Chaminda Hettiarachchi in full force yesterday – Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi

Chaminda Sampath Hettiarachchi of Gajaba Sports Club bettered a Para World Athletic Record in the T-44 Javelin event at the National Para Athletics Championships at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

The World Record in the T-44 Javelin event is 59.82 mtrs. Chaminda bettered it with a throw of 62.11 mtrs. The record holder is Gao Mingjie of China which was set up in 2011 at the New Zealand, Christchurch meet.

Ironically, Chaminda was not awarded the record because there were no international participants at the meet, stated the Para Olympic Committee.

He is a retired sergeant of the Sri Lanka Army. In 2008 he lost a leg and was amputated below the knee. For his performance he was awarded the Open Category Best Athlete’s Award.

Over 700 athletes took part in the Para Nationals Athletics Championships 2018. This is the final trial for the Para Asian Games to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia in October this year.

Sri Lanka Light Infantry emerged as the Open Men’s Champions. The women’s championship was won by Rehab Lanka Sports Club.

Thirty seven meet records were established at the two day meet.

www.sundaytimes.lk