By Anjana Kaluarachchi
Five years ago, when COVID-19 hit Sri Lanka, rising star Tharushi Karunarathne needed a guiding hand. Her elder brother Harsha, who had already given up on athletics, returned to the track — not as a champion, but as a brother. That quiet act of support reignited his own fire. Together, they revived a family legacy in the 800m. Now both international medalists, Harsha is determined to follow his sister’s golden path at next year’s continental championships. All he asks from the authorities is one thing: more competitions.
Tharushi became a national sensation before she even turned 19 — winning gold at the Asian Games, qualifying for the Olympics, and sweeping titles at the Asian Juniors and Asian Championships in a single year. Harsha, once the family’s original star with an international medal in his teens, has now claimed his first senior international medal: gold in the 800m at the South Asian Athletics Championships.
Harsha’s journey to that gold was long and turbulent. While Tharushi soared through 2023 with continental glory and Olympic qualification, Harsha’s path was marked by setbacks. He was the heartbeat of A. Rathnayaka Central College, Walala, during his school years, and by 17 had already won silver in the 800m at the Asian U-18 Championships. In 2018, he clinched gold at the South Asian U-20 Championships in Colombo and represented Sri Lanka at the Asian U-20 meet — a promising career ahead.
But in 2019, injury struck. At 19, facing financial hardship, Harsha stepped away from athletics and took up construction work in Matale to support his family. It seemed his sporting chapter had closed — until fate intervened.
That same year, Tharushi was preparing for the World Junior Championships under coach Susantha Fernando when the pandemic hit. With school hostels closed, she had to board near Walala, and Harsha took on the responsibility of escorting her to training. Returning to the track stirred something in him. Coach Fernando noticed, and encouraged Harsha to resume training — the injury had healed, and the fire was still there.
Soon after, the Sri Lanka Army recruited Harsha, offering him a salary and access to a trainer and masseur. With his sister unknowingly pulling him back into the sport, Harsha began rebuilding his career. In 2021, he won both the Army and National trials in the 800m, and clocked an impressive 46.83 seconds in the 400m — a sign that he had plenty left in the tank.
While Tharushi went on to win gold at the Asian Championships and Asian Games in 2023, Harsha, despite being the national champion, was left out of the team. He watched her triumphs from home, proud but quietly yearning for his own breakthrough.
In 2025, 25-year-old Harsha Karunarathne was once again left out of the national squad for the South Asian Championships, originally scheduled for May. Despite placing second in trials, Sri Lanka Athletics opted to send only one athlete for the 800m. Harsha and Coach Susantha Fernando protested — writing to selectors and speaking to the media — arguing that Harsha had been national champion for two consecutive years and had dominated the domestic circuit. Their appeals, however, fell on deaf ears — until the championship was unexpectedly postponed.
Harsha seized the opportunity. He clocked 1:48.87 at the Army Championships, dipping below 1:49 for the first time, and won the National Championship for the third straight year. Finally, the door to the South Asian team opened — his first international competition in seven years.
And he delivered. In India, Harsha ran not for time, but for victory. With a signature late burst — reminiscent of his sister — he secured the gold medal in style.
After years of struggle, Harsha’s story had come full circle. But he’s not done yet.
“All I need is competition,” Harsha said. “I know 1:45 is achievable, but to get there I need international meets. Running in Sri Lanka, on these tracks, with this level of competition, won’t help me improve.”
“I’ve written to everyone, everywhere. I was ready to spend from my own pocket — I just needed to be drafted into some international competitions, but I never got the chance,” he added.
With the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games on the horizon next year, Harsha is determined to follow in his sister’s footsteps and win 800m gold for Sri Lanka. But he knows it will take four to five international races to prepare for that level.
“If I get a few competitions, I’m sure I can do something special. I know it’s in me. The last Asian Games gold medals were won in the 1:45–1:46 range — 1:48 in 2022 and 1:46 in 2018. I can run that. I just need the chance,” said Harsha.
Meanwhile, the youngest Karunarathne sibling, Gihara is also making her mark in athletics, winning several school-level races for A. Rathnayaka CC Walala. Tharushi, now an Olympian, is pursuing her degree and advanced training in the USA. As the eldest, Harsha knows he carries something special within — and he’s hopeful that 2026 will be his year.
Leave a comment