Sri Lanka at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Sri Lanka at the
2020 Summer Olympics
IOC codeSRI
NOCNational Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka
Websitewww.srilankaolympic.org
in Tokyo, Japan
July 23, 2021 (2021-07-23) – August 8, 2021 (2021-08-08)
Competitors9 in 7 sports
Flag bearers (opening)Milka Gehani
Chamara Dharmawardana
Flag bearer (closing)Yupun Abeykoon
Officials17
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Sri Lanka competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] It was the nation's eighteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics, with the exception of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Seven of the nation's previous Olympic appearances were under the name Ceylon.

On 4 July 2021, judoka Chamara Dharmawardana and artistic gymnast Milka Gehani were announced as Sri Lanka's flag-bearers during the opening ceremony.[2][3] Yupun Abeykoon is the flag-bearer for the closing ceremony.[4]

The Sri Lankan team of nine athletes (four men and five women) competed in seven sports along with 17 officials and coaches was announced on July 6, 2021.[5] The country made its debut in the sports of artistic gymnastics and equestrian.[6]

None of the athletes were able to advance to the next rounds in their events and Sri Lanka ended the Tokyo Olympics without a medal.[7][8]

Competitors

[edit]

The following is the list of number of competitors in the Games.

Sport Men Women Total
Athletics 1 1 2
Badminton 1 0 1
Equestrian 0 1 1
Gymnastics 0 1 1
Judo 1 0 1
Shooting 0 1 1
Swimming 1 1 2
Total 4 5 9

Athletics

[edit]

Sri Lanka entered two athletes. One Sri Lankan athlete, Yupun Abeykoon achieved the entry standard through the world ranking, while Nimali Liyanarachchi was awarded a universality spot.[9][10][11]

Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Track & road events
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Yupun Abeykoon Men's 100 m Bye 10.32 6 Did not advance
Nimali Liyanarachchi Women's 800 m 2:10.23 8 Did not advance

Badminton

[edit]

Sri Lanka received an invitation from the Tripartite Commission to send Niluka Karunaratne in the men's singles, to his third straight Olympics.[12][13]

Athlete Event Group stage Elimination Quarterfinal Semifinal Final / BM
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Rank in Group Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Rank
Niluka Karunaratne Men's singles  Wang T-w (TPE)
L (12–21, 15–21)
 Nguyen (IRL)
L (16–21, 14–21)
3 Did not advance

Equestrian

[edit]

For the first time in history, Sri Lanka entered one jumping rider into the Olympic equestrian competition, by finishing in the top two of the individual FEI Olympic Rankings for Group G (Southeast Asia and Oceania).[14] Mathilda Karlsson initially had a part of her qualifying points removed, following an administrative error from the FEI; however, the decision on points removal was subsequently overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.[15]

Jumping

[edit]
Athlete Horse Event Qualification Final
Penalties Rank Penalties Time Rank
Mathilda Karlsson Chopin Individual Eliminated Did not advance

Gymnastics

[edit]

Artistic

[edit]

With the cancellation of the 2021 Asian Championships in Hangzhou, China, Milka Gehani secured a spot as the highest-ranked gymnast from Asia at the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany not already qualified.[16]

Women
Athlete Event Qualification Final
Apparatus Total Rank Apparatus Total Rank
V UB BB F V UB BB F
Milka Gehani All-around 13.366 10.866 11.266 10.300 45.798 78 Did not advance

Judo

[edit]

Sri Lanka received an invitation from the Tripartite Commission to send Chamara Dharmawardana in the men's lightweight category (73 kg).[17][18]

Athlete Event Round of 64 Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Repechage Final / BM
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Chamara Dharmawardana Men's −73 kg Bye  Houssein (DJI)
L 00–10
Did not advance

Shooting

[edit]

Sri Lanka received an invitation from the Tripartite Commission to send a women's rifle shooter to the Olympics, as long as the minimum qualifying score (MQS) was fulfilled by June 5, 2021.[19][20]

Athlete Event Qualification Final
Points Rank Points Rank
Tehani Egodawela Women's 10 m air rifle 611.5 49 Did not advance

Swimming

[edit]

Sri Lanka received two universality invitations from FINA to send two top-ranked swimmers (one per gender in their respective individual events to the Olympics, based on the FINA Points System of June 28, 2021.[21][22][23][24]

Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Matthew Abeysinghe Men's 100 m freestyle 50.62 48 Did not advance
Aniqah Gaffoor Women's 100 m butterfly 1:05.33 32 Did not advance

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee". Olympics. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  2. ^ Weerawansa, Dinesh (4 July 2021). "Judoka and gymnast to hoist the Lion as Sri Lanka Olympic captains". Sunday Observer. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  3. ^ Seneviratne, Akhila (12 July 2021). "Sri Lankan Flag Bearers at the Olympics: Carrying more than just a flag". www.thepapare.com. Dialog Axiata. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  4. ^ Japan, Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from. "Yupun Abeykoon Sri Lanka's flag-bearer at Olympics closing ceremony". Daily News. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Team Sri Lanka confirms 9 athletes, 17 officials to Tokyo 2020". Daily FT. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Olympic 'dream'". The Sunday Times. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 11 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Sports Minister on Sri Lanka's medal-less Olympics". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  8. ^ "No medals not a surprise at Tokyo 2020 Olympics | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  9. ^ "iaaf.org – Top Lists". World Athletics. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  10. ^ Ratnaweera, Dhammika (5 July 2021). "Yupun Abeykoon the only Sri Lankan athlete to get direct qualification for Tokyo Olympics". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  11. ^ Ratnaweera, Dhammika (6 July 2021). "WA approves Nimali for Tokyo Games". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Niluka Karunaratne becomes 6th Sri Lankan to qualify for Tokyo Olympics". Ada Derana. 2 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  13. ^ Palmer, Dan (16 July 2021). "Badminton player Karunaratne set for third Olympics as Sri Lanka confirms Tokyo 2020 team". Insidethegames.biz. Dunsar Media. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Tokyo 2020 team and individual quota places confirmed by FEI". FEI. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Ranking points reinstated for Andrea Herck and Mathilda Karlsson after successful appears to the Court of Arbitration for Sport". World of Show Jumping. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Sri Lankan gymnast Milka Gehani qualifies for Tokyo". Ada Derana. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  17. ^ Messner, Nicolas (22 June 2021). "Tokyo 2020: Official Olympic Qualification List". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  18. ^ Premalal, Susil (28 June 2021). "Judoka Dharmawardana selected to participate in Olympics". Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Quota Places by Nation and Number". www.issf-sports.org/. ISSF. 31 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  20. ^ Premalal, Susil (29 May 2021). "Tokyo Games Tripartite Commission 'invites' shooter Tehani Erandi Egodawela of Sri Lanka Navy to compete in Olympics". Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Tokyo Olympics Entry Lists Released, Swimming Begins July 24". Swimming World Magazine. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  22. ^ Ranasinghe, Dinushki (30 June 2021). "Abeysinghe and Gaffoor headed for the Tokyo Olympics". www.thepapare.com. Dialog Axiata. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  23. ^ Ratnaweera, Dhammika (1 July 2021). "Abeysinghe and Gaffoor to represent SL at Tokyo Olympics". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  24. ^ Johnson, Annika (29 June 2021). "Abeysinghe and Gaffoor of Sri Lanka Nominated for Tokyo Olympics". SwimSwam. Retrieved 17 July 2021.