Sri Lankan athletes won 8 medals at the Asian Youth Athletics U-20 Championships

Sri Lankan athletes won 8 medals at the Asian Youth Athletics U-20 Championships held at the Kai Tak Youth Stadium in Hong Kong.

This was Sri Lanka’s second best performance in the history of the Asian Youth Games (U-20). Previously, in 2018, they had won 9 medals, including 3 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze.

This year, there were 2 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 4 bronze medals, including a gold medal in the 200m event after 32 years. The medal was won by 19-year-old Dilanma Ransini Perera in the women's 200m event. She clocked 24.07 seconds in the final, having competed in the first heat in the preliminary round and finished the race in 23.97 seconds, setting a personal best.

In the final, Dilanma Rancini faced a strong challenge from China's Chenglin Chao, both finishing in 24.07 seconds. However, Dilanma (24.062) won the gold medal by 0.006 seconds. The Chinese athlete had recorded 24.068

Previously, Susanthika Jayasinghe had won the 200m gold medal for Sri Lanka at this Games in 23.16 seconds. This still stands as the record for the 200m women's event at this Games.

Rasansa Hirupama, who entered the finals in 24.09 seconds in the preliminary round of this event, finished 5th in the final (24.15).

Sadev Rajakaruna won a bronze medal for Sri Lanka in the men's 200m event, clocking 21.13 seconds. Omel Shashintha had to settle for fourth place in 21.21 seconds.

Tharusha Dinushan, who participated in the men's high jump event yesterday, was able to record the first silver medal for Sri Lanka. He cleared a height of 2.14 meters, while Nethra Chandupata (1.95 meters), who also participated in the event, came in 14th place.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka had the opportunity to claim the bronze medal in the 400m medley relay event that was concluding the third day. In the final of this event, the United Arab Emirates, India and Chinese Taipei won the top 3 places, while Sri Lanka finished fourth in 3:28.66 minutes.

However, the Indian team was disqualified for violating the running rules, and Sri Lanka was awarded the bronze medal. The team consisted of Sadev Rajakaruna, Omel Shashintha, Varsha Devmini and Ronali Peiris.

On the final day of the tournament, Netsara Dineth, who competed in the men's 800m event yesterday, clocked a personal best of 1:49.22 minutes, winning a silver medal for Sri Lanka. Tharushi Abhisheka, who competed in the women's event, won her second medal of the tournament.

She won the bronze medal, finishing the race in 2:07.10 minutes, which also became her personal best in the event.

The men's 400m relay event concluded the tournament, and the Sri Lankan athletes, who had entered the competition with a time of 3:11.45 minutes in the preliminary round, managed to record a time of 3:05.60 seconds yesterday. This became a new Sri Lankan record in this event for the under-20 age group, however, the Sri Lankan team came in fourth place in this event. This team included Sadev Rajakaruna, Thisen Ranvidu, Iresh Maduwantha and Omel Shashintha.

On the second day of the competition, Sri Lanka only won a bronze medal, which was won by Mihansa Devmini in the women's high jump event with a height of 1.72 meters. Opening the competition, Tharushi Abhisheka won Sri Lanka's first gold medal in the women's 1500 meters event (4:31.41).

This year, 22 athletes from Sri Lanka participated in the Games, and it was notable that several athletes, although not winning medals, were able to perform their personal bests.