Yabuli, China, February 6, 2025: Sri Lanka’s four-strong athlete contingent at the 9thAsian Winter Games has travelled far and wide, and from all corners of the world, to reach Yabuli.
Only team leader Shehan de Silva embarked from Colombo. Among the others, Shehan Muthugala came from Canada, Dhanushka Bandara from Norway and Piyumi Priyadarshani, the only female athlete in the squad, from Romania.
“We are from all corners of the world, perhaps underlining the lack of depth in winter sports back in Sri Lanka. Only I come from Colombo, the others all live overseas,” revealed de Silva.
While athletes from other countries were busy with training runs on the slopes of the Yabuli Ski Resort where the snow events are being staged, the four Sri Lankans were left kicking their heels at the athletes’ hotel as their ski equipment hadn’t arrived.
“I have been in the same clothes for the last two days since arriving in China. All my baggage, equipment, as well as skis which I was bringing for the others, have gone missing. I’m in touch with the airline and hope I can get it soon,” said Shehan, an accountant by profession.
De Silva adds: “Shehan was bringing me a new set of skis. Hopefully I get it soon.”
Dhanushka is a snowboard instructor in Norway. He has opted to compete in the cross-country skiing event, however. The others too will compete in the same discipline.
“Winter sports have virtually no profile back in Sri Lanka. The country took part for the first time at the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan in 2017 where I participated. Our dream is that the younger generation in Sri Lanka, especially all those around the world, will be inspired to take up winter sports,” de Silva said.