In 1991 Sriyantha Dissanayake won a silver medal in the Asian Games in Doha Qatar. At that time we called him the silver lining of the dark cloud in Sri Lanka athletics.
After he gave up the sport, several fast runners came to the scene of local athletics. However, they could not win any Asian medal in their pet event. After three decades Sri Lanka has found a medal prospect in a sprint event. He is Yupun Abeykoon. This is a small write up about his latest success.
Mudiyansalage Yupun Abeykoon started schooling in Pannala National College, and later entered St. Joseph Vaz, Wennappuwa.
For nearly a decade he won medals and set records in the 100m events at school meets. That was his beginning of his sports career. Since then, Yupun continued his athletics career determined to find success.
“I was determined to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m. Several times I came close to breaking it. But was not successful. Now I have achieved my one ambition,” Yupun said after winning the gold medal in the 100m in Switzerland.
Abeykoon won the 100 metres event with an amazing time of 9.96 seconds. This is the first time in history that an athlete from the South Asian region has completed this event in less than 10 seconds. And this is the best time in Asia in 2022.
After this fantastic victory he took to social media and said, “I did not receive any help to achieve this target. I am very happy that I found success.”
“Sports has become my life. At present I am in Italy. This victory has two owners. They are me and my support team,” he said.
When asked how he felt about becoming the fastest runner in South Asia, Yupun said that it was a very hard climb, but it was enjoyable.
After leaving the school he joined the Army and continued his athletics. Then he got a chance to participate in the World Military Games in South Korea.
“We won the bronze medal in the men’s 4x100m relay at the 2015 Military World Games in Korea. That was a remarkable moment in my sports life. Then my family moved to Italy. I also went with them. However, I represented Sri Lanka and participated in many international events like the Olympics. In the Tokyo Olympics I could not perform my best and was eliminated in the first round.But I got plenty of experience by participating in the Olympics,” he said.
A couple of times he took part in European athletics meets and performed well. He won the national indoor title in the 60 metres this year.
“I am attached to the Electronic and Mechanical Engineering Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army and represent Army Sports Club,” he said.
He won the men’s 100m event in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland with a timing of 9.96 seconds.
After his win Yupun made a comment on his YouTube channel and Instagram site. He criticized Sri Lankan athletics officials indirectly. “No one helped me other than my coaching team. I believed I could do this and now I have done it.”
He is the first and only Sri Lankan to have competed at the Diamond League that is organized at world level. In April this year, he set a new Asian record in the men’s 150m discipline. He clocked 15.16 seconds at Stadio Zecchini, Grosseto in Italy.
Then he set a new 200 metres national record after finishing the event in 20.37 seconds at the event.
In the beginning of career, Abeykoon took part in field events. He represented the country as a triple jumper at the 2013 South Asian Junior Athletics Championships in Ranchi and finished in fourth place.
After that he changed to track events and competed in the World Military Games in 2015. He and his team won a bronze in the 4x100m relay.
Yupun, who trains under an Italian Coach took part in the 2019 South Asian Games and won a gold medal in the relay event. Then he became well-known as a sprinter to the world. Now Abeykoon has qualified to participate in the World Athletics Games to be held in the USA this month.
“Í am inspired by Susanthika Jayasinghe. She is the local heroine in my athletics career. Now that I have broken the 10- second barrier. I have a few more years of athletics,” he said after finishing the 100-metre event in Switzerland.
Yupun is the first Sri Lankan athlete to pass this milestone and 32nd country to achieve that target. He is also the 167th person to finish the 100-metres in under 10 seconds.
“In the early days I did receive any encouragement from Sri Lanka athletics officials. I wish to state clearly that there is no one behind me other than my coaching staff. My fans are an encouragement to me. Thank you all,” he said.
