SRI LANKAN SPRINTER BECOMES FIRST SOUTH ASIAN TO BREAK 10-SECOND BARRIER

Source:The Daily Star – July 3, 2022

Sri Lanka’s Yupun Abeykoon became the first sprinter from South Asia to clock sub-10 seconds in men’s 100m sprint when he blazed to victory in the event at the Resisprint International in Switzerland, clocking 9.96s, according to media reports in Sri Lanka. 

The feat helped Sri Lanka become the 32nd country with a sub-10 sprinter, and Yupun the 167th member of the sub-10 club.

Sri Lanka's Yupun Abeykoon clocks a national 100m record of 9.96 (1.6m/s) in La Chaux de Fonds.

Yupun becomes the first athlete from South Asia to run sub-10. Sri Lanka becomes the 32nd country with a sub-10 sprinter, and Yupun is the 167th member of the sub-10 club.

— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) July 3, 2022

The 27-year-old sprinter, a Sri Lankan national record holder currently residing in Italy, also moved to 4th position on the fastest times by an Asian across the distance.

He renewed the National and South Asian Record with a timing of 10.06 seconds in late May.