Dubai, Feb 15, 1.10PM – Sri Lanka’s para athletes have made their mark at the 15th Fazza Championship held in Dubai Club, clinching three gold medals. Among them, Nuwan Indika emerged as a standout competitor, securing two gold medals in the T44 100m and Long Jump events.
Indika’s triumph marked a remarkable improvement from his previous performances. In the T44 100m race, he blazed across the finish line in 11.67 seconds, leaving behind tough competition, including last year’s gold medalist from Egypt. Reflecting on his victory, Indika expressed his joy at surpassing last year’s silver medal and clinching gold this time around.
“Actually, I was beaten by the Egyptian athlete last year,” shared Indika. “Last year also I took part in this event and secured second place. I am really happy to beat last year’s winner and win the gold medal this year.”
In the Long Jump T64 event, Indika excelled once again, recording a remarkable jump of 6.62m. This achievement marked a significant improvement from his fourth-place finish in the same event last year, where he jumped 5.84m.
“My performance was 5.84m last year, and I secured fourth place,” Indika reflected. “When comparing the Asian Para Games last year and this event, my performances are quite good. Actually, I am really happy to win gold medals at the beginning of this year.”
Looking ahead, Indika expressed his aspirations to compete in the Japan Para World Championship and participate in the Paris Olympics later in the year, setting his sights on even greater accomplishments.
Meanwhile, Dinesh Priyantha, the gold medalist of the Tokyo Olympics, added to Sri Lanka’s glory by securing another gold medal in the Javelin F46 final. With a mighty throw of 60.27m, Priyantha demonstrated his skill and determination on the global stage, bringing honor to his country once again.
The victories of Nuwan Indika and Dinesh Priyantha underscore Sri Lanka’s growing presence and success in para athletics, inspiring hope and pride among sports enthusiasts nationwide. As they continue to push boundaries and strive for excellence, they embody the spirit of perseverance and resilience, proving that with determination and dedication, anything is possible.
