Palitha Bandara

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Palitha Bandara
Personal information
Full namePalitha Bandara Halgahawela
Born (1992-09-06) 6 September 1992 (age 31)
Matale, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Sport
Event(s)shot put, discus throw
Medal record
Representing  Sri Lanka
men's Athletics
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2022 Birmingham discus throw (F44)/(F64)
Asian Para Games
Silver medal – second place 2018 Jakarta shot put

Palitha Bandara Halgahawela Gedara also known as Palitha Halgahawela (born 6 September 1992) is a Sri Lankan para athlete who has specialized in discus throw and shot put.[1][2] He is currently attached with Sri Lankan Army as an army corporal.

Career

He faced a career threatening injury to his left knee when he played volleyball with Army in 2013. Some sources depict he met with an accident in 2011 and injured his left leg badly. He pursued his career in para sports especially in shot put F42 category the following year in 2014 ever since his muscle function was impaired above his left knee.[3]

He rose to prominence and limelight at the 2018 Army Para Games where he set two new meet records in both shot put and discus throw events with distances of 40.30 meters and 12.80 meters. He also claimed silver medal in javelin throw at 2018 Army Para Games and was also adjudged as the best para athlete of the competition.[4] He claimed silver medal in the men's shot put event at the 2018 Asian Para Games. He took part in men's shot put F63 event at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.

In February 2021, he cleared a distance of 13.42 meters at the World Para Grand Prix which earned him a guaranteed spot for the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[5] He claimed a bronze medal in men's shot put event at 2021 Fazza World Para Athletic Championship in Dubai.[6] He represented Sri Lanka at the 2020 Summer Paralympics and it also marked his maiden appearance at the Summer Paralympics.[7] He was one of the members of the nine member contingent to represent Sri Lanka at the Tokyo Paralympics.[8][9] On 4 September 2021, he was placed at fifth position in men's shot put F63 final event during the 2020 Summer Paralympics after clearing a distance of 13.40 meters.[10]

He represented Sri Lanka at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and also marked his debut appearance at the Commonwealth Games.[11] He was also the only para athlete to represent Sri Lanka at Birmingham Commonwealth Games. He decided to take up discus throw since shot put was not part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games schedule and he pursued discus throw from December 2021 under the guidance of national coach Prabath Danushka Perera.[3]

He claimed silver medal in men's F42-44/61-64 discus throw final at the 2022 Commonwealth Games after clearing a distance of 44.20 meters garnering 944 points.[12][13][14] He became the first Sri Lankan to win a Para Sports medal for Sri Lanka in Commonwealth Games history.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Palitha Halgahawela - Athletics | Paralympic Athlete Profile". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  2. ^ "Palitha Bandara". Birmingham. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  3. ^ a b "Handicapped Bandara promises to exchange his Plate for a crown at Commonwealth Games". Sunday Observer. 2022-07-23. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  4. ^ "Palitha Bandara best athlete at Army Para Games". Sunday Observer. 2018-09-22. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  5. ^ Weerasooriya, Sahan. "Eight Sri Lankans at 2021 World Para Athletics Grand Prix". Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  6. ^ Ranasinghe, Dinushki (2021-02-05). "6 selected for Fazza Grand Prix 2021". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  7. ^ "Palitha Bandara to make debut at Tokyo Para Games".
  8. ^ "Sri Lanka to field 9 athletes for Tokyo Paralympics 2020". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  9. ^ "Sri Lankan Paralympians gung-ho of doubling medal tally in Tokyo". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  10. ^ "Palitha Bandara finishes fifth". Sunday Observer. 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  11. ^ "Palitha Bandara to represent Sri Lanka at Commonwealth Games - Sports | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  12. ^ Admin (2022-08-03). "Palitha Bandara secures Silver". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  13. ^ "Para-athlete Palitha Bandara wins silver at 2022 CWG". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  14. ^ "Yupun and Palitha shine for Sri Lanka at Commonwealth Games 2022". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2022-08-04. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  15. ^ "Silver for Sri Lanka in Men's Para Discus - Headline | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
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