By Hishan Welmilla
AICHI-NAGOYA, Japan: Sri Lanka’s para-athlete Janani Dhanajana Wickramasingha produced a magnificent performance at the 5th Asian Para Games 2026, winning the gold medal in the women’s T47 long jump with a Games-record leap of 5.52 metres.
Dhanajana’s outstanding achievement marked another proud moment for Sri Lankan athletics, as she rose to the top of the podium with a record-breaking performance against Asia’s leading para-athletes. The gold medal was her second medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, adding to the silver she secured in the women’s T47 200 metres earlier in the competition.
Her long-jump triumph highlighted her remarkable versatility and continued development as an athlete capable of excelling in both track and field events.
From silver to gold
Dhanajana entered the long-jump competition following an impressive performance in the women’s T47 200m final, where she clocked a personal-best time of 25.80 seconds to claim the silver medal. Thailand’s Sasirawan Inthachot won gold in 25.23 seconds, while Indonesia’s Nanda Mei Sholihah took bronze in 25.93 seconds.
The silver-medal finish was particularly significant because the 200m was Dhanajana’s first international appearance in the event. She demonstrated her ability to adapt to a new competitive challenge and immediately contend for a medal at one of Asia’s biggest para-sport competitions.
She subsequently converted thatising start into a gold-medal performance in her specialist field event. Her 5.52m leap established a new Asian Para Games record in the women’s T47 long jump, underlining her ability to deliver on the continental stage.
Building on success at Hangzhou 2022
Dhanajana’s latest achievement represents a significant step forward from the previous Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, in 2023. There, she won the silver medal in the women’s T47 long jump with a distance of 4.89 metres, finishing behind India’s Suresh Nimisha Chakkungkalparambil, who recorded 5.15 metres.
Her improvement from 4.89m in Hangzhou to 5.52m in Aichi-Nagoya represents an increase of 63 centimetres. The progress reflects her development since her previous appearance at the continental championship and culminates in a record-breaking gold medal.
Her international experience has also extended beyond the Asian Para Games. At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Dhanajana finished ninth in the women’s T47 long jump with a leap of 4.96 metres, gaining valuable experience against the world’s best athletes.
Consistent performances on the international stage
Dhanajana continued to demonstrate her potential in 2025, winning gold in the women’s T47 long jump at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in New Delhi. She also collected silver medals in the 100m and 200m events, further establishing herself as a versatile competitor across sprinting and long jumping.
Her form continued into 2026. At the Fazza International Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai, she won gold in both the women’s 100m and long jump, recording 12.88 seconds in the sprint and 5.25 metres in the field event. She also finished fourth in the women’s T47 100m at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a personal-best time of 12.50 seconds.
These performances provided a strong foundation for her campaign in Japan. Her Games-record leap of 5.52m surpassed the 5.25m distance she achieved in Dubai earlier in 2026, demonstrating further progress in her long-jump performance.
A landmark achievement for Sri Lankan para athletics
Dhanajana’s double-medal achievement at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games illustrates the value of persistence, international experience and continuous improvement. From winning silver in Hangzhou to earning valuable experience at the Paralympic Games and securing international victories in 2025 and 2026, she has continued to build her reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s leading para-athletes.
Her success also provides an encouraging example for aspiring para-athletes in Sri Lanka, demonstrating that athletes can compete across multiple disciplines and achieve success against strong international opposition.
With a silver medal in the 200m and a record-breaking gold in the long jump, Janani Dhanajana has delivered a memorable campaign at the 2026 Asian Para Games. Her performance in Aichi-Nagoya adds another important chapter to her sporting journey and brings further recognition to Sri Lanka on the Asian para-athletics stage.
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