Yupun, Nilani join squad for Tokyo 2020

By Susil Premalal

Italy-based Sri Lankan sprinter Yupun Abeykoon and Nilani Rathnayaka (3,000m steeplechase) complete the squad of nine athletes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games which will be from July 23 to August 8.  
They join Mathilda Karlsson (equestrian), Milka Gehani (artistic gymnastics), Tehani Egodawela (shooting), Chamara Nuwan Gunawardana (judo) and veteran Olympian Niluka Karunaratne who will be making his third appearance at the games.  

Awaiting final confirmation from FINA, expected tomorrow, are the two swimmers -- Aniqah Gaffoor (100m Butterfly) and Matthew Abeysinghe (100m Freestyle).  

Abeykoon who had a very impressive run in the short distance circuit is currently ranked 49th in the World Athletics charts as of June 22. The 26-year-old athlete from Pannala has already made steady progress in the 100m event to reach Olympic Qualification.  

Japanese authorities have requested Olympic athletes and officials from India and five other countries hit hard by the highly infectious Delta variant of the corona virus to have daily virus tests for seven days before leaving for the Games.  

Currently, all overseas athletes are being asked to have coronavirus tests twice during the four-day period before their departure for the Tokyo Olympics, which are set to start on July 23 after a year’s delay due to the pandemic.  
The Japanese government aims to put the new rule, which will be applied to athletes from India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, into effect on July 1.  Olympics Minister Tamayo Marukawa has stated that a member of the Ugandan Olympic team who tested positive for the coronavirus upon arrival had the Delta variant, adding to concern the Games may trigger a new wave of infections.