The Sri Lankan contingent to the World Para Athletic championship which consisted of three Para athletes returned to the Island today (25th) via the VIP arrival lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport.
The contingent was received by the officials of the Sports Ministry and the officers of Sri Lanka Army upon their arrival.
Sri Lanka won a solitary silver medal through Dinesh Priyantha Herath who competed in the Men’s Javelin throw G46 event. Herath clinched silver with a throw of 57.93m in his 4th attempt. This is the second international victory by Herath having earlier won the Island’s second Paralympic medal when he won a silver medal at the concluded Paralympic championship last year.
Attached to the Sri Lanka Army Gajaba regiment, Dinesh Herath was injured during a terrorist attack in 2009 in Kilinochchi where he sustained injuries to his left arm. Dinesh has since been taking part in Para events and has been training under the guidance of Coach Pradeep Nishantha who is also the coach of Olympian javelin thrower Sumedha Ranasinghe and the national champion Waruna Lakshan.
Commando Anil Prasanna Jayalath represented the Island in the T42 event and competed in the Long Jump, 200m and the 100m sprint. Jayalath was placed 6th in both Long jump and the 200m event but was brimming with medal hope in the 100m as he was placed 3rd in the heat. In the finals of the T42 100m event Sri Lankan hopes was shattered as Jayalath was penalized for a false start and was disqualified from the race.
Amara Indumathi was the only female athlete of the Sri Lankan contingent and featured in the T47 category. Indumathi was placed 7th in the Long jump and finished the 400m final placed 5th but could not proceed to the 200m final as she unfortunately took a delayed start in her heat.
ThePapare.com congratulates the Para athletes on their gutsy performance at the World Para games and look forward to more success from these committed athletes who have proved that all you need is strong will and commitment to conquer the world.
