Sri Lanka makes debut at world pentathlon

From left: Gayani Dassanayake (athlete), Iroshan  Kumara (official ), Nishantha Piyasena (president – MPFSL),  Oshada  de Silva (athlete) and Sachini Rathnathilake (athlete)   

By Susil Premalal

The Modern Pentathlon Federation of Sri Lanka (MPFSL) will for the first time field a team at the Pentathlon World Cup (2026) scheduled from April 8 to 12 at the Cairo International Stadium Complex in Egypt.
The milestone marks a major breakthrough for modern pentathlon in Sri Lanka, a sport that has developed rapidly over the past eight years despite limited resources and infrastructure. 
The team earned qualification through strong performances at recent Asian-level competitions and representing Sri Lanka are Oshada de Silva, Sachini Rathnathilaka and Gayani Dasanayake with Iroshan Kumara serving as team official.
Modern pentathlon, an Olympic sport combining fencing, swimming, obstacle racing, shooting and running demands high levels of endurance and versatility.
Officials highlighted that this debut strengthens Sri Lanka’s presence in global sport and opens pathways for future Olympic qualification, while also inspiring a new generation of athletes.