Yupun Abeykoon becomes first South Asian to set a record of sprint 100m under 10 seconds

Yupun Abeykoon, the Sri Lankan sprinter, has run 100 meters in less than 10 seconds and set a new record at the Resisprint International in Switzerland on Sunday. He is the first South Asian player who achieved this milestone.

Abeykoon represented Sri Lanka in the 2021 Olympics. He is the fastest Sri Lankan man as well as fastest South Asian man in men's 100m sprint. He finished the 100m race in just 9.96 seconds and broke a record of his own of 10.06 seconds. His new record made Sri Lanka the 32nd country with a sub-10 sprinter as well as the 167th member of the sub-10 club.

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The National record holder is the first and only Sri Lankan to have competed at the Diamond League. He set another record of 150m sprint by 15.16 seconds in April, 2022. Besides, he won the men's 200m event after setting a new National record of 20.37 seconds on 22nd May, 2022. The 27-year old is currently representing the Sri Lankan Army Sports Club. He is also attached to the Electronic and Mechanical Engineering Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army.

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Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa congratulated Abeykoon on social media.

Congratulations to Yupun Abeykoon for becoming the 1st South Asian athlete to run 100m under 10 sec at Résisprint International 2022 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, #Switzerland. pic.twitter.com/X16B44uZQ6

— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) July 3, 2022

Sanath Jayasuriya, former Sri Lankan player also wrote for him, "Congratulations to young Yupun Abeykoon for establishing a new South Asian record in the 100 meters."

Congratulations to young Yupun Abeykoon for establishing a new South Asian record in the 100 meters.

Sri Lanka can! pic.twitter.com/VXklN2vphE

— Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07) July 3, 2022

In addition, Cuba's Reynier Mena has run 200m in 19.63 seconds. He is the first man in his country to break the 20 seconds records at the same event. He also broke 10 seconds over 100m for the first time.