Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Herath Mudiyansalage Dinesh Priyantha |
Nationality | Sri Lankan |
Born | Kagama, Anuradhapura, North Central Province, Sri Lanka | 15 July 1986
Military career | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 2004 – 2008 |
Rank | ![]() |
Unit | Gajaba Regiment |
Sport | |
Country | Sri Lanka |
Sport | Paralympic athletics |
Disability class | T46 |
Event | Javelin throw |
Coached by | Pradeep Nishantha [1] [2] |
Achievements and titles | |
Paralympic finals | 2016 Rio de Janeiro 2020 Tokyo |
Personal bests | WR 67.79 m (2021) |
Medal record |
Herath Mudiyansalage Dinesh Priyantha, also simply known as Dinesh Priyantha (born 15 July 1986), is a Sri Lankan Paralympic track and field athlete who competes in javelin T46 events. [3] He also served as an important member for the Sri Lanka Army during the Sri Lankan Civil War. He was disabled after being shot at his left arm during the final stages of the war. [4] He is the defending Paralympic champion in men's javelin throw F46 category. On 30 August 2021, he became the first ever Sri Lankan to win a gold medal at the Paralympics when he won the men's javelin throw F46 category. [5] [6] He is the current Paralympic and World record holder in men's javelin throw for F46 category.
He was born on 15 July 1986 in Kagama, Anuradhapura as the second child in his family. He attended the Kagama Dathusena Maha Vidyalaya for his primary and secondary education. [7] He underwent hardships during his childhood after losing his father when he was just twelve years old. [7]
He attended the selection trial with the intention to participate at the 2012 Summer Paralympics and secured gold medal in a championship event held in Malaysia. However, he did not qualify for the 2012 Paralympics as he was not included in the world rankings.
He represented Sri Lanka at the 2016 Summer Paralympics at the age of 29, which also marked his first Paralympic appearance and won a bronze medal in the men's javelin throw by clearing a distance of 58.23 meters. [8] [9] It was also the second ever Paralympic medal for Sri Lanka after Pradeep Sanjaya who won a bronze medal in the 2012 Paralympic Games. [10] [11] He was the first Sri Lankan Paralympian to win a Paralympic medal in the javelin event. [12] [13] He was also awarded the Best Para Sportsman of the Year at the 2016 Platinum awards, conducted by Newsfirst.
In the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, he won a silver medal in the javelin event and became the first Sri Lankan to win a silver medal at a World Para Athletics Championships. [14] [15] He also claimed silver medal in men's 46 category at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships by clearing a distance of 60.59 meters. [16] [17] [18]
He took part at the 2014 Asian Para Games and was placed sixth in the javelin throw event. [7] He was appointed as the captain as well as the flag bearer for Sri Lanka at the 2018 Asian Para Games. During the 2018 Asian Para Games, he set a new Asian Para Games record in javelin throw of 61.84m to secure gold medal in the men's F46 javelin throw event. [19] [20] [21] [22]
He was appointed as the flag bearer and captain of the nine member Sri Lankan contingent for the 2020 Summer Paralympics. [23] [24] [25] He clinched historic gold medal in the men's javelin throw F46 category with a new world record of 67.79 m. [26] [27] [28] He claimed Sri Lanka's first ever Paralympic gold medal and also secured Sri Lanka's first medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. [29] He broke the F46 javelin throw world record which was previously held by India's Devendra Jhajharia when he claimed the gold medal. [30] He also became the first Sri Lankan to win two Paralympic medals as well as the first and only Sri Lankan to have won a gold medal either in Olympics or Paralympics. [31] [32]
Herath served in the Sri Lankan Army Personnel, as a Corporal in the 3rd Gajaba Regiment. He joined the Sri Lankan Army at the age of 18 in 2004. Herath was wounded in Kilinochchi during the final stages of the brutal offensive operations to crush the LTTE on 16 December 2008 and retired from the Army on medical grounds at the age of 22. [33] [34] It was reported that three bullets had pierced his left arm which made him unable to engage in regular activities and was forced to spend his next four years at the Ragama Ranaviru Sevana for his treatment. [35] [36] He later went onto represent the country in sports as he was encouraged to do so by the high-ranking officials of the Gajaba Regiment in 2012. [37] He was also felicitated and rewarded for creating history in the Paralympics event. After winning the Paralympic medal he quoted, having said that it was the Army officers who motivated him to continue the sports after he abandoned it. "I worked hard during the last six months and I saw my family members only four days during the past six months. After the battle injury, it was the Army officers who dragged me for training,". [38] [39]
On 30 August 2021, commander of the Sri Lankan Army Shavendra Silva promoted him as Warrant officer 1 with the approval of the Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and secretary to the minister of defense Kamal Gunaratne following his gold medal triumph at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. [40]
Devendra Jhajharia is an Indian Paralympic javelin thrower competing in F46 events. He is the first Indian Paralympics player to win two gold medals at the Paralympics. He won his first gold in the javelin throw at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, becoming the second gold medalist at the Paralympics for his country. At the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, he won a second gold medal in the same event, bettering his previous record. Devendra is currently being supported by the Olympic Gold Quest. He becomes India's most decorated Paralympic player by winning his third medal, a silver at the 2020 Summer Paralympics at Tokyo.
India made its Summer Paralympic debut at the 1968 Games, competed again in 1972, and then was absent until the 1984 Games. The country has participated in every edition of the Summer games since then. It has never participated in the Winter Paralympic Games.
Sri Lanka made its Paralympic Games début at the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, with a single athlete in track and field. The country has participated in every subsequent edition of the Summer Paralympics, but has never entered the Winter Paralympics.
Hollie Beth Arnold, is a British parasport athlete competing in category F46 javelin. Although born in Grimsby, she now lives and trains in Loughborough. She represents Wales in the Commonwealth Games. Arnold was the youngest ever field athlete to ever compete in the Paralympics/Olympics, at the age of 14 at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing throwing a personal best. She also threw a personal best in 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. She took the gold medal in the F46 javelin in the 2016 Rio Paralympics, also throwing a new world record at the same time. In 2021, at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, she took the bronze medal in the same event. In 2018, she became the first ever Javelin thrower in history to hold all four major titles in the same Paralympic/Olympic 4-year cycle: Rio Paralympics and world record 2016, London World Championships and world record 2017, Berlin European Championships and course record 2018 and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and world record 2018. She also holds four consecutive world titles: 2013 Lyon, 2015 Doha, 2017 London, and 2019 Dubai.
Nadeeka Lakmali Bambarenda Liyanage is a Sri Lankan javelin thrower. She is regarded one of the finest javelin throwers in Sri Lanka with global fame. She is also attached with the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force and current national record holder in women's javelin throw event.
Jayden Sawyer is an Australian para athlete who competes mainly in the F38 category in throwing events. He won has won gold and bronze medals at the World Para Athletics Championships. He competed at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympics.
Holly Irene Robinson is a New Zealand para-athlete, primarily competing in the javelin throw. She represented New Zealand at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Paralympics, winning silver in 2016 and gold in 2020. At the 2016 Games, she was New Zealand's flagbearer for the opening ceremony.
Sundar Singh Gurjar is an Indian Paralympic javelin thrower, shot putter and discus thrower competing in F46 events. He won bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in men's javelin F46 event. He set a world record at the 16th Para Athletics National Championship in Panchkula holding three gold medals in three events. He is also recipient of Arjuna Award for Para-athletics.
Nadeesha Dilhani Lekamge is a Sri Lankan javelin thrower. She won a silver medal at the 2017 Asian Championships.
People with disabilities in Sri Lanka typically face significant stigma and discrimination. The main causes for disability in Sri Lanka are poor hygiene, lack of medical care, the prevalence of 30 years of war, the aftereffects of the 2004 tsunami, and an increase in accidents.
Sri Lanka took part in the 2018 Asian Para Games which was held in Jakarta from 6 to 13 October 2018, sent a delegation consisting of 30 para-athletes in 9 different sporting events. The 2016 Rio Paralympic medalist Dinesh Priyantha Herath was the skipper and the flagbearer for the contingent. Sri Lanka secured 5 medals on the opening day of the Asian Para Games.
Abeykoon Mudiyansalage Yupun Priyadarshana, known as Yupun Abeykoon, also referred to as Yupun Priyadarshana, is a Sri Lankan track and field athlete and a national record holder in men's 100m, men's 200m and in men's indoor 60m. On 3 July 2022, he became the first South Asian to break the 10-Second barrier for the men's 100 meters event at the Resisprint International competition, with a timing of 9.96 seconds, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. He currently resides in Italy as he went on a scholarship to Italy in 2015. He is also attached to the Electronic and Mechanical Engineering Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army and represents Army Sports Club. He is currently regarded as the fastest Sri Lankan man as well as fastest South Asian man in men's 100m and 200m disciplines.
Sri Lanka competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, from 24 August to 5 September 2021.
Jerzy Dabrowski competed for Poland in the men's standing volleyball event at the 1988 Summer Paralympics, where he won a bronze medal.
Mahesh Priyamal Jayakody, also known as Mahesh Jayakodi or Priyamal Jayakodi, is a Sri Lankan a para-rower and a soldier. He made his debut Paralympic appearance representing Sri Lanka at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. He is the first Sri Lankan rower to compete at the Paralympics.
Sumit Antil is an Indian paralympian and javelin thrower. He won gold medals in men's javelin throw F64 category at the 2020 Summer Paralympics and the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships. He holds the current world record, having thrown 73.29 meters at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou.
Samitha Dulan Kodithuwakku, also known as Samitha Dulan, is a Sri Lankan Paralympic track and field athlete. He made his first Paralympic appearance representing Sri Lanka at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
Kumudu Priyanka Dissanayake Mudiyanselage is a Sri Lankan Paralympic track and field athlete who is also a current world record holder in women's 200m T45 category. She made her first Paralympic appearance representing Sri Lanka at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
Palitha Bandara Halgahawela Gedara, also known as Palitha Bandara or Palitha Halgahawela, is a Sri Lankan para athlete who has specialized in discus throw and shot put. He is currently attached with Sri Lankan Army as an army corporal.
The following lists notable events that took place during the year 2023 in Sri Lanka.
{{cite web}}
: Check |url=
value (help)