Athletics: Sports Minister expects more medals at Rio Paralympics

The Sri Lanka Paralympic Committee has plans to field a contingent between 10 and 12 participants for the Rio Paralympics from September 7 to 18 in Brazil.

Among them will be eight athletes, two rifle shooters, two archers and one Table Tennis player from four sports.

“Hopeful participants have time until July this year to qualify for the Paralympics,” stated Brigadier Rajitha Ampemohetty, Vice President and former President of the Sri Lanka Paralympic Committee.

Sri Lanka has pinned high hopes on athletics for the meet. 

This is due to the fact that Sri Lanka won a Bronze Medal in the T42, 400M at the 2012 London Olympics. 

With this success in mind the Sri Lanka team is hoping to rake in more success in Brazil. 

“At the moment there is a 28 member pool in athletics undergoing training and a major section in the pool have qualified in their respective events,” said Brigadier Rajitha Ampemohetty.

Brig. Ampemohetty went on to say that even if the participants concerned qualify, the final decision will be in the hands of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). There is the hope for at least five to eight members will qualify for the Brazil Games.

“There are three world level events next month. They will be in China, Italy and Australia. Sri Lanka hopes to send participants for these events as well, so that Sri Lanka has a greater chance of qualifying. Last month in Dubai the first IPC Athletic Asian Oceanic Championship, nine from Sri Lanka participated and most of them gave off impressive performances and Sri Lanka was able to win six Gold, 4 Silver and 4 Bronze – total Sri Lanka was able to win 14 medals,” said Brig. Ampemohetty.

The function to honour these athletes took place at the Sports Ministry with the Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera as the chief guest. 

The Sports Minister spoke in glowing terms of Sri Lanka’s para athletes at the function saying that he is willing to do all possible to para athletes. 

He also added that the Sports Ministry is willing to give all support to keep the pool in training.

The Minister noted that there is a severe shortage of para athletes from civilians and that a major portion of the para athletes are from Army, Navy and Air Force. 

He suggested to the Paralympic Committee that an island wide talent search be launched to unearth talent among the disabled. 

He wound up his speech by saying that like at the 2012 London Paralympic Games the Rio Paralympics will also bring out medal winners.
 
Following is the Medal’s tally of the Dubai IPC Athletic Asian Oceanic Championships. 
 
Anil Prasanna Jayalath: (T42 200M Gold Medal with Asian Record), (T42 100M Gold Medal),
(T42 Long Jump Silver Medal)

Amara Indumathi: (T47 400M Gold Medal), (T47 200M Gold Medal), (T47 Long Jump Silver Medal)

Buddika Indrapala: (T42 200M Bronze Medal), (T42 100M Bronze Medal), (T42 Long Jump Bronze Medal)

Gamini Ekanayake: (F46 Javelin Silver Medal)

Ajith Hettiarachchi: (T44 100M Gold Medal), (T44 400M Silver Medal)

Predeep Sanjaya: (T47 400M Bronze Medal)

4x100 Relay Mens team: (T42-47 Gold Medal)