Bandara provides silver lining
Sri Lanka’s para-athletes continue to be treated poorly despite the world record-breaking effort of Dinesh Priyantha Herath to clinch a historic gold medal in the mens F42 javelin throw at the Tokyo Paralympics last year. Coming close on the heels of Sri Lankas nine-member team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics failing to make any lasting impression, a country reeling from the global pandemic embraced the deeds of a war hero which was arguably akin to the Olympic medals won by Duncan White and Susanthika Jayasinghe. His monumental feat was no flash in the pan, having won a bronze in Rio Paralympics 2016. Samitha Dulan Kodithuwakku won Sri Lanka’s fourth Paralympic medal in Tokyo when he secured the bronze medal in the men’s F64 javelin throw. Sri Lankaâs first Paralympic medal came at London 2012 when Pradeep Sanjaya won bronze in the men’s T46 400 metres.
The XXII Commonwealth Games provided an opportunity to showcase the talents and medal-winning potential of para-athletes in Birmingham which included Para Swimming, Athletics, Track Cycling, Lawn Bowls, Powerlifting, Table Tennis and Triathlon, among the 19 disciplines at the Games. The National Paralympic Committee (NPC) is equivalent to the National Olympic Committee (NOC) when it comes to selecting participants for the Asian Para Games and Paralympics, but had to request the NOC to send athletes for the Commonwealth Games. Para athletes have represented Sri Lanka at 2010 Delhi and 2014 Glasgow but there was not a single para-athlete in 2018 Gold Coast. This disparity may have continued in Birmingham 2022 if Palitha Bandara had not qualified in the F42-44 discus throw event during a competition in Britain in May.
He also had the good fortune to participate in the GAPS programme, the sport for social purpose initiative developed by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Griffith University, that brought together over 120 para-athletes, coaches and experts from 21 Commonwealth nations to Birmingham. GAPS is a unique programme focused on supporting the development of emerging para athletes and coaches from the Commonwealth. It provides opportunities that empower coaches to support their athletes and the development of sport pathways across the Commonwealth.
But NPC officials were sent from pillar to post when they made an official request as far back as December to include more para-athletes with potential of winning medals in the long list of the Sri Lanka contingent for the Games. They were aiming to get International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Bipartite Commission invitations or wild cards but even until the eleventh hour there was no positive feedback from the NOC or the Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) of Sri Lanka
As a result, did Sri Lanka miss out on more medals in para sports had sprinters Pradeep Somasiri and Saman Maduranga Subasinghe, and Dinesh Deshapriya (table tennis) been given the opportunity to showcase their skills in Birmingham? Since they could not participate in international competitions because of the pandemic and the economic crisis in the country to achieve the MQS (Minimum Qualifying Standard) by December 31, the IPC would have looked at Sri Lanka s situation favourably because of extenuating circumstances.
Bandara, a silver medallist in shot put at the 2018 Para Asian Games, confounded all and sundry by winning a silver medal in discus at Birmingham after switching to this discipline just eight months ago. Even the Sri Lankan media obsessed with the feat of Sri Lankas athletic poster boy Yupun Abeykoon featuring in the mens 100m final seemed oblivious to the fact that Bandara had created history by becoming the first para-athlete to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games. His name was glistening on the giant screen at the Alexander Stadium long before Abeykoon began his epoch-making run. But there are hardly any images of Bandara hurling the discus and his magnanimous gesture of rushing to congratulate Abeykoon after he finished third in the 100 metres.
The attitude of the Sri Lanka public to Para sports has been abysmal to say the least. Despite having thousands of war wounded after a debilitating 30-year war, Sri Lanka is yet to have public utilities for the benefit of the disabled in the country unlike in cities like Dubai or London who really care for those with special needs.
Sri Lanka was placed 31st out of 40 in the medals table not because of Abeykoons bronze medal but thanks to Bandaras silver medal. Sri Lanka even ranks above India who sent six para-athletes to the Games.
In the men’s discus throw F42-44/61-64, Indias Devendra Gahlot (F42) had a personal best of 42.13 in his second attempt but after two foul throws could manage only 41.94 in his final attempt as Bandara retained second position with his fifth throw of 44.20m. In the women’s F55-57 shot put, Poonam Sharma (F56) missed out on a medal being placed fourth with her mark of 7.07 being a Games Record while Sharmila (F57) achieved a personal best of 8.43.
Sri Lanka has the potential to win medals at international level not only in athletics but rowing, table tennis, archery and tennis. It is time all stakeholders concerned including the media remove their blinkered vision when it comes to Para sports which is on par with any other at the Commonwealth Games, said a leading NPC official.