The war veteran Dinesh Priyantha Herath scripts history for Sri Lanka, winning the first-ever Paralympic gold medal for the country…

A war veteran, the captain of Sri Lanka’s Paralympian team, the Javelin thrower, Sergeant Dinesh Priyantha Herath claimed gold in the Men’s javelin throw – F46 event at the Olympic stadium today, breaking the world record and winning Sri Lanka’s first-ever gold medal in Paralympic Games history.

He established his new world record, registering a throw of 67.79m, surpassing the previous world record (63.97 m) set by the Indian Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia in Rio Summer Paralympics 2016, who also had to settle for Silver in Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020.

Sergeant Dinesh has surmounted so many challenges to be on top of the world and bring glory to his mother country. He was affiliated with the Gajaba Regiment of the Sri Lankan army. He was subjected to injury in the war front against LTTE terrorists in the Kilinochchi area on 16 December 2008. It took around four years for him to recuperate himself. In his sports career, he has previously participated in Army Para Athletic Meet in 2012 winning gold (52 m), In Malaysia’s Para Athletic meet in 2012 winning gold (52.95 m), in Rio Summer.