Anti-Climax in Yupun’s Return

The much-anticipated race at the National Championship took an unexpected twist as Yupun Abekoon withdrew midway during the 100m heat 3.

Former Olympian and South Asian record holder, Abeykoon, who boasts a personal best of 9.96 seconds in the 100m, made his return to the local track after 2019. However, disappointment struck when he had to abandon the race after just a few steps.

Abeykoon later expressed gratitude to his supporters who were there, hoping to witness his remarkable comeback. His journey has been marked by challenges—last season, he grappled with an injury that caused him to miss significant events like the Asian Games and Asian Championship. He returned to competition this year, setting his sights on an elusive Olympic berth for the second time. Unfortunately, his plans were once again hampered when he faced another injury earlier this month.

This event marked his first attempt after the recent injury, but it didn’t unfold as planned. Yupun currently holds the 78th position in the Road to Olympic list, with a direct qualification time for the 100m set at 10.00 seconds. Only 56 athletes will be selected for the Olympic 100m event.