Milka Gehani
{{short description|Sri Lankan artistic gymnast}}
{{Infobox gymnast
| name = Milka Gehani
| image = Milka Gehani at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics – Vault qualification (Martin Rulsch) 285 (sq cropped).jpg
| caption = Gehani at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics
| fullname = Elpitiya Badalge Dona Milka Gehani Divyanjala de Silva
| altname = Milka Gehani de Silva{{Cite web|title=Sri Lankan gymnast Milka Gehani qualifies for Tokyo Olympics|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/73613/sri-lankan-gymnast-milka-gehani-qualifies-for-tokyo-olympics|access-date=1 June 2021|website=Ada Derana|language=en}}
| nickname = Miki
| country = {{SRI}}
| formercountry =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2003|4|24}}
| birth_place = Colombo, Sri Lanka
| training = Tokyo, Japan
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{convert|1.40|m|ftin}}{{cite web|url= https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/artistic-gymnastics/athlete-profile-n1464070-elpitiya-badalge-dona-milka-gehani.htm|title=Milka Gehani Tokyo 2020 Athlete Profile|website=International Olympic Committee|accessdate=30 August 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726093837/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/artistic-gymnastics/athlete-profile-n1464070-elpitiya-badalge-dona-milka-gehani.htm|archive-date=26 July 2021}}
| weight =
| discipline = WAG
| natlteam =
| club =
| gym = Tsukahara Gymnastics Center
| collegeteam =
| assistcoach =
| formercoach = Ranjana Tharanga
| choreographer =
| teammates =
| music =
| eponymousskills =
| retired =
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates =
}}
Milka Gehani de Silva (born 24 April 2003) is a Sri Lankan artistic gymnast. She earned a continental quota spot to the 2020 Summer Olympics after the cancellation of the 2021 Asian Championships. She was the first Sri Lankan gymnast across all disciplines to compete in the Olympics. She also represented Sri Lanka at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics and the 2019 and 2022 World Championships.
Early life
Milka Gehani was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2003. She won her first junior national title at the age of eight. In 2019, she received an IOC-funded scholarship to receive training in Japan.{{cite web|last1=Kaluarachchi|first1=Anjana|url= https://ceylontoday.lk/news/gymnast-milka-qualifies-for-tokyo-olympics|title= Gymnast Milka Qualifies for Tokyo Olympics|work=Ceylon Today|date=6 May 2021|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613150426/https://ceylontoday.lk/news/gymnast-milka-qualifies-for-tokyo-olympics}}
Career
=Junior=
Milka made her international debut at the 2016 Junior Commonwealth Championships in Namibia, qualifying for every individual final. She finished tenth in the all-around final, sixth on the vault, sixth on the uneven bars, fifth on the balance beam, and sixth on floor exercise, also contributing to the Sri Lankan team's fourth-place finish.{{cite web|last1=Hopkins|first1=Lauren|url=https://thegymter.net/2016/10/12/2016-junior-commonwealth-championships-results/|title=2016 Junior Commonwealth Championships results|work=The Gymternet|date=12 October 2016|access-date=29 July 2023}}
In May 2017, Milka competed at the Asian Junior Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, placing eighth with the Sri Lankan team and 17th in the all-around.{{cite web |last1=Hopkins |first1=Lauren |title=2017 Asian Junior Championships Results |url=https://thegymter.net/2017/05/17/2017-asian-junior-championships-results/ |website=The Gymternet |access-date=29 July 2023 |date=17 May 2017}} She improved that result at the 2018 Asian Junior Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, finishing 14th all-around.{{cite web |last1=Hopkins |first1=Lauren |title=2018 Asian Junior Championships Results |url=https://thegymter.net/2018/04/30/2018-asian-junior-championships-results/ |website=The Gymternet |access-date=29 July 2023 |date=30 April 2018}} She represented Sri Lanka at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she placed 28th all-around in qualifications but did not make the finals. In the mixed multi-discipline team event, her team finished ninth.{{cite web |title=Milka Elpitiya |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/2505944 |website=Olympedia |access-date=29 July 2023}}
=Senior=
Milka became age-eligible for senior competition in 2019. She began training in Japan in 2019 after receiving a scholarship from the International Olympic Committee. She made her World Championship debut at the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. She placed 114th in qualifications, missing out on Olympic qualification.{{cite web |title=49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Stuttgart (GER), 4 October - 13 October 2019 Women's All-Around Qualification |url=https://gymnasticsresults.com/results/2019/worlds/documents/wag/qaa.pdf |website=Gymnastics Results |publisher=International Gymnastics Federation |access-date=18 April 2021 |date=4 October 2019}} In September 2020, she competed at the All-Japan Senior Championships in Takasaki, placing 40th in the all-around.{{cite web |last1=Hopkins |first1=Lauren |title=2020 All-Japan Senior Championships Results |url=https://thegymter.net/2020/09/22/2020-all-japan-senior-championships-results/ |website=The Gymternet |access-date=29 July 2023 |date=22 September 2020}}
In May 2021, she was awarded one of the two available Asian continental berths to the 2020 Summer Olympics due to the cancellation of the 2021 Asian Championships, as she was the highest ranked eligible athlete based on the results of the 2019 World Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.srilankafoundation.org/newsfeed/sri-lankan-gymnast-milka-gehani-earns-wings-to-tokyo-olympics/|title=Sri Lankan Gymnast Milka Gehani Earns Wings to Tokyo Olympics|work=Sri Lanka Foundation|date=11 May 2021|access-date=29 July 2023}} This marked Sri Lanka's debut in gymnastics at the Olympic Games.{{cite web|url= http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/05/07/sports/248615/gymnast-milka-secures-tokyo-olympics-spot|title= Gymnast Milka secures Tokyo Olympics spot|work=Daily News|date=7 May 2021|access-date=29 July 2023}}{{cite web|url= https://www.olympedia.org/countries/SRI/sports/GAR.1|title=Sri Lanka in Artistic Gymnastics|work=Olympedia|accessdate=15 May 2021}} She also became the second Sri Lankan athlete to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after Mathilda Karlsson.{{Cite web|date=8 May 2021|title=Gymnast Gehani second to qualify for Tokyo Olympics|url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2021/05/15/sports/gymnast-gehani-second-qualify-tokyo-olympics|website=Sunday Observer|language=en|access-date=29 July 2023}} In July, it was announced that Milka would be Sri Lanka's flag bearer at the 2020 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations alongside judoka Chamara Dharmawardana, becoming the country's youngest ever flag bearer.{{cite web|first1=Akhila|last1=Seneviratne|url= https://www.thepapare.com/sri-lankan-flag-bearers-at-the-olympics-carrying-more-than-just-a-flag/|title= Sri Lankan Flag Bearers at the Olympics: Carrying more than just a flag|website=The Papare|date=12 July 2021|access-date=29 July 2023}} At the Olympic Games, Milka placed 78th in the all-around during qualifications, and did not advance to the final.{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/GAR/OG2020-_GAR_C73H_GARW1AA---------------QUAL--------.pdf|title=Artistic Gymnastics - Women's All-Around Qualification Results|website=International Olympic Committee|date=25 July 2021|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725192500/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/GAR/OG2020-_GAR_C73H_GARW1AA---------------QUAL--------.pdf|url-status=dead}} She received an extension to her scholarship to continue her training in Japan for another two years after the Olympics.{{cite web|url= http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/07/17/sports/254203/milka-gehani’s-scholarship-train-japan-extended|title= Milka Gehani's scholarship to train in Japan extended|website=Daily News|date=17 July 2021|access-date=29 July 2023}}
After the Olympic Games, Milka competed at the 2021 All-Japan Senior Championships, finishing seventh in the all-around.{{cite web |last1=Hopkins |first1=Lauren |title=2021 All-Japan Senior Championships Results |url=https://thegymter.net/2021/09/27/2021-all-japan-senior-championships-results/ |website=The Gymternet |access-date=2 August 2023 |date=27 September 2021}} Then she competed at the All-Japan Team Championships, finishing ninth in the all-around and helping her club finish seventh.{{cite web |last1=Hopkins |first1=Lauren |title=2021 All-Japan Team Championships Results |url=https://thegymter.net/2021/12/13/2021-all-japan-team-championships-results/ |website=The Gymternet |access-date=2 August 2023 |date=13 December 2021}} At the 2022 All-Japan Championships, she finished 73rd in the all-around qualification round.{{cite web |last1=Hopkins |first1=Lauren |title=2022 All-Japan Championships Results |url=https://thegymter.net/2022/04/23/2022-all-japan-championships-results/ |website=The Gymternet |access-date=2 August 2023 |date=23 April 2022}} Then at the 2022 Asian Championships, she finished eleventh in the all-around and qualified for the World Championships.{{cite web |last1=Hopkins |first1=Lauren |title=China Wins All-Around, Team Gold as Worlds Qualification is Decided in Doha |url=https://thegymter.net/2022/06/17/china-wins-all-around-team-gold-as-worlds-qualification-is-decided-in-doha/ |website=The Gymternet |access-date=2 August 2023 |date=17 July 2022}} She withdrew from the all-around final at the Commonwealth Games due to an injury. Then at the World Championships, she withdrew after injuring her right foot on the floor exercise.{{cite web |title=Elpitiya Badalge Dona Milka Gehani |url=https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/athletes/bio_detail.php?id=37070&type=licence |website=International Gymnastics Federation |access-date=2 August 2023}}
Milka finished ninth in the all-around at the 2023 Asian Championships and qualified for the 2023 World Championships.{{cite web |title=Milka Gehani qualifies for 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships |url=https://www.adaderana.lk/sportsnews.php?nid=9637 |website=Ada Derana |access-date=2 August 2023 |date=17 June 2023}} She also qualified for the uneven bars event final where she finished sixth.{{cite web |last1=Hopkins |first1=Lauren |title=2023 Asian Championships Results |url=https://thegymter.net/2023/06/21/2023-asian-championships-results/ |website=The Gymternet |access-date=2 August 2023 |date=21 June 2023}}
Competitive history
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%;"
! align="center" |Year ! align="center" |Event ! style="width:30px;" |Team ! style="width:30px;" |AA ! style="width:30px;" |VT ! style="width:30px;" |UB ! style="width:30px;" |BB ! style="width:30px;" |FX | |||||||
| colspan="8" | Junior | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="1" | 2016 | align=left | Junior Commonwealth Championships | 4 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| rowspan="2" | 2017 | |||||||
| bgcolor=#F5F6CE
| align=left | Asian Junior Championships | 8 | 17 | |||||
| rowspan="3" | 2018 | |||||||
| bgcolor=#F5F6CE
| align=left | Asian Junior Championships | 10 | 14 | |||||
| bgcolor=#EBC2AF
| align=left|Youth Olympic Games | 9 | 28 | |||||
| colspan="8" | Senior | |||||||
| rowspan="2" | 2019 | |||||||
| bgcolor=#CCCCFF
| align=left | World Championships | 114 | ||||||
| rowspan="1" | 2020 | align=left |All-Japan Senior Championships | 40 | |||||
| rowspan="4" | 2021 | |||||||
| bgcolor=98FB98
| align=left | Olympic Games | 78 | ||||||
| align=left|All-Japan Senior Championships | 7 | ||||||
| align=left|All-Japan Team Championships | 7 | 9 | |||||
| rowspan="4" | 2022 | align=left|All-Japan Championships | 73 | |||||
| bgcolor=#F5F6CE
| align=left | Asian Championships | 11 | ||||||
| bgcolor="#afeeee"
|align=left | Commonwealth Games | 8 | {{abbreviation|DNF|Gehani was injured during competition and did not finish}} | |||||
| bgcolor=#CCCCFF
| align=left | World Championships | {{abbreviation|DNF|Gehani was injured during competition and did not finish}} | ||||||
| rowspan="2" | 2023 | |||||||
| bgcolor=#F5F6CE
| align=left | Asian Championships | 9 | 6 |
References
{{reflist}}