ABEYKOON BECAME THE FIRST SOUTH ASIAN SPRINTER TO BREAK 10 SECOND RECORD

By Bibhu Ray

(The Quiver) :Sri Lankan sprinter Yupun Abeykoon made a new record by becoming the first South Asian to run 100m in less than 10 seconds when he competed at the Resisprint International 2022 in Switzerland on Sunday.

Abeykoon, who represented Sri-Lanka in the 2021 Olympics, finished the 100 m race in just 9.96 seconds.

Abeykoon’s effort made Sri-Lanka to stand as the 167th member of the sub-10 club.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksha wrote on twitter, Congratulations to Yupun Abeykoon for becoming the 1st South Asian athlete to run 100m under 10 sec at Resisprint International 2022 in La Chaux-de-fonds, #Switzerland.

“Congratulations to the young Yupun Abeykoon for establishing a new south Asian record in the 100 meters”, Former Sri Lankan Opener Sanath Jayasuriya said.With the run, he bettered his own record of 10.06 second which he set at the International Athletics Meet in Germany, earlier this year.

Cuba’s Reiynier Mena became the first man from his country to break the 20 seconds barrier in 19.63 seconds.Mena was also the runner up to Abeykoon in the 100m with the time of 9.99, which is his first run under the 10 second mark as well. Meba Mickael Zeze bagged the final podium finish of 100m as he too completed the race in 9.99 seconds.