SRI LANKA YOUTH Para athletes at BIA deservedly welcomed
Sri Lankan team that took part at the Asian Para Youth Games in Bahrain created history to take highest number of 12 medals. They were warmly welcomed by the Director General of Sports Amal Edirisooriya , President of National Paralympic Committee Lt Colonal Deepal Herath and Exco members of NPC at the Katunayake Airport.
Sri Lankan team that took part at the Asian Para Youth Games in Bahrain created history to take highest number of 12 medals. They were warmly welcomed by the Director General of Sports Amal Edirisooriya , President of National Paralympic Committee Lt Colo
The Sri Lankan team which took part in the Asian Youth Para Games returned yesterday after a successful tour. The seven-day competition finally ended on a high note by winning 12 medals (4 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze) to create history and this is a good sign for the future said National Paralympics Committee (NPC) President Lt Colonel Deepal Herath after athletes were welcomed at the Katunayake Airport. The Director-General of Sports Amal Edirisooriya graced this occasion while Ex-co members of NPC were also present.
“The eight-member Sri Lanka team always maintained unity to give a good message and junior athletes proved how to triumph under one flag to bring glory for Sri Lanka,” said National Paralympic Committee (NPC) President.
The 17-year-old swimmer Galina Basnayake the golden girl was outstanding and she took three gold medals and most probably her achievements will pave the way to the next Asian Para Games. She is already among the first eight swimmers in her events at the Asian Para Games and we can expect more medals from Galina. Hailing from Lyceum International, Galina Basnayake won gold in the S6-10 400m Freestyle (5:25.27min), 100m Freestyle (1:12.09min), 50m Freestyle, and a silver in the S6-10 100m Butterfly (1:32.86min). The only other gold medal for Sri Lanka was won by Safran Mohamad in the M U17 long Jump event with a leap of 5.60m. He also bagged another silver in the M U17 100m event. He is from Arakkala Muslim School Kekunagolla, Kuliyapitiya. Jason Jayawardena won two silver medals from shot putt and discus throw from Colombo 07. Janani Wickramasinghe added three bronze medals to the tally in the Track and Field events 200m with a time of 29.36sec, 100m, and in the long jump with a leap of 4.38m. Naveed Raheem added to the tally with a Bronze in the 400m Freestyle event.
“Most of the time we had to depend on Army Para athletes but now we know several civilian athletes also are among the Para medal winners and they were inspired by Dinesh Priyantha Herath and Samitha Dulan the gold and bronze Paralympics medal winners in Tokyo. The juniors started their preparation from 2019 after Junior Nationals and coaches gave fine guidance to them for their success which always has been a big boost for their future,” said the NPC President. “ We also have a plan to give a chance for all junior medal winners for the Asian Games second selection trials to be held at Sugathadasa Stadium which provides more exposure for them. Sri Lankan swimming legend, Julian Bolling coached the swimmers.