Young Sri Lankan weightlifter Ushan Widanapathirana who competed in the Men’s 105+ weight category created history in Gold Coast and laid claim to 3 National records in the event.
Despite being placed overall 8th in the in the competition, the 24 year old grabbed himself the National record in the Snatch – 142Kg , Clean and Jerk 187Kg and Highest overall weight of 329Kg. The total weight of 329Kg cleared by Ushan will enter the history books as the highest weight cleared by a Sri Lankan in weightlifting. The previous record was also held by him for his performance at the 5th Asian Indoor Athletics and Martial Art Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Former Isipathanian prop forward was a member of 1st XV Rugby team in during his schools days and was a member of the league and the Presidents knockout trophy winning team of 2012 which also won the coveted Maj Milroy Fernando trophy and the Abdul Jabbar trophy the same year.
Ushan joined the club giants Kandy Sports club after his school career but gave up rugby to pursue a career in weight-lifting at the advice of his coach Naveendra Dayan who considers Ushan to be one of a kind weightlifter to emerge from the country due to his imposing stature which allows him to compete in the 105+Kg weight category which is a rare feat for a Sri Lankan.
ThePapare.com congratulates the Ushan for this impressive feat achieved at a global competition and look forward to reporting many more success stories of the gentle giant.
