Yupun Abeykoon and Nilani Rathnayaka have been included in Sri Lanka’s nine -member athlete squad to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Abeykoon, who had a very impressive run in the 100m circuit this season, is currently ranked 49th in the World Athletics Charts as of 22 June 2021, while he is placed 46th on the Olympic qualification list.
The 26-year-old athlete from Pannala has already made steady progress in the 100m event to reach Olympic Qualification based on his rankings.
Meanwhile, Rathnayake who will compete in the 3000-meter steeplechase event at the 60th Indian Interstate Championships today, is also within the Olympic qualification quota picking the 42nd position based on her World Ranking of 45.
Other athletes who have qualified for the Sri Lankan squad:
Mathilda Karlsson – showjumping/equestrian
Milka Gehani – Artistic Gymnastics
Chamara Dharmawardena – Judo
Tehani Egodawela – Shooting
Veteran Olympian Niluka Karunaratne- Badminton
Sri Lankan athletes awaiting confirmation for participation:
Swimmers
Aniqah Gaffoor – 100m Butterfly
Matthew Abeysinghe- 100m Freestyle
(Awaiting confirmation of their entries from FINA, which is expected by 1st July)
All Olympic athletes and officials from Sri Lanka and other countries that have been hit hard by the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus have been requested to undergo daily virus tests for seven days prior to leaving for the Games in Japan.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be held from July 23 to August 8. (NewsWire)