Para Athlete Kumudu Priyanka wins Bronze in Dubai-Dhammika Ratnaweera

Sri Lankan Para Athlete Kumudu Priyanka finished in third place to secure the Bronze Medal in the Women’s Long Jump final in the World Para Athletics Grand Prix first-leg worked off in Dubai, UAE on Wednesday.

Priyanka, in an attempt to qualify for the Tokyo Paralympics, produced an effort of 4.89m in the T/46/47 event, which is also her best performance in an international meet.

However, according to the Manager of the Sri Lanka Team, Colonel Deepal Herath, Priyanka’s achievement is not good enough to obtain a direct slot for the Paralympics Games.

But the National Paralympics Committee has the chance to submit a request for a wildcard entry for this event and that final decision is with the World Paralympics Committee (IPC).

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Amara Indumathi had to be satisfied with fourth place in the same competition with a distance of 4.76m.

India’s N. Sure with a performance of 5.25m was placed first and France’s Lanza Angelina with an effort of 5.05m took the third pace of this event.

In another development, Indumathi had her 2018 Asian Para Games Silver Medal upgraded to a Gold Medal in the Long Jump event following a doping violation by an Uzbekistan athlete.

In addition, Priyanka who was placed fourth in the same event during the meet held in Jakarta received the Bronze Medal due to doping violation.

Both Sri Lankan Para Athletes received their medals in Dubai, National Paralympics Committee Chairman, Major General Rajitha Ampemohotti confirmed to Daily News yesterday.

With the addition of one Gold Medal and a Bronze Medal, Sri Lanka received five Gold Medals, five Silver Medals and five Bronze Medals at the 2018 Asian Para Games, which is the highest medals tally by a Sri Lankan Para Athletics contingent.