Somasiri and Dhananjana Strike Gold With Games Records as Sri Lanka Shine at the Asian Para Games 2026
AI-generated illustration; the authentic Daily FT photographs of the medal ceremonies could not be reproduced.
Sri Lanka enjoyed a memorable day at the 5th Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as distance runner Pradeep Somasiri and long jumper Janani Dhananjana won gold medals, both with new Games records. Nuwan Indika Gamage added a silver medal in the men’s T44 100m, giving the team three podium finishes in a day of performances that demonstrated both established excellence and growing depth.
The results were reported by Daily FT on 24 October 2026 in a story by Hishan Welmilla. They offered a significant moment for Sri Lankan para-sport: Somasiri defended his continental title in the men’s T46 1500m, Dhananjana converted a strong campaign into gold in the women’s T47 long jump, and Gamage produced a season’s best in a competitive sprint final.
Somasiri lowers his own Games record
Somasiri led Sri Lanka’s medal-winning performances with victory in the men’s T46 1500m, completing the race in 4:03.25. The time secured gold and established a new Games record, improving the mark he set when winning the same event at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.
At Hangzhou, Somasiri recorded 4:05.14. His Nagoya performance therefore lowered his previous Games record by 1.89 seconds, a notable improvement in an event where pace, endurance and tactical judgement must be sustained over several laps.
An AI-generated editorial illustration of a para-athlete competing on the track.
The result also carried added significance in the context of Somasiri’s international record. At the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, he won bronze in the men’s T46 1500m and set a new Asian record. His return to the top of the Asian Para Games podium in Nagoya, accompanied by a further Games record, confirms his standing among the leading para-athletes in the region.
A title defence can bring a different kind of pressure from a first major breakthrough: the athlete is measured against both the field and the standard established at the previous Games. Somasiri’s latest performance surpassed that earlier benchmark, turning his successful defence into another record-setting milestone for Sri Lankan athletics.
Dhananjana’s record-breaking long jump
Sri Lanka’s second gold of the day came through Dhananjana, who won the women’s T47 long jump with a leap of 5.52 metres. Her distance established a new Games record and brought a significant reward during a campaign marked by consistency across events.
The gold was Dhananjana’s second medal at the 2026 Games. Earlier, she won silver in the women’s T47 200m, while in the T47 100m she narrowly missed a podium finish. Her long-jump victory therefore represented a strong response within a demanding multi-event programme, and a clear demonstration of her ability to contend across different disciplines.
An AI-generated illustration depicting the focus and technique of a long-jump competition.
The event result adds another important achievement to Dhananjana’s record at the continental level. A Games-record leap is not simply a medal-winning distance; it sets a fresh benchmark for future competitors and reflects the preparation required to perform under the conditions of a major international championship.
Together, the two gold medals made the day especially memorable for Sri Lanka. Each came in a different discipline, and each was accompanied by a new Games record: Somasiri over 1500 metres and Dhananjana in the long jump. Their performances offered a compelling account of the breadth of Sri Lanka’s para-athletics talent.
Gamage adds a season’s-best silver
Gamage secured silver in the men’s T44 100m, finishing in a season’s best time of 11.58 seconds. Although he did not repeat the gold he won in Hangzhou, his latest time was 0.05 seconds faster than the 11.63 seconds with which he won that earlier final and established a Games record.
The Nagoya result reflects Gamage’s continued competitiveness at Asian level. A silver medal and a season’s best are substantial achievements in their own right, even as the comparison with the previous Games adds useful context to the athlete’s progress.
An AI-generated illustration of para-athletes training, representing the commitment behind competition-day performances.
Strong performances beyond the podium
Several Sri Lankan competitors also finished just outside the medals. Samitha Dulan, the former world record holder and reigning Asian record holder, placed fourth in the men’s F44 javelin throw with a best effort of 64.10 metres. Swimmers Galina Bandara and Naveed Rahim each finished fourth in their respective 100m S9 finals, clocking 1:09.00 and 58.78 seconds. Buddika Indrapala also secured fourth place in the men’s T42 final.
These finishes were close to the podium, but the results also point to a broad group of Sri Lankan athletes competing at a high level across athletics and swimming. Their efforts formed part of a successful day defined by medals and records, while underscoring the depth of the team’s representation in Nagoya.
The day’s achievements followed earlier medals for Sri Lanka at the Games: Mohamed Safran won bronze in the men’s T47 long jump, and Dhananjana took silver in the women’s T47 200m. Read alongside those results, the new gold medals and Gamage’s silver show how the team’s campaign has included success across multiple events.
The names in this report follow the spellings used in the Daily FT coverage and eLanka’s earlier reporting on the Games, helping readers connect the latest results with the athletes’ performances in preceding events.
A source of encouragement at home and abroad
For young para-athletes and their families in Sri Lanka and among Sri Lankans living abroad, the results offer an encouraging example of what sustained training and competitive opportunity can make possible. Somasiri’s title defence, Dhananjana’s two-medal campaign and Gamage’s season’s best each tell a different story of progress, while the close fourth-place finishes show that a wider group of Sri Lankan competitors is challenging for the leading positions.
The performances deserve recognition for their sporting quality and for the standards they have set. Two gold medals in one day, both accompanied by Games records, are a notable achievement for Sri Lanka at the 5th Asian Para Games. They also provide a positive moment for the wider community to follow and celebrate as the athletes continue their campaigns in Japan.
This article was written based on the source https://www.ft.lk/sports/Somasiri-and-Dhananjana-Strike-Gold-as-Sri-Lanka-Shine-at-Asian-Para-Games-2026/23-799104, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.
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