Sri Lanka’s elite 58 athletes approved for ‘Road to Paris 2024’ High Performance Pool

Tharushi Karunaratne 1

Colombo, Feb 20, 1PM – In a historic move, Sri Lanka has introduced its first-ever National High Performance Programme for the Olympics. The initiative, named ‘Road to Paris 2024,’ aims to prepare 58 top athletes for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Paris and the Summer Paralympic Games.

Initially, the program included 44 athletes. Following numerous requests, 14 more elite athletes were added, bringing the total to 58 – 33 Olympic athletes and 25 para-athletes. These high-performance athletes will receive necessary facilities, funding, and a monthly allowance to participate in crucial Olympic qualifiers leading up to the Paris Games.

The Paris Olympics are scheduled from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Summer Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8. The initiative, under the guidance of Sports Minister Harin Fernando, Director General of Sports Professor (Rear Admiral) Shemal Fernando Ph.D., and the National Sports Council headed by Dr. Maiya Gunasekara, has received unanimous recommendations for all 58 athletes to join the National High Performance Pool.

The National High Performance Pool comprises 33 athletes from 11 Olympic sports, with nine from athletics, two each from boxing, weightlifting, shooting, and gymnastics. One athlete each is selected from badminton, diving, judo, squash, swimming, and wrestling.

Additionally, 25 para-athletes have been selected across eight Paralympic sports, including 13 from para athletics, three from para shooting, and two each from para archery, wheelchair sports, para swimming, para badminton, and para rowing.

National High Performance Programme 2024 – List of Approved Athletes:

Olympics Athletes (33)

Athletics (19):

  1. Yupun Abeykoon (100m)
  2. Aruna Dharshana (400m/4X400m/4X400m Mix)
  3. Kalinga Kumarage (400m/4X400m/4X400m Mix)
  4. Rajitha Rajakaruna (4X400m/4X400m Mix)
  5. Pabasara Niku (4X400m/4X400m Mix)
  6. Pasindu Kodikara (4X400m)
  7. Dinuka Deshan (400m/4X400m)
  8. Nadeesha Ramanayake (400m/4X400m/4X400m Mix)
  9. Tharushi Karunaratne (800m/4X400m/4X400m Mix)
  10. Gayanthika Abeyratne (800m, 1500m)
  11. Dilhani Lekamge (Javelin Throw)
  12. Jayeshi Uththara (4X400m)
  13. Harshani Fernando (4X400m)
  14. Lakshima Mendis (4X400m)
  15. Chamod Yodasingha (100m)
  16. Sarangi Silva (Long Jump)
  17. Randi Cooray (Triple Jump)
  18. Janindu Lakvijaya (110m Hurdles)
  19. Rumeshika Ratnayake (200m)

Badminton (1):

20. Viren Nettasinghe (Men’s Singles)

Boxing (2):

21. Umayanga Mihiran (51kg)

  1. Rukmal Prasanna (57kg)

Diving (1):

23. Dulanjana Fernando (3m Springboard)

Gymnastics (2):

24. Nadila Nethviru and 25. Milka Gehani (Artistic Gymnastics)

Judo (1):

26.Chamara Dharmawardana (73kg)

Shooting (2):

27. Amandhika Amarasinghe (10m Air Rifle),

28 Gavin Jayasekara (Trap)

Squash (1):

29. Ravindu Laksiri (Men’s Singles)

Swimming (1):

30. Akalanka Peiris (50m Backstroke)

Weightlifting (2):

31. Indika Dissanayake (73kg)

32 Isuru Kumara (55kg)

Wrestling (1):

33. Nethmi Ahinsa Fernando (Freestyle 53kg)

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