Nilani climbs two places up in ‘Road to Olympics’ rankings

Lack of competitions diminishing athletes’ Olympic chances

by Reemus Fernando

Despite wet weather preventing her from producing a top performance at the last week’s athletics event, steeplechaser Nilani Ratnayake has climbed two places up in the ‘Road to Olympics’ rankings to have hopes of securing a ticket to Tokyo.

The World Athletics updated the world rankings and the ‘Road to Olympics’ rankings on Wednesday. According to the new rankings Ratnayake is ranked 32nd in the Road to Olympics rankings. Her 9:53.96 seconds feat to retain the national title on Friday has helped her improve her rankings overtaking China’s Shuangshuang Xu and Great Britain’s Aimee Pratt. She was ranked 34th in the Olympic qualifying rankings before the last week’s event.

Now she is the second ranked Asian in her pet event. Bahrain’s Kenyan born athlete Winfred Mutile Yavi is the highest ranked Asian steeplechaser.

However despite being in the required world ranking range to book a ticket to Olympics currently, uncertainty regarding future events could upset her plans. While her counterparts in Europe and other countries are likely to get quality competitions to improve their rankings she will only have the Army Athletics Championships to attempt a better timing. The present Covid 19 situation in the country has made it difficult for organizers to conduct such events.

Only 45 athletes will be selected for the Tokyo Olympics women’s steeplechase. Of them 19 are selected from those who reach the tough entry standard of 9:30.00 seconds. Rest of the athletes are selected by World Ranking positions.

Most of the runners who are ranked below Nilani Ratnayake are likely to get competition opportunities before the deadline closes for the Olympic qualification.

Despite being placed second behind former record holder Waruna Lakshan at the National Championship, javelin thrower Sumeda Ranasinghe maintains the 41st position in the ‘Road to Olympics’ rankings. Ranasinghe earned his first points for this year at the last week’s competition after missing the selection trial held in April due to an injury.

Meanwhile, Italy based sprinter Yupun Abeykoon and US based high jumper Ushan Thivanka are set to improve their rankings thanks to the competitions available to them in Europe and the US.

Abeykoon, the national record holder in the men’s 100 metres is ranked 58th in the ‘Road to Olympic rankings. Abeykoon who registered a wind assisted 10.09 seconds feat last week has to return a time of 10.05 seconds if he is to earn direct qualification or secure a world ranking position within the top 56. The men’s 100 metres will have a field of 56 athletes at the Tokyo Olympics.

Ushan Thivanka is currently ranked 48th in the ‘Road to Olympics’ rankings. He is likely to attempt the direct entry standard of 2.33 metres in the US on Friday. The Tokyo Olympics will have a field of 32 athletes for the men’s high jump.