22 August 2024 09:17 am Views - 54
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Pradeep’ Somasiri
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By Susil Premalal
Asian Para Games Gold Medalist Pradeep Somasiri will be Sri Lanka’s clear medal prospect at the 2024 Paris Paralympics Games from August 28 to September 8 in France.
“My long-standing dream is to win a Paralympics Medal for Sri Lanka, and I am determined to produce my best performance in Paris,” Somasiri, who will compete in the Men’s 1,500m T-47 event, told the Daily Mirror. The Sri Lankan Paralympics contingent includes six athletes, one swimmer and one wheelchair tennis player.
Somasiri’s first game was cricket, and he made steady progress before he switched to para sports and thereafter, he has gone on to win a few medals at international level.
Somasiri grew up in the remote village of Kiriporuwa in Eheliyagoda. He received his primary education at Kiriporuwa Vidyalaya and later pursued higher education at the Sri Sumana Pirivena in Mulgampitiya.
Somasiri’s athletic talent was evident from his school days as he excelled in District, Provincial and National level running competitions.
Born with a disability, Somasiri joined the Ministry of Sports in 2016 with an initial goal of joining a special needs cricket team.
However, his path took an unexpected turn when he met a Captain from the Kuruwita Army Camp, who introduced him to para sports and encouraged him to pursue training in para-athletics.
In 2017 Somasiri won Silver Medal in the 400m and 200m running events at the Dubai Asian Youth Para Games, which led to his selection to the Sri Lanka National Team.
However, his athletic journey was interrupted for nearly a year due to the COVID -19 pandemic.
In 2022 Somasiri won a Gold Medal at the Asian Para Games and Silver Medal at the World Para Grand Prix in Morocco in 2024.
His dream is to record an outstanding timing and win a medal at the upcoming Paris Paralympics Games.