Team Sri Lanka for World Power Lifting Championship

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Five powerlifters will represent Sri Lanka at the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Classic Championship which will be held from the 9th to the 15th of June in Helsingborg Sweden.

Regarded as the biggest competition in World Powerlifting, the IPF World Powerlifting championship will see the participation of competitors from all the leading powerlifting nations of the world. This is the fourth world championship that Sri Lanka will feature in, having competed in the 2016, 2017 & 2018 editions previously.

Video – Lifting her way to glory – Marian De Zoysa

Marian De Zoysa entered the powerlifting history books at the recently concluded Asian Pacific Powerlifting…

Sri Lankan lifters earned qualification for the competition at the Asia Pacific Powerlifting championship, where they managed to make history becoming the overall champions in the equipped category. The world championships however will be held in the classic discipline (Raw discipline) where the lifters are not allowed to use any external support such as knee wraps or squat suits.

Ransilu Jayathilaka will be Sri Lanka’s most experienced campaigner  at the championship as this will be his third World Championship, having represented Sri Lanka at three previous editions. 2017 World Championship which was held in Calgary, Canada is no doubt the most memorable competition for Ransilu as he managed to become the Asian record holder in the 120 Kg Open deadlift, a record which he holds to date and was placed 7th in the competition. Speaking to ThePapare.com regarding his expectations for this year’s competition, Ransilu stated, “I am determined to renew my Asian record in the deadlift. I have been training hard despite all the distractions I had to deal with to try and get the necessary paperwork done so the Sri Lankan team can participate in this championship. I want to somehow finish in the top ten competitors at this championship. There will be very tough competition with top lifters in the world but I will give my best for the lion flag”

Related: Four medals for SL while Marian breaks four National Records

Marian De Zoysa will make history at the IPF World Classic Championship as the first Sri Lankan female powerlifter to compete at the world event. She was impressive at the Asia Pacific championship where she managed to break four national records en route to winning a silver in the category and earned qualification to compete in the World Championship, clearing a total weight of 337.5Kg in the Classic category which won her the bronze medal in the 72Kg Open weight class.

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Related: Powerlifters end their historic tour on a high

A veteran in the powerlifting circuits Hiran Fernando will be looking to make his mark at the World Championship when he competes in the Men’s 93Kg Open event. Hiran won Gold in the Men’s 93Kg Masters event at the Asian Pacific Championship but will have a fresh and steeper challenge at the World Championship where he is competing in the Men’s Open category which will see best lifters from all over the world competing for a spot on the podium.

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Vikum Perera is an up and coming powerlifter who has shown steady progress. Vikum will be competing in the Men’s 105Kg Junior category and is truly one of the flag bearers of the next generation of powerlifters in Sri Lanka. At the Asian Pacific Championship, Vikum cleared a total of 540Kg, winning Silver in the Men’s Junior 105Kg weight category. Having previously participated in the Commonwealth Powerlifting championship, Vikum will be looking to use his international experience at the championship to push for a top ten finish.

The youngest member of the Sri Lankan team, Kakolya De Sliva who will be competing in the Men’s Sub Junior 105kg event and is Sri Lanka’s prime medal hope at the championship. Kakolya has really put his hand up as one to keep an eye out for the future, with some inspiring performances in the recent months. Having cleared a total of 507.5Kg at the Asia Pacific Championship, Kakolya will be eager to add a few more Kilos to his personal total and to push for an opportunity feature in the podium of this prestigious championship.