Ace Sri Lankan Power lifting duo, Ransilu Jayathilake & Dhanuska Kodikara will be taking part in the World Power lifting Championship USA 2016.
The duo makes history as the first Islanders to compete at the games. Jayathilake and Kodikara earned qualification for the current tournament when they won Gold in their respective events at the Common wealth Powerlifting Championship which was held in December 2016.
Jayathilake currently holds the Asian record in the 120Kg Deadlift category and is also an Asian and Commonwealth Gold medalist in the event is confident about the games. Speaking to ThePapare.com he asserted that “My current world rank is 21, my aim is to get into the best 12 lifters and qualify for the World Powerlifting Games 2017 in Poland ” and for his pet lift ‘the Dead lift’ where he holds the Asian record as the first Sri Lankan to lift 700Kg, he has higher aspirations and hopes to end up in the first 6 lifters. “This is the last qualifying event for the world games and I plan on giving it everything to get qualified”
23 year old Dhanushka Kodikara who currently holds world rank #24 and won Gold at the junior Commonwealth Games last year will take part in the 93Kg category. Being one of the first Sri Lankan Power lifters to be featured in an international tournament is going to be great exposure for his future as a Power lifting athlete. Kodikara is working towards finishing in the top 15 lifters in his event.
Dhanushka Kodikara will compete in his the 93Kg event on the 16th of November while Ransilu Jayathilake will compete in the 120Kg event on the 18th of November.
ThePapare.com wishes the two lifters best of luck and hope to bring you the latest updates of their events.
