Dinesh wins Gold at Paralympics; sets world record in javelin throw

Dinesh Priyantha Herath of Sri Lanka established a world record in the Javelin Throw event (67.79m) and win the Gold medal at the Paralympic Games 2020 which is currently taking place in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army was one of the first to extend warm wishes and congratulations to Sergeant Dinesh Priyantha Herath. He is from the Gajaba Regiment which represents HE the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence, General (Retd) Kamal Gunerathne and Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva.  Sergeant Dinesh Priyantha Herath made history by winning the first-ever Gold Medal in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. He who competed in the Javelin Throw (F46) event made a World Record  with a distance of 67.79 meters, beating his counterparts in the event.

Prior to his departure to Tokyo as Captain of the team, Sergeant Dinesh Priyantha Herath during his meet with the Army Chief assured that he would definitely bring glory and admiration to the Army and the country. At the same occasion, the Army Chief insisted that Sri Lanka’s paralympians would have a better chance this time in the Tokyo Games due to their sustained training in the past one year or so.

Sergeant Dinesh Priyantha Herath sustained injuries in enemy fire on 16 December 2008 when he was fighting against LTTE terrorists in Kilinochchi area. Enlisted to the Army on 18 March 2004 as a recruit and completed basic training at Gajaba Regiment at Saliyapura. After his injuries, he actively took part in Army-organized Para Athletic training events at the GR Regimental HQ. In 2012, he won Gold in Javelin Throw (52 m) in Army Para Athletic Meet, First place in Malaysia’s Para Athletic Meet (52.95 m) in 2012, Second Place in Germany’s Para Athletic (Qualifying) Meet (53.09m) in 2017 and again the Second Place in London Para Athletic Meet-2017 recording 59.90m in the same Javelin Throw event.

(Pix courtesy Sri Lanka Army)