Weightlifters in Sri Lanka have a proud record of being able to win medals at Commonwealth Games and in regional events. Now they want to continue in this trend and are preparing under coach RB Wickremasinghe with a set plan for the Commonwealth Games to be held in 2022.
“Weight lifting is on its way to reach greater heights in the next five years since there is a long term development program in place,” said national coach Wickramasinghe.
Indika Dissanayake won a silver medal while Chaturanga Lakmal and Hansani Gomes won the bronze medals for Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Australia in 2018.
Suresh Pieris won a silver medal in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games while Chinthana Vidanage won the gold medal in the 62 kgs category in Melbourne and a silver medal at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Sri Lanka’s next target is the Asian Games in 2022 and the Olympics according to the national coach.
A ticket to the 2022 Games will depend on the performance at the Commonwealth Weight lifting championship to be held in Singapore in October this year.
Qualification for the Olympics will depend on the performance at the Asian Championship to be held in Uzbekistan from April 15 to 25.
A total of 13 weight lifters are in a high performance pool who are aiming to win medals at international level. Out of them Indika Dissanayake and Thilanka Palagasinghe are aiming to qualify for the 2021 Olympics.
Former Commonwealth medal winners Chinthana Geethal Vidanage, Sudesh Pieris, Chaturanga Lakmal and Hansani Gomes are also in the Sri Lanka pool.
Hansani Gomes