Former 400m Asian silver medallist Harijan Ratnayake said he was impressed by the commitment and dedication shown by Sri Lanka’s Para Olympic athletes.
“I am very keen to work with para athletes and their commitment to sports is very high. I have been working with Para Olympic athlete Kumudu Priyanka for more than five years and this is proof. She is the only civilian among the nine member at the Tokyo Paralympics,” said Ratnayake.
Priyanka competes in two events, the T-45/46 long jump and 100m.
“Being a coach of para athletes gives me more satisfaction than I would have had coaching able bodied athletes.
“Working with Para Olympic athletes is a different experience altogether,” said Ratnayake.
Ratnayake who won the silver medal in the 400m hurdles at the Asian Athletic championship in 2000 also qualified for the Olympics in the same year.
“Having taken part in the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games and Asian championships I have a good experience working with athletes.
“I have already produced four para medal winners (one gold, one silver and two bronze) at the Asian Para Games and this time I am working with Kumudu Priyanaka who is also the Asian Games bronze medallist and World Para Grand Prix bronze medallist,” said Ratnayake who earlier coached Amara Indumathi the first Sri Lankan women’s Paralympian at London 2012.