I achieved several victories including Commonwealth Games 100m Bronze and this is the result of my last two years hard training said Asian fastest sprinter Yupun Abeykoon who came to Sri Lanka yesterday for a short holiday from Italy.
The 27 year old sprinter from Pannala National School and St Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa further said I was able to become Asia’s fastest athlete by running under 10 seconds while gaining more achievements at the European meets and Diamond league meets during the last few months and all these achievements are a result of my dedication with the support of my coaches in Italy said Abeykoon.
Actually I never expected Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe to visit me during my training period in Italy. He was keen to chat with me and saw the new technology which I used in Italy and came to see Gymnasium and other modern technical equipment which I used with my coach and the Minister was very pleased about my training in Italy. When the athlete reaches the International level he or she has to make good use from the new technology and I am lucky to get all these from Italy and it paved the way for my success said Yupun Abeykoon who also recently got promoted in the Sri Lanka Army.
Actually I have focused on next Asian Games after winning the Commonwealth Games and we have to take step by step and not to forget the next Olympics said last time Tokyo Olympian Abeykoon. Olympics also is my target but before that I have to take part in several,international meets to get more exposure.
Yupun Abeykoon came to Sri Lanka for a one month period while he is planning to get two weeks rest and then start his training from here and Sri Lanka Athletics headed by Major General Palitha Fernando is expected to make arrangements for his training said Vice President of the Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) Chandanas Ekanayake who was with the officials to welcome Yupun Abeykoon yesterday at the Katunayake Airport. Yupun came here with his Commonwealth Games bronze medal while his mother and grandmother also were present at the welcome ceremony. Major General Palitha Fernando the President of SLA said We are delighted to see Yupun Abeykoon here in Sri Lanka after a very successful season and he made Sri Lanka really proud. Sri Lanka Athletics celebrated its centenary this year and Yupun’s achievement is special for this year and as a responsible National Sport Body we always look after all athletes and providing facilities for them. We already have planned to send more athletes for overseas training to focus on Asian Games said SLA Chief.
Sports Ministry already promised to give allowances for Yupun Abeykoon and his coach in Italy while Sri Lanka Cricket also gave cash award for two years (50, 000 Us dollars each for an year). In addition National Olympic Committee (NOC) also granted money for Yupun Abeykoon while the assistance from the National Olympic Committee of Italy arranged by It’s Vice President Sri Lankan Kelum Perera gave a real boost for Yupun Abeykoon’s career.
