By Hishan Welmilla
Achi-Nagoya, Japan. Sri Lankan distance runner Pradeep Somasiri produced a historic performance at the 5th Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, winning the gold medal in the men’s T46 1500m with a new Games record of 4:03.25.
The outstanding achievement marks a proud moment for Sri Lankan para athletics, as Somasiri combined determination, endurance and competitive excellence to secure the top position in one of the demanding middle-distance events of the athletics programme.
His record-breaking time of 4:03.25 not only earned him the gold medal but also established a new benchmark for the men’s T46 1500m at the Asian Para Games, placing his name among the standout performers of the 2026 competition.
A Historic Repeat for Sri Lanka
Somasiri’s latest triumph carries special significance as it follows his gold-medal success in the same event at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, where he clocked 4:05.14 to establish a Games record. His performance in Nagoya improved that previous record by 1.89 seconds, underlining his continued progress at the highest level of Asian para athletics.
The Sri Lankan athlete has also demonstrated his ability to compete against the world’s best. At the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, Somasiri won bronze in the men’s T46 1500m, recording 3:53.77 and setting a new Asian record.
His latest victory further strengthens his reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s leading para-athletes and a formidable competitor in the T46 middle-distance category.
For Sri Lanka, Somasiri’s record-breaking gold is more than another medal. It is a testament to years of dedication, perseverance and the determination to keep raising the standard of national para athletics on the international stage.
With his second consecutive Asian Para Games gold in the men’s T46 1500m, Somasiri has reinforced his place among the standout athletes of the continental competition and delivered another memorable chapter in Sri Lanka’s sporting history.
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