Sri Lanka’s nine-member team left the island on Friday to contest the Tokyo Paralympics scheduled to start on Tuesday.
The nine member team is lead by Rio Paralympics bronze medallist Dinesh Priyantha Herath.
For the first time in the Paralympics Sri Lanka will deploy a rower in Mahesh Jayakody. There are also six track and field athletes along with an archer and wheelchair tennis player.
There are 59 gold medals at stake across 22 sports over 12 days of action.
Herath who is making a second appearance in the Paralympics will aim to convert his bronze into a gold this time contesting the javelin throw.
“I am confident of winning a gold medal with a new world record. But I will also not underestimate my opponent and take anything for granted,” said Herath who won the gold medal at the Asian Para Games in 2018.
The world record that Herath aims to break stands at 63.97 set by India’s Devendra Jhajharia at the Rio Paralympics in 2016. China’s Guo Chunglian won the silver medal with a distance of 59.93 while Herath took the bronze with 58.38 but improved on the distance by throwing 63.97 in May at the Nationals.
Another javelin thrower Sampath Hettiarachchi is making his second appearance in the Paralympics and has a silver medal from the Asian Para Games in 2018. Both qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics.
Sri Lanka Paralympics team and competition dates:
Aug 27: Ranjan Dharmasena in wheelchair tennis - Men’s Singles First Round
Aug 27-29: Mahesh Jayakody in rowing PR1 Men’s Singles Sculls Heat PR1
Aug 27: Sampath Bandara in archery Men’s Recurve Open Ranking Round from 2pm to 5 pm and Sept 3 Elimination Round
Aug 30: Dinesh Priyantha Herath in javelin throw (F 46) final at the Olympic Stadium 9.30 am to 12.45 pm
Aug 30: Samitha Dulan and Sampath Hettiarachchi javelin throw (F 64) 7 pm to 10 pm at the Olympic Stadium
Aug 31: Kumudu Priyanka in women’s 100m (T-47) Round One heats 9.30 am to 12.45 pm
Sept 3: Kumudu Priyanka (T-47) long jump 9.30 am to 12.55 pm and Maduranga Subasinghe 400m (T-47) Round One heat
Sept 4: Palitha Bandara in Shot Put (F-63 final) 9.30 am to 12.55 pm