Herath’s wins Sri Lanka’s first-ever Paralympic gold

• Herath wins Sri Lanka’s first ever Paralympic gold
• Smashes previous World Record with throw of 67.79 metres
• Spent four years in hospital recovering from battle injuries  

By Susil Premalal

Dinesh Priyantha Herath made history yesterday when he won Sri Lanka’s first-ever Paralympic gold medal also setting a new World Record in his event at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. 

Herath, a Sergeant of the Gajaba regiment of the Sri Lanka Army who sustained injuries in December 2008 while in battle at Kilinochci, threw for a distance of 67.79 metres in the Men’s Javelin T46 event. 

That effort smashed the previous record of 63.97 metres held by India’s Devendra Jhajharia, who also surpassed that with his throw of 64.35 metres yesterday to claim silver. 

His compatriot, Sundar Singh Gurjar also broke the previous World Record, but was the third best throw of the event, with a distance of 64.01 metres. 

“I am very happy because my main dream came true. I have no words to describe (the feeling). This is the best example for Sri Lankan para athletes,” Herath said after winning gold. 

Herath had no grounding in sports until after he was injured in battle, making his effort all the more remarkable. 
“When I was a schoolboy, and (later) in the army, I didn’t play any sports. After I got injured, I was in hospital for more than four years. Because I was in an infantry regiment, most of my friends also got injured the same day. So they were in the hospital chatting to each other. After I recovered, I wanted to play a sport as a recreation,” he also said.

He sustained bullet injuries in his left arm, his non-throwing arm. 

“I have three children and my wife looks after them very well. She motivates me. Our youngest child is only eight months old. (My wife) has done everything. She has given me freedom to do sport. I thank my wife for this gold.”
Herath was the second Sri Lankan to medal at the Paralympics when he won bronze at the 2016 Rio  Olympics – after Pradeep Sanjaya won bronze in the 400m T46 event at the London 2021 games -- making yesterday’s gold Sri Lanka’s single best result in Olympic or Paralympic history. 

Sri Lanka’s only medals in the Olympics has come through Duncan White, who won Silver at the 1948 Games in London, and Susanthika Jayasinghe who also won a Silver at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney .

Herath has also bagged a Silver Medal in 2017 and 2019 at the World Para Athletics Championships in London and Dubai. 
In addition, he had won a gold medal at the Jakarta Para Asian Games in 2018.

 Dulan wins Bronze in javelin throw F64 event 

 By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka’s Samitha Dulan Kodithuwakku won the Bronze Medal with a personal best of 65.61m while competing in the F64 javelin throw event at the 16th Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan yesterday.  

The 30-year-old Corporal of Sri Lanka Military Police was making his maiden appearance at the Paralympics following his fourth place finish at the World Para Meet in 2019.   

Dulan was in contention for the Silver Medal at one stage until the sixth attempt before Australian Michal Burian cleared a personal best of 66.29m to ensure the second place in this event.

India’s Sumit Antil finished with a world record of 68.55m as he clinched the Gold Medal in this event.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Sampath Hettiarachchi, who also took part in this same event, had to be satisfied with the ninth place with a performance of 49.94m.