Sri Lankan powerlifters bag 21 medals

Thursday, 4 December 2025 02:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Pro League World Championship in Thailand

Winning members of the Sri Lankan powerlifting delegation

The Sri Lankan powerlifting delegation returned to the country after delivering one of their strongest-ever performances at the 2025 Pro League World Powerlifting Championship held at Pattaya, Thailand, securing a total of 21 medals – 16 Gold, 2 Silver, and 3 Bronze.

The championship brought together top lifters from more than 20 countries, offering a highly competitive field across junior, open, and masters divisions.

This year’s group was also the largest Sri Lankan powerlifting delegation to compete at the Pro League World Championship, marking a significant milestone for the sport domestically and highlighting the depth of talent emerging nationwide.

A standout performance came from Hiruni Jayasinghe, who won Gold in the 48kg Open Powerlifting category and was awarded the Female Best Lifter Award, recognising her as one of the most dominant athletes in her division.

Another notable achievement was recorded by 13-year-old Akindu Fernando, who secured Gold in Powerlifting and Gold in Bench Press in the Teen 48kg category, underscoring the potential of Sri Lanka’s next generation of strength athletes.

The team’s medal-winning performance across multiple categories demonstrates significant progress in Sri Lanka’s powerlifting standards and highlights the sport’s growing reach among youth, women, and masters-level athletes.

The delegation, led by Head Coach Mothilal Jayathilake, noted that the results reflected the dedication of athletes competing across diverse weight classes and age groups.

Sri Lanka’s strong showing in Thailand further positions the country as an emerging contender in international strength sports, with athletes now looking ahead to future regional and global competitions.

Sri Lanka’s medal tally

Hiruni Jayasinghe (Open, 48kg) – Gold + Female Best Lifter Award
Ranganaa Wijesuriya (Open, 90+kg) – Gold
Hiran Fernando (Masters 2, 100kg) – Gold
Akindu Fernando (Teen, 48kg) – Gold
Lackshitha “Loki” Thalagahagedara (Open, 75kg) – Bronze
Dimal Bandara (Masters 1, 75kg) – Gold
Nadeeshan Somarathna (Open, 82.5kg) – Bronze

Single events

Ranganaa Wijesuriya – Gold (Deadlift)
Akindu Fernando – Gold (Bench Press)
Mothilal Jayathilake (Masters 3, 82.5kg) – Gold (Deadlift)
Roshane Moraes (Open, 82.5kg) – Silver (Deadlift)
Adi Deshmukh (Open, 90kg) – Gold (Bench Press) + Gold (Deadlift)
Dulina Seneviratne (Masters 1, 100+kg) – Gold (Bench Press) + Gold (Deadlift)
Parameshwaran Vijayalan (Masters 1, 82.5kg) – Silver (Deadlift)
Ayeshi Witharama (Open, 67.5kg) – Gold (Deadlift)
Rachitha Buddhika (Masters 1, 75kg) – Gold (Deadlift)

Ranganaa Wijesuriya, Double Gold Medallist (Powerlifting and Deadlift in 90+kg Open)

Hiruni Jayasinghe, Female Best Lifter Award recipient and Gold Medallist (48kg Open Powerlifting)

13-year-old Akindu Fernando with Head Coach Mothilal Jayathilake