Para-athletes aiming for medals

Eleven differently-abled Sri Lankan athletes (nine men and two women) have been included in the Sri Lanka Paralympics athletic pool. They will start their training as a pool at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Sports Complex in Diyagama, Homagama from June 25. Sri Lanka is hoping to compete in three track and field categories. The last occasion when Sri Lanka came closer to a medal was when swimmer Priyadarshana finished fourth in Athans in 2004 in a mens backstroke event. Here are the Officials and athletes of the athletic pool (Seated from left) Nimal Dharmaratne, Jans Dissanayake, Preethi Anurakumara (coaches) NPC vice president Birg. Rajithe Ampemohotti, NPC president Brig. Rajeeva Wickckramasinghe, NPC secretaly L.Col Deepal Herath, NPC executive committee member L.Col Mahesh Kumara. (Standing first raw from left) P A L Pushpakumara (high jump) P K D Dumeera Mayuranga (long jump, 100 m) D M Kumudu Priyanka (100, 200 m, long jump) L P G A Indumathie Karunaratne (100, 200m, long jump), P W D Dayananda (400, 800 m), A M Upali Ratnayake (400, 800m), Aruna Priyankara (javeline throw) (Standing second raw from left) Lesley Kumara (high jump), S M Senaviratne (high jump), Udaya Pushpakumara (javeline throw), Pradeep Sanjaya (200, 400m). Picture by Geeth de Mel