Rajakaruna – best athlete of Army’s Disabled Sports Festival

Anushka WITHANAGE

Lance Corporal R.M.U.U. Rajakaruna SLSR), was adjudged the best athlete at the disabled sports festival of the Sri Lanka Army held at the Army Grounds yesterday. He won the wheelchair tennis event.

The Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Sri Lanka National Guard, Sri Lanka Engineers, Special Forces, Sri Lanka Singha Regiment, Gemunu Regiment, Commando Regiment, Vijayaba Infantry Regiment, Gajaba Regiment and Sri Lanka Light Infantry were the teams which took part in the two-day event.

Sgt. K. S. Weerasinghe (Discus) , Pte R.M.R.P Rathnayake (100m and 200m) Sgt G.A.S Amarasinghe (100m, 200m and long jump) above the knee amputee of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry set up new records. Pte Udaya Pushpakumara (Javelin throw), Pte M.M.M Saneewa (100m), Cpl E.M.J.P Ekanayake (200 and 400m) one eye blind (Vijayaba Infantry Regiment). also set up new records. The others who set up records were Lt. Col. M.P.R.S.P Chandresena (Discus and Shotpot), Cpl Rohan Sriram (400m), and Major Y.M.S.D.K. Yapa (200m).

Best performance - 2009

Swimming (Best Performances): Paraplegic: Pte Navton RA (GW), Abovelow: Cpl Upul Bandara GG (CR), Above Knee Amputee: Sgt Amarasinghe GAS (SLII), Below Knee Amputee - L/Cpl Sheethagala (SF), Cpl Mangula Kumara HBS (GR), Total Blind - Sgt Asanka Kumara HA (GR), Partially Blind - Sgt Mallawaarachchi SA (VIR), Cpl Silva SKI (VIR).

Table tennis Outstanding Player (Above Knee Amputee): Cpl Rathnayaka RMDK (SLLI), Below Knee Amputee - Cpl Chandana KWN (SLLI), Arm Amputee - Pte Udaya Kumara HW (SLLI), Wheel Chair - Cpl Madurawe SB (SLLI).

Badmition Oustanding Player (Wheel Cahri): Sgt Jayathilaka Banda WM (SF), Arm amputee - Cpl Upul Bandara GG (CR), Below Knee Amputee - Sgt Saminda Bandara (CR), Below Knee Amputee - Cpl Lalith Kumara WGA (SLLI)

Amputee Cricket The Best Batsmen: Kajo SPD Serasinghe (VIR), Best Bowler - Capt AMSPK Atthanayake (VIR), Best all rounder - L/Cpl Saman Kumara LPGL - (SLE), Man of the series - Pte Shantha Kumara NW (VIR).

Wheel Chair Basketball Best Player - Cpl Sanath MA (SLLI).

Wheel Chair Tenis Outstanding Player (Wheel Chair) - L/Cpl Rajakurna RMUU (SLSR).

VolleyBall The best lifter - Cpl Rohana Shiram SM (GR), Best Dhashar - Cpl Adikari AMJ (SLLI), Best server - L/Cpl Primarathne DM (GR).

Power Lifting The Best Lifter - Sgt Jayalath UGU, RSP (CR).

Archery Champion Archer: Col HR Wickramasinghe USP (SLSR).

Shooting Best Shot: Major EADK Sooriyakumara (CR).

Best team proformance Wheel Chair Marathon, Goes to: Sgt Jayathilaka Banda WM (SF), Cycling Goes to - L/Cpl Wanasinghe WSC (GW).

Best Peformance Athletics

The Best Track and Field (Class 1 - Wheel Chair): Sgt Weerasinghe KS (SLLI), Class II - Wheel Chair - Cpl Madurawe SB (SLLI), Class III - Above Knee Amputee - Sgt Amarasinghe AGS (SLLI), Class IV Below Knee Amputee - Cpl Rohana Sriama SM - GR, Class V - Both Arm Amputee (A5/A7) - Pte Herath KDA (GW), Class VI - Arm Amputee (A6/A8) - Pte Kularathe PBG (GR), Class VII - Totally Blind (B1) - Major YMSDK Yapa - (SLSR), Class VIII - Partially Blind (B2/B3) - Pte Saman Kumara WD (GR), Class IX - One Eye Blind - L/Cpl Ekanayaka EMJP - (VIR), Class X - Deaf - Cpl Perea WLR (GR)