

According to Sri Lanka Athletics sources Kalinga was scheduled to join the rest of the team to compete in the 4×400 metres mixed relay at the Asian Relay Championships just hours after landing in Thailand today.He was scheduled to form the mixed relay team with fellow sprinter Aruna Dharshana, Nadeesha Ramanayake and Lakshima Mendis.