A team of seventeen talented athletes from Sri Lanka is all set to embark on a thrilling journey to Chengdu, China, representing the Sri Lanka Universities Sports Association (SLUSA). These athletes will participate in the highly esteemed World University Games, scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 8. The 12-day tournament, organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), promises to showcase top-notch sporting talent from around the globe.
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. This broad representation of Sri Lanka’s academic institutions highlights the country’s commitment to fostering sporting excellence among its university students.
All team members were carefully selected based on their exceptional performances in the 2022 national rankings, with SLUSA having 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, ensuring that only the finest athletes represent the nation.
The Sri Lankan team boasts some prominent athletes who are anticipated to leave a lasting mark in their respective fields. Among them is Amasha de Silva, the top-ranked sprinter in women’s 100m and 200m events, 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.
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 from Sabaragamuwa University.
