Abeykoon tops fastest rank in Asia

By Susil Premalal

Tokyo 2021 Olympian Yupun Abeykoon’s recent form has seen him rank as the fastest athlete in Asia for 2022, according to Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) statistics recorder Saman Kumara Gunawardena.

Italy-based Abeykoon, who participated in a Diamond League meet last year, is ranked number one sprinter in Asia clocking 10.06 seconds (-0.2) at a meeting in Germany this week. 

Abeykoon holds either the national or South Asian records in four events. 

They are in the 60m (6.59s), 100m (10.06s), 150m (15.16s) and 200m (20.37s).

His 150m time of 15.16s is the best by an Asian athlete and considered an Asian record. 

Abeykoon will be targeting qualification for the 18th World Athletic Championship in Oregon 2022 from July 15 to 25 in the United States, and is only 0.01s shy of the IAAF qualifying standard of 10.05s in the men’s 100m.
The cut-off date for qualifying for the World Championship is June 26 and Abeykoon could achieve it by participating in five or six international events, Gunawardena said.

No Sri Lankan athlete has qualified for the World Athletic Championship since qualification standards were introduced, putting Abeykoon on the brink of creating history. 

Abeykoon received his education at Pannala National School and St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappurwa.