Paralympians aiming for glory at Tokyo Games
Javelin thrower Dinesh Priyantha
Para-athletes are on the cusp of bringing glory to Sri Lanka at the Tokyo Paralympic Games to be held from August 24 to September 5.
In the history of Paralympic Games,
Sri Lanka has won two bronze medals. They are at the 2012 London Paralympics through Pradeep Sanjaya in the T-46 400metre event and at the 2016 Rio Games when Dinesh Priyantha Herath came third in the F-46 Javelin Throw event.
The National Paralympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NPCSL) is confident seven or eight athletes will qualify for the Tokyo Games.
A 17-member Elite pool is training in preparation for the Paralympics, NPCSL President Maj. Gen. (rtd) Rajitha Ampemohotti told the Sunday Times.
The International Paralympic Committee has set the last date for qualification as June 1.
“Having won medals at the last two Paralympics in 2012 and 2016, Sri Lanka can expect to win medals at the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo”, Ampemohotti said.
The NPCSL is hoping that they would be able to qualify in five disciplines namely athletics, rowing, table tennis, archery and tennis.
The majority of the Paralympic Elite pool consists of 11 track and field athletes.
There are two international Paralympic athletic competitions lined up for which the NPCSL hope to field several athletes.
Although Sri Lanka is expecting to take part in the Tokyo Summer Olympics (from July 23 to August 8 in Japan), no one has still qualified for the Games.