Sandun, Upali fail to reach next round

Sarath Premathilaka From Beijing

Sri Lanka’s Sandun Wasana Perera and Upali Rajakaruna failed to make any progress in their respective events on the fourth day of the 13th Paralympic Games continued in Beijing, China yesterday.

Sri Lankan captain Sandun Wasana Perera competing in his third paralympic games had to be content with the eighth place in the 48 kgs weight category of the powerlifting championship.

Perera managed to lift only 135 kilo grams in this event which was won by 41 year old Nigerian Ruel Ishaku with a new world record of 169 kgs. The silver medal went to Omar Qarada from Jordan with an effort of 162.5 kgs while Eay Simay from Laos took the bronze medal.

Sandun Wasana Perera who has won several medals for his country said that he is hoping to put up an improved performance at the next Commonwealth Games in India.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s Upali Rajakaruna suffered a straight sets 6-0, 6-0, defeat at the hands of Robin Ammerloan from Netherlands in a second round match of the wheel chair tennis tournament.

Rajakaruna who was competing in a paralympic games for the first time stated that he was able to gain valuable experience by participating in this tournament.

China took an early lead in the overall medals tally with 33 medals inclusive of ten gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze. England are placed second with 20 medals including nine gold, 8 silver and 5 bronze followed by United States of America with 17 medals inclusive of 8 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Meanwhile powerlifting saw a new world record set in the Men’s 48 kilogram category, when Ruel Ishaku of Nigeria lifted 169kg to break the world record, previously held by China’s Wu Guoying, and the Paralympic record, set at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games by Anthony Peddle of Great Britain.

Peddle, meanwhile, was unable to repeat his show of strength. His left arm faltering and unable to reach the lock, he failed in all three attempts to lift 152kg. In their first attempts, Choochat Sukjareen of Thailand lifted 150kg, Farman Basha of India lifted 155kg, Eay Simay Laos and Omar Qarada of Jorden lifted 157.5kg.

Omar Qarada’s triumphant third attempt saw him lift 162.5kg, winning him the silver medal. Not content with the medal alone, in his fourth attempt he set himself the challenge of setting a new world and Paralympic record, attempting to lift 169.5kg, but recorded a no-lift, unable to get the bar back to the height of the rack.