A team of seventeen talented athletes from Sri Lanka, proudly representing the Sri Lanka Universities Sports Association (SLUSA), is all set for an exhilarating journey to Chengdu, China. Departing tomorrow (Wednesday), these athletes will be participating in the highly esteemed World University Games, scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 8. Hailing from six state universities out of the country’s total of 16, the Sri Lankan contingent will be competing in a diverse range of disciplines,
including athletics, table tennis, badminton, swimming, and artistic gymnastics. The 12-day tournament, organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), promises to showcase top-notch sporting talent from around the globe.
The team comprises six athletes from Sri Jayewardenepura University, four from Sabaragamuwa University, three from Moratuwa University, two from Kelaniya University, and one each from Ruhunu and Peradeniya Universities, highlighting the broad representation of Sri Lanka’s academic institutions.
In a bid to field only the finest athletes, all team members were selected based on their exceptional performances in the 2022 national rankings, and SLUSA had submitted the entries before February 2023.
Remarkably, Sri Lanka is exclusively enlisting athletes for individual events, and every member currently holds a top-three position in the country’s national rankings in their respective disciplines.
The Sri Lankan team boasts some prominent athletes, such as Amasha de Silva, the top-ranked sprinter in women’s 100m and 200m events, who is currently a third-year student at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Additionally, Amaya Kalukottage, the country’s number two ranked artistic gymnast, is poised to showcase her exceptional talents in the games. Both athletes are anticipated to leave a lasting mark in their respective fields.
The badminton team will be led by Girls’ Team Captain Hasini Ambalangodage and Hasara Wijeratne, both of whom held top-ranked positions last year and are eager to demonstrate their skills on the global stage. The Boys’ Team Captain is RD Ranatunga of Sabaragamuwa University.
With numerous Olympic medalists representing sports universities from various countries, this year’s World University Games promises to be a fiercely competitive event. For Sri Lanka, this presents an unparalleled opportunity for their athletes to gain invaluable exposure and experience on the international stage.
Athletics: AT Dasun (SJP), Chamal Kumarasiri (SJP), RD Ranatunga (SAB), Amasha de Silva (SJP), Weranga Thisarani (SAB), RN Abeyratne (SAB). Badminton: Hasara Wijeratne (SJP), Hasini Ambalangoda (SJP). Swimming: Chathusha Dalpathadu (RUH), IM Abyeratne (PER), SS Senaratne (KEL).
Table Tennis: Thanushi Rodrigo (KEL), Chamathsara Fernando (MOR) Artistic Gymnastics: Amaya Kalukottage (SJP).
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