ITALY: (ePRESS) – Yupun Abeykoon, known as Asia’s fastest man, made a triumphant return to competitive athletics after nearly a year-long break. The Commonwealth Games 100m bronze medalist displayed his speed once more, clinching the top spot in the 150m race at the Firenze Sprint Festival held in the city of Firenze, Italy, last Saturday.
The Italy-based Sri Lankan sprinter dashed to victory with a swift time of 15.19 seconds in the first final race, leaving behind all six Italian contenders in his wake. Abeykoon, 29 years old, already holds the Asia record for the 150m race, set at 15.16 seconds back in 2022 during the Perseo Trophy in Italy.
In a field dominated by Italian athletes, Abeykoon’s performance stood out. His closest competitor, Chituru Ali, trailed with a time of 15.20 seconds, securing the silver medal, while Mattia Donola claimed bronze with a time of 15.74 seconds. The second finals were also dominated by Italian runners.
Standing tall at 6’1″, Abeykoon not only holds the Asian record for the 150m race but also boasts national records in the 100m, 150m, and 200m sprints. Despite facing setbacks due to injuries, which led to his absence from the last Asian Games in China, Abeykoon’s comeback serves as a significant morale boost as he eyes the upcoming Paris Summer Olympics later this year.
Abeykoon’s journey in athletics has seen remarkable achievements, including his gold medal win in the men’s 4 × 100m relay event at the 2019 South Asian Games. Alongside teammates Chanuka Sandeepa, Himasha Eashan, and Vinoj Suranjaya, Abeykoon set new national and South Asian Games records in the event.
Having represented Sri Lanka at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Abeykoon is determined to make his mark once again, setting his sights on the 100m race at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics scheduled from July 26 to August 11.
