Two Sri Lankan athletes in action today

World Para Athletics Championship 2019

By Hishan Welmilla 

in Dubai

Two Sri Lankan Para athletes will be in Action today on the second day of the 9th World Para Athletics

Chaminda Sampath Hettiarachchi

Samitha Dulan

Championship at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, Dubai.

Chaminda Sampath Hettiarachchi and Samitha Dulan will be in action in the Men’s F44 Javelin throw.

“The top 12 athletes for this category will be in action and there will be a tough competition especially from Indian and Trinidad & Tobago athletes. But our two athletes also have a better chance among them” said Coach Pradeep Nishantha.

9 Sri Lankan athletes have taken part in this year’s competition, led by the Rio 2016 silver medallist Dinesh Priyantha. Dinesh Amila Prasan (T42 – 100m), Indika Chuladasa (T42 – 100m), Chaminda Hettiarachchi (F63/F44 – Javelin), Samitha Dulan (F44 – Javelin), Buddika Indrapala (Long Jump), Palitha Bandara (F42 – Shot Putt), Nuwan Indika (TF44 – Long Jump/100m) and Kumudu Priyanka (TF47 – 100m Long Jump). Priyanka is incidentally the only female competitor in the Sri Lankan contingent.

The ninth edition got underway yesterday with a spectacular opening ceremony, a dazzling display celebrating the strength and determination of the athletes.

Heat will be “a challenge”

Many athletes have voiced concerns that the heat will be “a challenge” at the World Para-Athletics Championships. Daily temperatures in the city are expected to significantly exceed 30C, with high humidity levels. 

In a statement to the media, governing body World Para Athletics said it, along with the local organising committee, would be “constantly monitoring temperature and humidity” during the championships.

“World Para Athletics has a heat countermeasure policy that has been successfully applied to previous events such as the Doha 2015 World Championships and the Berlin 2018 European Championships,” the statement continued.

Broadcasting Records

The 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai are set to be broadcast to more countries than ever before, it was announced on the eve of the event.

A total of 24 broadcasters from all continents will receive coverage, reaching 88 territories. Japanese broadcaster NHK will show all evening sessions live and has taken a team of around 100 professionals to the United Arab Emirates. 

“Dubai 2019 is the biggest single Para-sport event before the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, and to achieve such a record coverage shows the continuing growth in interest for Para-sports worldwide,” said Alexis Schaefer, the commercial, broadcasting and partnerships director at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).