Winning a medal is my aim at the Asian Para Games said Dinesh Deshappriya in an exclusive interview yesterday.
I won the silver medal at 2014 Asian Para Games in South Korea and my target is to improve on that and expect to give of my best said Dinesh the youngest brother of former National TT player Indika Prasad.
TT is my passion in my life but I have birth defect but it’s not an issue to continue my sport. I have a leg injury but it is not an issue as from my childhood I used to play TT and follow my two elder brothers Indika Prasad and Nuwan Sampath footsteps added former Isipathana paddler Dinesh Deshappriya.
I started as an able TT player and proud to say I am still in both National pools as an able and disabled player. It’ s not easy to continue this sport with the injury I used to get injections monthly to get normal while Arthritis is also in my joints and some times it is very painful but dedication and commitment to TT is very high and that is my success story said Dinesh Priyantha who is the only TT player with Asian Para Sri Lanka team.
I couldn’t take part in more International ranking tournaments recently due to financial problems and that is the main reason I couldn’t maintain high ranking this time. This is also good as my opponents don’t have an idea about my present performance but my target is to improve in world ranking and get a medal and make an all effort to focus on next Paralympics in France added Dinesh. Today I have to play with able players during domestic tournament and got chance to go overseas tour with abled players which gave me big boost.
He said that in Para TT events he won 2014 Asian Para Games Silver Medal Class 10 2015 China Para Open Bronze Medal Class 10 and 2018 Thailand Para Open Gold Medal Class 09 and once again 2023 Egypt Para Open Gold Medal Class 09 and all these medals gave me big strength to go forward.
National Para Olympic Committee ( NPC) always give me good support while Sport Ministry is supportive of us .As a disabled TT player we have to face lot of difficulties.
I have to say disabled TT player with many difficulties should have strength. We couldn’t get proper training and Sport Ministry should realise about our problems The NPC always coordinate with Sports Ministry as well as National Sports Council and many thanks to NPC President Lt Colonel Deepal Herath and past President Retired Major General Rajitha Ampemohotti who give tremendous support to uplift para sports.
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