Mahesh Jayakody qualifies for 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games-by Dhammika Ratnaweera

Mahesh Jayakody

Mahesh Jayakody

Sri Lanka’s para athlete Mahesh Jayakody created history when he secured the first place in the PR1 Men’s Singles Sculls event at the Asia and Oceania Olympic and Paralympic Continental Qualification Regatta worked off in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday.

Jayakody also qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games, which will be held from August 24 to September 5 in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, Samitha Samanmalee was the second Sri Lankan competitor who participated in this meet in the Women’s category. However, Samanmalee was unable to qualify as she was placed second in the PR1 Women’s Singles Sculls event with a time of 15.56.80s.

Japan’s Tomomi Ichikawa won this event with a time of 12.51.40s to qualify for the Tokyo Paralympics.

“This is the first time in the history that a Sri Lanka had qualified to compete in the rowing events at the Paralympic,” President of the National Paralympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NPCSL) Major General Rajitha Ampemohotti told the Daily News yesterday.

Jayakody, the Staff Sergeant of the SF Regiment, dominated this event and finished in first place with a time of 11 minutes 04.23s.

E. Kolumrod of Uzbekistan and P. Comnuan of Thailand finished the race in second and third place, respectively, with a time of 11.48.29s and 12.07.31s, respectively.

The Sri Lankan contingent for this meet comprised of Mahesh Jayakody, Samitha Samanmalee, Captain Mangala Alagiyawanne (Coach), Captain M. B. C. H. Liyanage (Assistant Coach), and Lasantha Welikala (Manager).

Meanwhile, the NPCSL President further said that two javelin throwers Dinesh Priyantha Herath (F-46) and Samitha Dulan Kodituwakku (F-44) as well as Sampath Bandara representing archery, have already qualified for the Paralympics.

“This time, we are hoping more Sri Lankan athletes would achieve qualifications after taking part in the qualification events.”

“We are hoping two more athletes, one tennis player, and a table tennis player would join the list after reaching the qualifying standards,” added Ampemohotti.