Sri Lanka finish 12th with eight medals

By. Susil Premalal

May.31 (Mirror Sports) - Sri Lanka concluded the 22nd Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships 2026 in Hong Kong with an impressive haul of eight medals, finishing 12th in the overall medal standings today. The championships, organised by the Asian Athletics Association, were held from May 28-31 at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground.

Sri Lanka’s 22-member team, comprising 15 male and seven female athletes, secured two gold, two silver and four bronze medals, marking a notable improvement from the previous edition in 2024, where the country won seven medals, including two silver and five bronze.

The two gold medals were won by Tharushi Abisheka in the women’s 1,500m with a time of 4:31.41 and Dilanma Ransini in the women’s 200m with a time of 24.07 seconds. Dilanma, a student of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, achieved the feat in her first international competition.

Sri Lanka’s silver medals came through Tharusha Mendis, who cleared 2.14m in the men’s high jump, and Nethsara Dineth, who clocked 1:49.22 in the men’s 800m.

The bronze medals were won by the mixed 4x400m relay team of Sadew Rajakaruna, Warsha Devmini, Omel Shashintha and Ronalee Anne Pieris, who recorded 3:28.66.

Additional bronze medals were claimed by Tharushi Abisheka in the women’s 800m (2:07.10), Sadew Rajakaruna in the men’s 200m (21.13 seconds) and Mihinsa Dewmini in the women’s high jump with a clearance of 1.72m.

With this year’s performance, Sri Lanka’s overall tally at the Asian Junior Athletics Championships from 1986 to 2026 has risen to 46 medals, comprising 11 gold, 18 silver and 17 bronze medals.