Sri Lankan archer Sampath Bandara finishes 23 | Sunday Observer

Sri Lankan archer Sampath Bandara finishes 23

29 August, 2021
Sampath Bandara at the Tokyo Paralympics ranking event
Sampath Bandara at the Tokyo Paralympics ranking event

Sampath Bandara, the Sri Lankan archer had to be satisfied with the 23rd rank out of 31 competitors at the Archery Men’s Individual Recurve - Open ranking round of the Tokyo Paralympic Games at the Yumenoshima Ranking Field on Friday.

However the 32 year old Corporal from the Army’s Light Infantry Regiment still has a chance to enter the final round which is scheduled to be held on September 3. At the elimination round he has to compete with Indian Vivek Chikara to pass this hurdle to go forward.

Bandara couldn’t do his best at the open ranking round and managed to collect 589 points. “I never expected this result but never give up my next chance to go forward at this Tokyo Games”, said Bandara.

The competition was very high at this level with Iranian Rahim Gholamreza ranked first with his personal best 644 which also set up the new Paralympic record at this event.

Korean Kim Min Su who is the world record holder of this event had to be satisfied with the sixth rank position with a score of 628.

Sri Lankan coach Major General Rajeewa Wickramasinghe who himself was a Paralympic archer in 2004 in Athens said Bandara had a good start but he couldn’t finish well as expected.

“He really prepared well for this Tokyo Games after having a previous Rio Games experience. However he was placed 17th at the last Rio Games and this time ended with the 23rd rank”, said Wickremasinghe.

Bandara is the first athlete to represent Sri Lanka in archery at two Games with the first being at the Rio Paralympics in 2016.

Bandara hails from Kosgolla in Matale and lost his right leg below knee during the war in 2019 after stepping onto an anti personnel mine.

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