My ‘dream’ is to run at the Paris Olympics - Yupun

By Susil Premalal  

South Asia’s fastest sprinter and Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist Yupun Abeykoon said he has not given up hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in Paris next month.  

The Italy-based athlete will make his first appearance in Colombo after a lapse of five years when he competes in the semi-finals of the Men’s 100m event in the 102nd Sri Lanka Athletic (SLA) National Championships at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama today.  

“You may have 100 dreams but I have only one: that dream is called Paris. I have 100 reasons to give up this moment but I came here to fight for that one dream,” Abeykoon wrote on his Facebook Page.  “I have many things to say but I will keep it for later. I want to fight because when I look back on my past 15 years, I don’t want to regret giving up” he said.  
“I did it once and I want to do it again. Come and support all those who are participating in the National Championship. Let’s do this together,” Abeykoon stated.   The final of the Men’s 100m event will be on Thursday.   

Meanwhile, some of the other events scheduled for today are Dilhani Lekamge (Women’s javelin throw final), Tharushi Karunarathna (Women’s 800m final), Kalinga Kumarage and Aruna Dharshana 
(Men’s 400m final).