Janani Dhananjana Wickramasinghe Claims T47 Long Jump Gold With Games Record to Complete a Memorable Asian Para Games Double

Janani Dhananjana Wickramasinghe Claims T47 Long Jump Gold With Games Record to Complete a Memorable Asian Para Games Double

Janani Dhananjana Wickramasinghe celebrates her victory at the 5th Asian Para Games. Photograph: Hiru News.

Sri Lankan athlete Janani Dhananjana Wickramasinghe won gold in the women’s T47 long jump at the 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on 23 October 2026, setting a new Games record with a leap of 5.52 metres. The result completed a memorable two-medal campaign for the athlete, who had already earned silver in the women’s 200 metres.

For Sri Lankans at home and abroad, the performance brought together a remarkable distance, a record-setting result and the steady progress of an athlete competing across several events. Dhananjana’s gold was also part of a significant day for Sri Lankan para athletics: Pradeep Somasiri won gold in the men’s T46 1,500 metres on the same day.

A record leap in Aichi-Nagoya

The women’s T47 long jump brought together athletes competing within a para-athletics classification. These classifications group eligible athletes according to impairment type and its effect on sport-specific performance, helping to establish fair competition within events. The designation identifies the event category; it does not define an athlete’s achievements or the full extent of her sporting work.

Dhananjana’s winning leap of 5.52 metres established a new Asian Para Games record. India’s Nimisha Chakkungalparambil took silver, while China’s Chen Jin completed the podium, according to the event coverage published by Sportstar. Dhananjana’s mark placed her at the top of the field and set a new benchmark for the Games.

AI-generated illustration based on the source image. It depicts a long-jump setting and is not a photograph of the competition.

The 2026 result also marked a notable step forward from Dhananjana’s performance at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, where she won silver with a jump of 4.89 metres. Her record distance in Japan was 63 centimetres further. The comparison captures the scale of the improvement across two editions of the Games, while the gold and record in Aichi-Nagoya stand on their own as the defining achievements of this year’s competition.

A two-event campaign

Dhananjana’s long-jump gold was her second medal of the 2026 Games. She had earlier secured silver in the women’s T47 200 metres, giving her a double-medal campaign across track and field events. She also competed in the T47 100 metres, where she narrowly missed a podium finish.

Moving between sprinting and the long jump demands different technical skills. The sprint requires acceleration and the sustained execution of a race over a short distance; the long jump combines a controlled approach, take-off and flight into the landing area. Dhananjana’s results across these events reflect a versatile campaign, with a medal in each of two distinct disciplines.

AI-generated illustration based on the source image. The image shows a long-jump venue and is not a photograph from the Asian Para Games.

Her 200-metre silver provided an early podium result, while the long-jump performance brought her campaign to a record-setting conclusion. The earlier 100-metre result forms part of the full competition picture, but does not diminish the achievement of returning to the field to win gold and establish a Games record.

Part of a landmark day for Sri Lanka

The gold medals won by Dhananjana and Somasiri on 23 October were reported as Sri Lanka’s first two gold medals at the 2026 Asian Para Games. Dhananjana’s achievement should therefore be understood as one of two gold-medal performances on that day, rather than described as Sri Lanka’s only gold medal at the Games.

Somasiri’s victory came in the men’s T46 1,500 metres, while Dhananjana won the women’s T47 long jump. Their successes in separate events strengthened Sri Lanka’s medal tally and demonstrated the breadth of the country’s para-athletics programme. The distinction matters: accurate reporting recognises Dhananjana’s individual record while also giving due credit to her teammate’s gold.

AI-generated illustration based on the source image. This is an artistic illustration, not a documentary image of Janani Dhananjana Wickramasinghe or the event.

The T47 classification is relevant context for readers encountering the event category, but the clearest account of Dhananjana’s performance remains the result itself: 5.52 metres, a new Games record, gold for Sri Lanka and a second medal in her 2026 campaign. Her success was achieved within the event’s classification framework and alongside competitors from across Asia.

A result that resonates beyond the stadium

Dhananjana’s progression from silver in Hangzhou in 2023 to a record-setting gold in Aichi-Nagoya in 2026 offers a clear sporting narrative without requiring embellishment. The 2023 distance of 4.89 metres and the 2026 leap of 5.52 metres provide a measurable account of her development in the event. Her silver in the 200 metres and close contest for a place on the 100-metre podium add further context to a demanding multi-event programme.

For Sri Lankan readers around the world, sporting achievements of this kind connect national representation with sustained athletic performance. Dhananjana’s medals and record were earned on an international stage, while Somasiri’s gold on the same day made the occasion especially significant for the Sri Lankan team.

eLanka has followed Sri Lanka’s para-athletics campaign at the Games, including Dhananjana’s 200-metre silver and the team’s two-gold day. Further community and sporting coverage is available in the eLanka news and articles section.

Dhananjana’s record-setting jump stands as a significant achievement in Sri Lankan para sport: an Asian Para Games gold, a new mark for the women’s T47 long jump, and the completion of a two-medal campaign in Aichi-Nagoya. It is a result that gives readers at home and abroad ample reason to take pride in Sri Lanka’s athletes.

Source: https://hirunews.lk/goldfmnews/495726/janani-dhananjana-claims-t47-long-jump-gold-with-record-jump

This article was written based on the sources listed above. Kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.

eLanka Disclaimer

Content published on eLanka may be created by the eLanka team, submitted by contributors or third parties, reproduced or adapted from other sources with appropriate source acknowledgement, or provided as promotional/advertising material by our clients. While eLanka takes reasonable care in preparing and publishing content, we do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Views expressed are those of the respective authors or contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of eLanka. Third-party contributors, content providers and advertisers are responsible for the accuracy of material they supply and for ensuring they hold the necessary rights and permissions for its publication. Advertising and promotional content should not be regarded as an endorsement by eLanka of any product, service or claim.