Army athletes impressively champion field of sports in recent times

The senior officer of the Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps joined history as the first-ever judge selected for firing events from Sri Lanka in the Olympics

The Army’s unfailing contribution to the growth of varieties of sports competed in both national and international levels has apparently reached the dizzy heights in recent months, thanks to the prioritized attention being given by its Commander General Shavendra Silva, who is also currently the Chairman, National Sports Selection Committee to be in line with the Army’s ongoing ‘Way Forward Strategy 2020-2025’.   

Record victories and achievements in the past three months alone (December-February) in Cricket, Basketball, Volleyball, Karate, Motor Racing, Riding and Driving, Billiards, Wrestling, Netball, Elle, Badminton, Table Tennis, Archery, Squash, Rugby, Tug of War, High Jump, Baseball and other athletic events, majority of those gains at national or international events vying largely with civil sector sportsmen and sportswomen, amply reaffirm that Army athletes and contributors are continuously groomed to be formidable players, capable of taking on any challenge, be it here or abroad.   

It was only last summer Sergeant (Retd) Dinesh Priyantha of the Army came up with his best throw of 67.79m to set a new world record in the men’s F46 category and clinched Sri Lanka’s maiden Gold in Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 30, last year in Japan. The Army was also invited to send Lieutenant Colonel D. M. T. C Dassanayake to serve as a judge in the firing events in the 32nd Olympic Games held in Tokyo. The senior officer of the Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps joined history as the first-ever judge selected for firing events from Sri Lanka in the Olympics, indeed a recognized honour to the Army and the country.