Sri Lanka claims bronze in Women’s Junior Air Pistol event at Asian Cup

Sri Lanka’s young shooting sensation, Umaya Akarshani, made history at the Asian Rifle and Pistol Cup 2025 in Bangkok by setting a new Sri Lanka junior record in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle event. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Women’s Junior 10m Air Pistol team claimed a bronze medal, marking a proud moment for the island nation.

Akarshani, a Grade 11 student from Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, scored 618.3/654, surpassing the previous junior record of 616.2/654. Her impressive achievement came despite financial struggles and the absence of her coach, H.G.A. Dissanayake, who was unable to attend the event.

“I am really happy to break the national record. It was a tough competition, and I had to stay fully focused. I want to dedicate this achievement to my school, my family, and all those who supported me,” Akarshani said after her historic performance.

Sri Lanka’s participation in the Asian Rifle and Pistol Cup has not been easy, with athletes having to cover their own expenses. Due to financial difficulties, senior shooters Amali Kulathunga and Olympian Ruwini Abeymanne opted out of the tournament. Despite these challenges, Akarshani’s record-breaking feat has given Sri Lankan shooting a major boost.

Sri Lanka secured third place in the Women’s Junior 10m Air Pistol team event. The team of Reinya Ranasinghe (Colombo International College, Kandy), Thisangi Geethma (University of Sri Jayewardenepura), and Vinuthmee Seneviratne (Southland College, Galle) showcased resilience to earn a place on the podium.

Kazakhstan leads the overall medal tally with 13 medals (4 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze), followed by Singapore with 8 and Chinese Taipei with 6. Sri Lanka is placed 14th with one bronze medal.

The 14-nation Asian Rifle and Pistol Cup, organized by the Asian Shooting Confederation, will continue at the SAT Shooting Range in Bangkok until February 22, bringing together the region’s top sharpshooters in a fiercely contested championship.a

Source:Daily News