Dulan Kodithuwakku

Dulan Kodithuwakku

Personal information
Full name	Samitha Dulan Kodithuwakku
Born	(1990-07-10) 10 July 1990 (age 34) Deniyaya, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Sport
Country	Sri Lanka
Sport	Paralympic athletics
Disability class	F64
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finals	2020 Tokyo
Medal record Men's para-athletics Representing  Sri Lanka Paralympic Games 2024 Paris Javelin throw F64 2020 Tokyo Javelin throw F64 World Championships 2024 Kobe Javelin throw F64 2023 Paris Javelin throw F64

Samitha Dulan Kodithuwakku (born 10 July 1990), also known as Samitha Dulan, is a Sri Lankan Paralympic track and field athlete.^[1][2] He made his first Paralympic appearance representing Sri Lanka at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.^[3][2]

Personal life

Samitha Dulan was born and raised up in Deniyaya, Southern Province. He pursued his primary and secondary education at the Deniyaya Central College and Rahula College.^[4]

Dulan suffered an impairment in his right leg after a tragic motorbike accident and took up para sports in 2017.^[4] He serves as a corporal of Sri Lanka Military Police and represents Military Police Sports Club.^[5] He joined the Sri Lanka Army on 5 December 2009.

Career

Dulan's fourth-place finish in the men's F44 category of the javelin throw event at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai secured his berth in order to obtain direct slot to compete at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.^[6]

Dulan claimed bronze medal in the men's javelin throw F64 category at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.^[7][8] He won Sri Lanka's second medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics and noticeably his medal achievement was Sri Lanka's second medal in a single day on 30 August 2021.^[9][10]

In May 2024, he set a new world record in men's F44 classification javelin throw event during the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships after clearing a record distance of 66.49 meters in his first attempt in the final.^[11][12] He went onto claim a silver medal during his world record performance at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships as he emulated his first attempt with further impressive clearing of 63.96m, 53.91m, 59.81m, 56.51m and 65.01m in the next five attempts.^[13][14]

He made his second Paralympic appearance representing Sri Lanka at the 2024 Summer Paralympics. In September 2024, he claimed silver medal in the men's F64 category of men's javelin throw event, where he also coincidentally shattered his own world record in men's F44 classification after clearing a distance of 67.03 meters.^[15][16] He cleared distances during the men's F64 javelin throw final with throws of 63.14m, 63.61m, 55.01m, 63.73m and his last throw was measured to be 67.03 meters, which eventually sealed him a silver medal and as well as the coveted world record holder title.^[17][18]

References

1. "Dulan Kodithuwakku - Athletics | Paralympic Athlete Profile". Paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
2. "Athletics - KODITHUWAKKU Dulan". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
3. "Unsung Sri Lanka Paralympics team leave making life easy for others". Sunday Observer. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
4. "Samitha Dulan top medal prospect at Tokyo Paralympics Games". Daily News. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
5. Nadeera, Dilshan. "Throwers eager to create history at Tokyo Paralympics". Island.lk. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
6. "Sri Lanka's war veterans gunning for gold at Tokyo Paralympics". Sunday Observer. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
7. "Athletics - Men's Javelin Throw - F64 Schedule". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
8. "Sri Lanka wins 2nd Paralympic medal, bronze for Samitha Dulan". Newsfirst.lk. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
9. "Another medal for Sri Lanka at Tokyo Paralympics as Dulan wins bronze". Adaderana.lk. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
10. "Sri Lanka wins second Paralympics medal in one day for javelin throw". EconomyNext. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
11. "Dulan shatters world record at Para Meet - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
12. "Samitha Dulan sets new world record at World Para Athletics Championships". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
13. "Samitha creates World Record to bag Silver medal". www.dailynews.lk. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
14. "Samitha Dulan sets new world record in World Para Athletics Games". Newswire. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
15. Farzan, Zulfick. "Paralympics: Samitha Wins Silver and Sets New World Record". english.newsfirst.lk. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
16. "Sri Lanka's Samitha Dulan wins silver at Paris Paralympics". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
17. Ratnayake, Sajani (2 September 2024). "Samitha Dulan breaks the F44 World Record and Wins Silver in the Paralympics". ThePapare. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
18. "Samitha wins Silver & sets World Record at Paris Paralympics". Newswire. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.