High jumper Ushan Tiwanka withdraws from Asian Games

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka high jumper Ushan Tiwanka has decided to withdraw from the Hangzhou Asian Games. The Asian Games Athletic event is scheduled to be held from September 29 to October 8.   

Sri Lanka Athletic (SLA), the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) and Ministry of Sports have been informed about it, says SLA General Secretary Saman Kumara Gunawardena.   

With sprinter Yupun Abeykoon and Ushan Tiwanka withdrawing from the Asian Games, the Sri Lanka athletic contingent has reduced from 16 to 14.   
Accordingly, the athletic contingent comprises seven men and seven women.   

Sri Lanka’s medal hope has also reduced to two.   

SLA expected five medals at the Asian Games from Yupun Abeykoon (100m and 200m) and Ushan Tiwanka (High Jump).   

High Jump men’s Sri Lanka indoor and outdoor record holder has a career best performance of 2.30m in this event. But the 25-year-old couldn’t match or come close to that feat this season.   

Ushan Tiwanka, who is said to be studying at the University of Texas in the USA, has not represented Sri Lanka in this event for several years.   

He was nominated for the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, but due to an error by the SLA Administraton, the Jakarta Asian Games Organising Committee did not accept his entry.   
He was also selected by the SLA for the 2022 Commonwealth Games (Birmingham) and 25th Asian Senior Athletic Championship 2023, but abstained from participating on both occasions.