Dulan Kodithuwakku
{{short description|Paralympian track and field athlete from Sri Lanka}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Dulan Kodithuwakku
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| full_name = Samitha Dulan Kodithuwakku
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1990|07|10}}
| birth_place = Deniyaya, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
| country = Sri Lanka
| sport = Paralympic athletics
| disability_class = F64
| club =
| coach =
| paralympics = 2020 Tokyo
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Sport| Men's para-athletics }}
{{MedalCountry | {{SRI}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | Paralympic Games }}
{{MedalSilver|2024 Paris|Javelin throw F64}}
{{MedalBronze | 2020 Tokyo | Javelin throw F64 }}
{{MedalCompetition| World Championships }}
{{MedalSilver|2024 Kobe|Javelin throw F64}}
{{MedalBronze |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.{{Cite web |title=Dulan Kodithuwakku - Athletics | Paralympic Athlete Profile |url=https://www.paralympic.org/dulan-kodithuwakku |website=Paralympic.org |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=30 August 2021}}{{Cite web |title=Athletics - KODITHUWAKKU Dulan |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/athletics/athlete-profile-n1578864-kodithuwakku-dulan.htm |work=Tokyo 2020 Paralympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |access-date=30 August 2021 |archive-date=30 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830112132/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/athletics/athlete-profile-n1578864-kodithuwakku-dulan.htm |url-status=dead}} He made his first Paralympic appearance representing Sri Lanka at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.{{Cite web |title=Unsung Sri Lanka Paralympics team leave making life easy for others |url=https://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2021/08/22/sports/unsung-sri-lanka-paralympics-team-leave-making-life-easy-others |website=Sunday Observer |date=21 August 2021 |access-date=30 August 2021}}
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.
Dulan suffered an impairment in his right leg after a tragic motorbike accident and took up para sports in 2017.{{cite web |title=Samitha Dulan top medal prospect at Tokyo Paralympics Games |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2021/08/23/sports/257365/samitha-dulan-top-medal-prospect-tokyo-para-games |work=Daily News |access-date=30 August 2021}} He serves as a corporal of Sri Lanka Military Police and represents Military Police Sports Club.{{Cite web |last=Nadeera |first=Dilshan |title=Throwers eager to create history at Tokyo Paralympics |url=http://island.lk/throwers-eager-to-create-history-at-tokyo-paralympics/ |website=Island.lk |access-date=30 August 2021}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka's war veterans gunning for gold at Tokyo Paralympics |url=https://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2021/08/22/sports/sri-lanka%E2%80%99s-war-veterans-gunning-gold-tokyo-paralympics |website=Sunday Observer |date=21 August 2021 |access-date=30 August 2021}}
Dulan claimed bronze medal in the men's javelin throw F64 category at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.{{Cite web |title=Athletics - Men's Javelin Throw - F64 Schedule |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/athletics/event-schedule-men-s-javelin-throw-f64.htm |access-date=30 August 2021 |work=Tokyo 2020 Paralympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |archive-date=30 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830132240/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/athletics/event-schedule-men-s-javelin-throw-f64.htm |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=Sri Lanka wins 2nd Paralympic medal, bronze for Samitha Dulan |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/08/30/sri-lanka-wins-02nd-paralympics-medal-bronze-for-samitha-dulan/ |website=Newsfirst.lk |access-date=30 August 2021}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Another medal for Sri Lanka at Tokyo Paralympics as Dulan wins bronze |url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/76534/another-medal-for-sri-lanka-at-tokyo-paralympics-as-dulan-wins-bronze |website=Adaderana.lk |access-date=30 August 2021}}{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka wins second Paralympics medal in one day for javelin throw |url=https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-wins-second-paralympics-medal-in-one-day-for-javelin-throw-85601 |website=EconomyNext |date=30 August 2021 |access-date=30 August 2021}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Dulan shatters world record at Para Meet - Breaking News {{!}} Daily Mirror |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Dulan-shatters-world-record-at-Para-Meet/108-283123 |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=www.dailymirror.lk |language=English}}{{Cite web |title=Samitha Dulan sets new world record at World Para Athletics Championships |url=https://www.adaderana.lk/sportsnews.php?nid=10351 |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=www.adaderana.lk |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Samitha creates World Record to bag Silver medal |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2024/05/22/sports/551055/samitha-creates-world-record-to-bag-silver-medal/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=www.dailynews.lk}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-21 |title=Samitha Dulan sets new world record in World Para Athletics Games |url=https://www.newswire.lk/2024/05/21/samitha-dulan-sets-new-world-record-in-world-para-athletics-games/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=Newswire |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Farzan |first=Zulfick |title=Paralympics: Samitha Wins Silver and Sets New World Record |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2024/09/03/paralympics-samitha-wins-silver-and-sets-new-world-record |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=english.newsfirst.lk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka’s Samitha Dulan wins silver at Paris Paralympics |url=https://www.adaderana.lk/news/101680/sri-lankas-samitha-dulan-wins-silver-at-paris-paralympics |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=www.adaderana.lk |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Ratnayake |first=Sajani |date=2024-09-02 |title=Samitha Dulan breaks the F44 World Record and Wins Silver in the Paralympics |url=https://www.thepapare.com/samitha-dulan-breaks-the-f44-world-record-to-win-silver/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=ThePapare |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-02 |title=Samitha wins Silver & sets World Record at Paris Paralympics |url=https://www.newswire.lk/2024/09/03/samitha-wins-silver-sets-world-record-at-paris-paralympics/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=Newswire |language=en-US}}
References
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Category:Paralympic athletes for Sri Lanka
Category:Sri Lankan male javelin throwers
Category:Medalists at the World Para Athletics Championships
Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Paralympics
Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Paralympics
Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for Sri Lanka
Category:Paralympic silver medalists for Sri Lanka
Category:Track and field athletes with disabilities
Category:Paralympic medalists in athletics (track and field)
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Paralympics
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Paralympics