High jumper Manjula Kumara Wijesekera sixth in men’s final of the 16th Asian Games in China today. Staring his jumps from2.10m, the Los Angeles-based former Asian Championship gold medallist cleared both 2.10m and 2.15m in his first attempts. Though he failed with his first attempt at 2.19m, he was successful in his second attempt. Misfortune struck Wijesekera when he attempted to clear 2.23m, much lower than his career best leap of 2.27m.
He almost made its in his third attempt but at the last point of clearance, his right leg slightly distracted the crossbar. “It was so unfortunate. I though I would almost make it. I tried my best to give a medal for Sri Lanka but it was not my day,” Wijesekera said after the event. Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar bagged the men’s high jump gold with a performance of 2.27m, the identical mark which Wijesekera initially cleared to set Sri Lanka record way back in 2004 to qualify for the Athens Olympics.
Sri Lanka’s outside chance for a place in women’s long jump too did not materialise as Dilrukshi Priyadharshani finished 12th in the final with a performance of 5.92m. Taking her jump against the wind, Soonok Jung of South Korea had a season’s best leap of 6.53m to take the gold medal. Olga Rypakova took the silver, also with a season’s best mark of 6.50m.