PARIS OLYMPICS: (ePRESS) – Sri Lankan sprinter Aruna Dharshana clocked 44.75 seconds, finishing fifth in the second semi-final of the Men’s 400m race at the Paris Olympics. Unfortunately, he was disqualified for lane infringement.
Dharshana ran in Lane 4 and improved his time from 44.99 seconds in the preliminary round to 44.75 seconds. Despite his strong performance, he did not advance to the finals. Grenada’s Kirani James led with a time of 43.78 seconds, and Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga followed with 43.81 seconds. Only the top two athletes qualified for the finals from the second semi-final of the three-semi-final competition.
The USA’s Christopher Bailey finished at 44.31 seconds, and Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori came in at 44.43 seconds, all ahead of Dharshana.
According to the World Athletic rules, in the 400m race, athletes must stay within their assigned lanes for the entire race. Lane infringement includes stepping on or over the lane lines, encroaching into another lane, or crossing into a neighboring lane. Such violations can disrupt the race and affect other competitors.
Disqualification is a measure to ensure fair competition and maintain event integrity. Race officials judge infringements and make decisions based on observed violations. Athletes or teams can appeal, but final rulings are made by the event’s governing body.
Despite the disqualification, Dharshana’s time of 44.99 seconds in the heats is Sri Lanka’s best in the Men’s 400m in 26 years. It is also a new personal best, surpassing his previous mark and making it Sri Lanka’s second-best time ever in this event. The top time remains Sugath Thilakaratne’s 44.61 seconds, set at the Asian Championship in Japan in 1998.
Darshana has made history as the first Sri Lankan athlete to reach the semi-finals of an Olympic event since Susanthika Jayasinghe in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Duncan White in the 1948 London Olympics, where Sri Lanka won silver medals. This achievement highlights a significant milestone in Sri Lankan athletics.
With his impressive time of 44.99 seconds in the heats, Darshana has also secured a spot in next year’s World Championship in Tokyo, scheduled for September 2025. His performance marks a notable advancement for Sri Lankan athletics.
