“There are numberless opportunities from other countries for athletes all over the world to represent another country despite their motherland, they have normalized it for athletes, although for me representing another country is a massive decision.”
“I haven’t yet decided in being an ambassador for another country because my main motive is to uplift Sri Lanka athletics up to a good position. Even if I take a decision like such, I will make sure to give my utmost support to our paradise Island,” Said Yupun Abyekoon at a media briefing held at CR & FC Colombo yesterday. [3rd November]
Major General Palitha Fernando, the president of Sri Lanka Athletics, Former national athlete Damayanthi Dharsha, and Commonwealth games medalist Yupun Abyekoon who became the first south Asian to clock sub 10 seconds, graced this occasion with the presence.
- “මම තාම ඒ වගේ තීරණයක් අරගෙන නැහැ” – යුපුන් අබේකෝන්
- Avishka and Praveen through to Finals Asian Youth Championships
- National Trials for Asian Games and Asian Athletics Championship to kick off this weekend
Yupun Abeykoon received a pack of souvenirs from Major General Palitha Fernando for the formidable journey of his athletic career thus far.
Addressing the gathering Major General Palitha Fernando said, “This will be the last media gathering for this year. And our athletes recorded some remarkable track and field performances this year, especially Yupun Abeykoon’s victory at the Commonwealth games, reminisced the performance done 24 years ago.”
“Country’s youth team also accounted for five medals at the recently concluded Asian Youth Athletics Championships.” He added.
He also said that they have already made the plans for next year’s international assignments. Furthermore, he stated that Sri Lanka Athletics has started the selection process and the practice sessions for the upcoming international assignments.
After concluding his speech, he invited Asia’s fastest man Yupun Abeykoon on stage to speak a few words.
Yupun Abeykoon speaking to the media said, “First of all I would like to thank everyone for giving me this opportunity to talk a few words, every Asian athlete had a dream of breaking the record of 10 seconds and after a lot of hard work over the last 3 years I was able to achieve that goal this year”
“My next main target is the Asian games 2022. And I plan to concentrate and do some intensive training for that. Also, I am in the process of getting people on board for an initiative to boost up the performances of other Sri Lankan athletes.”
He also mentioned that he has not taken a single penny from the money he received, [100,000 USD] and he has no intention of using it for his betterment instead he will try his best to use it for other Lankan athletes.
