Red carpet welcome for Paralympic medal winner

Sajeewa JAYAKODY

Sri Lanka gave a red carpet welcome to her first ever Paralympic medal winner, Pradeep Sanjaya when he arrived in the country yesterday (Wednesday) after winning the bronze medal in the 400m one arm paralyzed event at the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

Sri Lanka’s historic paralympian was welcomed by country’s Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamge at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday afternoon.

There was also a special ceremony organized at the Sports Ministry with a rousing welcome by junior athletes who waved Sri Lankan flags on either side of the Independence Avenue and he was garlanded at the Sports Ministry premises while traditional Kandyan dancers were performing.

Sanjaya, 26, a brave soldier of the victorious Sri Lanka Army that vanquished ruthless LTTE terrorists in 2009, was severely injured on his right arm when troops were advancing to Kilinochchi in 2008. After nine months he turned to para events and worked hard to bring honour to his country.

Sanjaya, who hails from Mirigama, is the Asian record holder for both 200m and 400m events as he finished the 200m in 22.98 seconds in the Selection Trial for 2012 Asian Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He erased the previous Asian record by finishing the 400m event in 49.28 seconds at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Austrian Matzinger Gunther won the Gold medal sprinting at 48.45 seconds and Nascimento Yohanson won the silver medal clocking in 49.21 seconds. Before this unique feat, Sri Lanka Army’s Sinha Regimental soldier had won two gold medals in 200m and 400m events at the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China.

National Paralympic Committee President, Brig Rajiv Wickremasinghe said that their intention was to win medals at the Asian Para Games. “We achieved that feat and targeted Paralympic Games,” he said.

As South Asian countries, only Sri Lanka and region’s powerful sport nation India won a medal each in 2012 London Paralympic Games.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who has been a tower of strength to sports in Sri Lanka after he assumed duties as the Sports Minister of the country, was the first Sports Minister to tour with the Lankan contingent to a Paralympic Game and he witnessed Sri Lankan athletes’ striving for medals. He said: “When Sanjaya brought honour to Sri Lanka, I was able to witness that memorable occasion and when it was announced Sri Lanka have won the first ever Paralympic medal, I felt proud as a Sri Lankan.”

Minister Aluthgamage said players in other countries use highly advanced equipment and technique but our athletes, especially Sanjaya brought honour to us in this Paralympic Games sans those facilities.

“Other countries have fielded athletes who were amputated from various incidents but only Sri Lankan Pradeep Sanjaya was injured in fighting for his country.”