3rd Asian Youth Para Games: Sri Lanka Youth Para Athletes shine in Dubai

By Susil Premalal
Sri Lanka’s emerging youth para athletes delivered an impressive performance at the 3rd Asian Youth Para Games held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, winning a total of three gold medals and two bronze medals.
Upcoming para athlete Dilmini Udumbara was the standout performer for Sri Lanka, claiming two gold medals in the Under-17 Women’s F40/41 category. She secured gold in the discus throw with a best performance of 12.4 metres and followed it up with another gold in the shot put, recording 3.69 metres.
In the men’s events, Senuwara Sandilu won gold in the Under-17 Men’s T47 100 metres, clocking 12.29 seconds, and added a bronze medal in the T47 long jump with a leap of 4.96 metres. Meanwhile, young short-distance runner Isham Yoonus claimed a bronze medal in the Under-20 Men’s T42/T61–64 400 metres, finishing the race in 1 minute 01.95 seconds.
The Sri Lanka team was fielded by the National Paralympic Committee of Sri Lanka, which selected eight athletes to compete at the Games, attended by participants from 35 Asian countries. Sri Lankan athletes competed across athletics (men 3, women 1), table tennis (men 2), and badminton (men 2) under various disability classifications.
The medal-winning performances highlight the growing potential of Sri Lanka’s youth para athletes on the Asian stage.