Yupun Abeykoon

Abeykoon was born in Negombo, Western Province near Pannala. He pursued his primary education at the Pannala National School, where he also pursued his interest in track and field events.{{Cite web |date=26 July 2021 |title=Sprinting superstar at the Tokyo Olympics - Yupun Abeykoon |url=http://www.themorning.lk/sprinting-superstar-at-the-tokyo-olympics-yupun-abeykoon/ |access-date=30 July 2021 |website=Themorning.lk |language=en-US}} He began his interest in athletics after being inspired from veteran Olympic medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe. Abeykoon began pursuing his athletics career in 2004 when his teachers picked him at a school meet. He later switched to the St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennepuwa at the age of 16 with the recommendation of his personal coach.{{Cite web |title=South Asia's Fastest Man – Yupun Abeykoon |url=https://www.nation.lk/online/south-asia-s-fastest-man-yupun-abeykoon-106145.html |access-date=30 July 2021 |website=Nation.lk}}

Abeykoon also follows MotoGP. Prior to his living in Italy, his father had worked in a holiday villa in Italy for some time.{{Cite web |last=Selvaraj |first=Jonathan |title=Sri Lanka's Yupun Abeykoon becomes first South Asian to breach 10 second mark in 100m |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/athletics/yupun-abeykoon-sri-lanka-first-south-asian-to-breach-10-second-mark-100m-sprint/article38508533.ece |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=Sportstar.thehindu.com |date=4 July 2022 |language=en}}

Abeykoon represented Sri Lanka at the 2013 South Asian Junior Athletics Championships which was held in Ranchi and finished fourth in the men's triple jump competition. He later switched from triple jump to sprint events due to the influence of his coaches. Abeykoon competed at the 2015 Military World Games representing Sri Lanka and took bronze medal in Track and field at the 2015 Military World Games – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay.{{Cite web |url=http://www.korea2015mwg.org/pdf/20151008/AT/20151008ATM401101________________________DT_PDF________________C73E00001PENG20151008165859642374.pdf |title=Final results |format=PDF |website=Korea2015mwg.org |access-date=11 August 2022}} He underwent training at Fiammegialle Sports Centre in Italy when he was on his scholarship in Italy. Abeykoon began training with former Italian 400m runner and Olympian Claudio Licciardello during his stay in Italy.

Abeykoon also represented Sri Lanka at the 2019 South Asian Games and claimed gold medal in the men's 4 × 100 m relay event.{{Cite web |date=12 September 2020 |title=Sri Lankan bolt Abeykoon keeps raising the bar, eyes Tokyo |url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2020/09/13/sports/sri-lankan-bolt-abeykoon-keeps-raising-bar-eyes-tokyo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913001328/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2020/09/13/sports/sri-lankan-bolt-abeykoon-keeps-raising-bar-eyes-tokyo |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2020 |access-date=23 May 2021 |website=Sundayobserver.lk |language=en}} He was also part of the team consisting of Chanuka Sandeepa, Himasha Eashan and Vinoj Suranjaya which set new national and South Asian Games record in men's 4 × 100 m relay event during the 2019 South Asian Games.{{Cite web |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2019/12/06/sri-lankan-sprinters-set-new-relay-sag-record/ |title=Sri Lankan sprinters set new relay SAG record - Sri Lanka Latest News |date=6 December 2019 |website=Newsfirst.lk |language=en |access-date=23 May 2021}}

On 8 September 2020, Abeykoon shattered the South Asian record as well as national record held by Himasha Eashan in men's 100m event with a timing of 10.16 seconds after winning an athletic competition which was held in Dessau, Germany.{{Cite web |title=Sprinter Yupun Abeykoon sets new Sri Lanka record |url=https://www.hirunews.lk/english/249776/sprinter-yupun-abeykoon-sets-new-sri-lanka-record |access-date=9 September 2020 |website=Hirunews.lk |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=admin |date=9 September 2020 |title=Abeykoon sets new Sri Lanka and South Asia record {{!}} Colombo Gazette|url=https://colombogazette.com/2020/09/09/abeykoon-sets-new-sri-lanka-and-south-asia-record/|access-date=2020-09-09|language=en-GB}} He surpassed the previous best of 10.22 held by compatriot Himasha Eashan.{{Cite web |date=8 September 2020 |title=WATCH : Yupun Abeykoon breaks Sri Lanka & South Asia 100m record |url=http://www.newswire.lk/2020/09/09/watch-yupun-abeykoon-breaks-sri-lanka-south-asia-100m-record/ |access-date=9 September 2020 |website=NewsWire.lk |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=9 September 2020 |title=Yupun Abeykoon sets new South Asian record in 100m |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/09/09/yupun-abeykoon-sets-new-south-asian-record-in-100m/ |access-date=9 September 2020 |website=Newsfirst.lk |language=en}} Abeykoon earned the nickname "South Asia's fastest man" after breaking the South Asian record in the men's 100m event.{{Cite web |last=Ranasinghe |first=Dinushki |date=9 September 2020 |title=South Asia's new fastest man – Yupun Priyadarshana |url=https://www.thepapare.com/yupun-priyadarshana-breaks-100m-national-record-athletics-news/ |access-date=23 May 2021 |website=Thepapare.com |language=en-US}} On 26 September 2020, Abeykoon claimed a bronze medal in the men's 100m event with a timing of 10.24 seconds at the Gala dei Castelli as a part of the World Athletics Bronze Level Series Meet which was held in Switzerland.{{Cite web |title=Yupun wins Bronze in Switzerland |url=https://ceylontoday.lk/news/yupun-wins-bronze-in-switzerland |access-date=30 July 2021 |website=Ceylontoday.lk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Yupun Abeykoon placed 3rd in 100m race held in Switzerland |url=https://ceylontoday.lk/news/yupun-abeykoon-placed-3rd-in-100m-race-heald-in-switzerland |access-date=30 July 2021 |website=Ceylontoday.lk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Yupun wins third place in Switzerland |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2020/09/17/sports/228981/yupun-wins-third-place-switzerland |access-date=30 July 2021 |website=Dailynews.lk |language=en}} His bronze medal achievement during the 2020 Gala dei Castelli made him the first Sri Lankan sprinter after the 1990s to be placed among the top three in a running event when running alongside top European and African sprinters.{{Cite web |date=17 September 2020 |title=Yupun – Third among the best |url=http://www.themorning.lk/yupun-third-among-the-best/ |access-date=30 July 2021 |website=Themorning.lk |language=en-US}}

In January 2021, Abeykoon renewed his own personal and national Sri Lanka 60m indoor record with a timing of 6.59 seconds at the Italian indoor championship. He surpassed his own national indoor record of 6.78 seconds which he achieved in 2017.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2021 |title=Yupun Abeykoon sets new indoor record |url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2021/01/31/sports/yupun-abeykoon-sets-new-indoor-record |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131085322/http://sundayobserver.lk/2021/01/31/sports/yupun-abeykoon-sets-new-indoor-record |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 January 2021 |access-date=15 May 2021 |website=Sundayobserver.lk |language=en}} On 13 May 2021, he renewed his own personal as well as the national record for men's 100m event by clocking at 10.15 seconds which he set during the Meeting di Savona Championship in Italy.{{Cite web |title=Yupun sets new Sri Lanka record in 100m |url=http://www.adaderana.lk/sports/8670/yupun-sets-new-sri-lanka-record-in-100m |access-date=15 May 2021 |website=Adaderana.lk |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=15 May 2021 |title=Yupun Abeykoon steps closer to Olympic berth with second place win |url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2021/05/19/sports/yupun-abeykoon-steps-closer-olympic-berth-second-place-win |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519234214/http://sundayobserver.lk/2021/05/19/sports/yupun-abeykoon-steps-closer-olympic-berth-second-place-win |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 May 2021 |access-date=29 June 2021 |website=Sundayobserver.lk |language=en}} In the same month, he bettered his own personal record in the men's 100m event by clocking at 10.09 seconds which he achieved in the 100m final at the Anhalt 2021 competition which was held in Dessau, Germany.{{Cite web |title=Yupun Abeykoon records 10.09secs in Men's 100m |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210523/sports/yupun-abeykoon-records-10-09secs-in-mens-100m-444584.html |access-date=23 May 2021 |website=Sundaytimes.lk}}{{Cite web |last=tharindu |title=Abeykoon clocks 10.09 sec in the 100m |url=https://srilankamirror.com/news/22926-abeykoon-clocks-10-09-sec-in-the-100m |access-date=23 May 2021 |website=Srilankamirror.com |language=en-gb}} In June 2021, he skipped the World Athletic Continental Madrid Meet in Spain despite it being one of the Olympic qualifying competitions.{{Cite web |last=Ratnaweera |first=Dhammika |title=Abeykoon to run at Silver Meet in Spain |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/06/19/sports/251988/abeykoon-run-silver-meet-spain |access-date=30 July 2021 |website=Dailynews.lk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Abeykoon skips Madrid Meet |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/06/21/sports/252086/abeykoon-skips-madrid-meet |access-date=30 July 2021 |website=Dailynews.lk |language=en}}

As of June 2021, Abeykoon reached his career-best world ranking of 48 following a fourth-place finish in the men's 100 event at the Golden Gala as part of the 2021 Diamond League Meet at Florence (Florence Diamond League).[http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/06/15/sports/251654/abeykoon-and-ratnayake-inch-closer-tokyo-olympics Abeykoon and Ratnayake inch closer to Tokyo Olympics | Daily News]{{Cite web |url=http://island.lk/yupun-within-required-world-ranking-to-earn-olympic-ticket/ |title=Yupun within required world ranking to earn Olympic ticket |first=Dilshan |last=Nadeera |website=Island.lk}}{{Cite web |last=Ranasinghe |first=Dinushki |date=18 June 2021 |title=Yupun Abeykoon breaks into World Top 50 |url=https://www.thepapare.com/yupun-abeykoon-runs-madrid-2021-athletics-meet-ahead-of-tokyo-olympics/ |access-date=29 June 2021 |website=Thepapare.com |language=en-US}} He also became the first Sri Lankan to compete at the Diamond League.{{Cite web |last=Ratnaweera |first=Dhammika |title=Abeykoon misses Diamond League Bronze by a whisker |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/06/12/sports/251447/abeykoon-misses-diamond-league-bronze-whisker |access-date=29 June 2021 |website=Dailynews.lk |language=en}} He was ranked in 65th position in the Road to Olympic Rankings prior to competing at the Rome Diamond League.{{Cite web |url=https://island.lk/yupun-set-to-climb-up-road-to-olympic-rankings/ |title=Yupun set to climb up Road to Olympic rankings |website=Island.lk}} In the same month Abeykoon also qualified to represent Sri Lanka at the 2020 Summer Olympics, which was also his maiden Olympic appearance, and competed in the men's 100m event.{{Cite web |title=Yupun, Nilani qualify for Tokyo Games |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/06/29/sports/252697/yupun-nilani-qualify-tokyo-games |access-date=29 June 2021 |website=Dailynews.lk |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ranasinghe |first=Dinushki |date=21 June 2021 |title=Abeykoon jumps to 46th in Olympic shortlist for 100m |url=https://www.thepapare.com/yupun-abeykoon-jumps-to-46th-rank-in-the-world-athletics-news/ |access-date=29 June 2021 |website=Thepapare.com |language=en-US}} He was also the first and only Sri Lankan to achieve direct qualification standards for the 2020 Summer Olympics.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/07/31/sports/255378/abeykoon-determined-improve-his-record |title=Abeykoon determined to improve his record |website=Dailynews.lk |access-date=11 August 2022}} Abeykoon also became the first Sri Lankan to obtain direct qualification for the 100m event at the Olympics, 25 years after Chintaka de Zoysa's direct qualification at the 1996 Summer Olympics.{{Cite web |last=Ratnaweera |first=Dhammika |title=Yupun Abeykoon the only Sri Lankan athlete to get direct qualification for Tokyo Olympics |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/07/05/sports/253095/yupun-abeykoon-only-sri-lankan-athlete-get-direct-qualification-tokyo |access-date=5 July 2021 |website=Dailynews.lk |language=en}} Abeykoon also became the first South Asian sprinter in 32 years to qualify for the men's 100m event at the Olympics. He was also the only Sri Lankan male track and field athlete to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.{{Cite news |title=Yupun and Nimali hard practice for first round heats |work=Daily News |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/07/28/sports/255041/yupun-and-nimali-hard-practice-first-round-heats |access-date=30 July 2021}} On 31 July 2021, he completed his 100m race with a timing of 10.32 seconds in the Tokyo Olympics and was ranked sixth in the heat event and thus failed to qualify for the next round.{{Cite web |date=31 July 2021 |title=Yupun Abeykoon placed 6th at Tokyo Olympics |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/07/31/yupun-abeykoon-placed-6th-at-tokyo-olympics/ |access-date=31 July 2021 |website=Newsfirst.lk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Athletics - Men's 100m Schedule |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/event-schedule-men-s-100m.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=31 July 2021 |work=Tokyo 2020 Olympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |language=en-us |archive-date=6 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006121630/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/event-schedule-men-s-100m.htm}}{{Cite web |title=Yupun's meteoric rise to 100m stardom |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210801/sports/yupuns-meteoric-rise-to-100m-stardom-451151.html |access-date=4 August 2021 |website=Sundaytimes.lk}} In August 2021, he was named as Sri Lanka's flagbearer by the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka for the closing ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics.{{Cite web |author=Dinesh Weerawansa |title=Yupun Abeykoon Sri Lanka's flag-bearer at Olympics closing ceremony |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/08/04/sports/255673/yupun-abeykoon-sri-lanka%E2%80%99s-flag-bearer-olympics-closing-ceremony |access-date=4 August 2021 |website=Dailynews.lk |language=en}}

In September 2021, Abeykoon competed in the Weltklasse Zürich which was part of the 2021 Diamond League, and was placed at ninth position with a timing of 10.25 seconds in the men's 100m final.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thepapare.com/yupun-abeykoon-run-zurich-diamond-league-finals-2021/ |title=Yupun Abeykoon to run at Zurich Diamond League |first=Dinushki |last=Ranasinghe |date=7 September 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Nadeera |first=Dilshan |title=Rare opportunity for Yupun at today's Diamond League meet in Zurich |url=http://island.lk/rare-opportunity-for-yupun-at-todays-diamond-league-meet-in-zurich/ |access-date=10 September 2021 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ranasinghe |first=Dinushki |date=9 September 2021 |title=Yupun Abeykoon clocks 10.25 in Zurich Finals |url=https://www.thepapare.com/yupun-abeykoon-run-zurich-diamond-league-finals-results-2021/ |access-date=10 September 2021 |website=Thepapare.com |language=en-US}} This was also his second Diamond League meet appearance after previously competing at the Golden Gala meet.{{Cite web |date=9 September 2021 |title=Yupun runs with worlds best and clocks 10.25 in Diamond League 100m final |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/09/10/yupun-runs-with-worlds-best-and-clocks-10-25-in-diamond-league-100m-final/ |access-date=10 September 2021 |website=Newsfirst.lk |language=en}}

On 24 April 2022, Abeykoon broke the Asian record in the men's 150m event with a timing of 15.16 seconds to claim gold medal in the Perseo Trophy which was held at the Stadio Raul Guidobaldi in Rieti, Italy.{{Cite web |last=Ranasinghe |first=Dinushki |date=25 April 2022 |title=Yupun sets new Asian record |url=https://www.thepapare.com/yupun-abeykoon-breaks-150m-asia-record-athletics-news/ |access-date=28 April 2022 |website=Thepapare.com |language=en-US}} The previous Asian record for men's 150m event was held by Japan's Yoshihide Kiryu who clocked 15.35 seconds in 2017.{{Cite web |title=Yupun Abeykoon sets new Asian record |url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/82042/yupun-abeykoon-sets-new-asian-record |access-date=28 April 2022 |website=Adaderana.lk |language=en}}

On 26 April 2022, the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka named Abeykoon in the team of eight athletes for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and it also marks his maiden Commonwealth Games appearance.{{cite web |url=https://www.thepapare.com/sri-lanka-athletics-team-for-asian-games-commonwealth-games-2022-news/ |first=Dinushki |last=Ranasinghe |title=AASL selects team for Commonwealth and Asian Games |date=26 April 2022 |website=Thepapare.com |publisher=Dialog Axiata |access-date=16 July 2022}}{{cite news |last=Kaluarachchi |first=Anjana |date=26 April 2022 |title=SLA selects teams for Commonwealth and Asian Games |url=https://ceylontoday.lk/2022/04/26/sla-selects-teams-for-commonwealth-and-asian-games/ |work=Ceylon Today |location=Colombo, Sri Lanka |access-date=16 July 2022}} On 22 May 2022, he competed in the 12th Castiglione International Meeting which was held at the Stadio Zecchini in Grosseto, Italy; he won the men's 200 meters event setting a new national record of 20.37 seconds, and broke the previous national record held by Vinoj Suranjaya who achieved it in 20.52 seconds in 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2022/05/24/sports/279401/yupun-re-writes-200m-athletic-record |title=Yupun re-writes 200m athletic record |website=Dailynews.lk |access-date=11 August 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Yupun Abeykoon sets new national and South Asian record |url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/82606/yupun-abeykoon-sets-new-national-and-south-asian-record |access-date=16 July 2022 |website=Adaderana.lk |language=en}} On 25 May 2022, he competed in the Anhalt 2022 International Meet which was held at the Paul-Greifzu-Stadion in Dessau, Germany; he won the men's 100 meters setting a new national record of 10.06 seconds.{{Cite web |title=It's me against myself '' Yupun Abeykoon |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/220605/sports/its-me-against-myself-yupun-abeykoon-484947.html |access-date=16 July 2022 |website=Sundaytimes.lk}} In June 2022, he took part in BAUHAUS-galan as part of the 2022 Diamond League, and missed the bronze medal by a whisker of 0.02 seconds in the men's 100m event.{{Cite web |last=Kumarasinghe |first=Chathura |date=1 July 2022 |title=Yupun impresses again in Diamond League |url=https://www.thepapare.com/yupun-abeykoon-stockholm-diamond-league-2022-results/ |access-date=16 July 2022 |website=Thepapare.com |language=en-US}}

On 3 July 2022, Abeykoon became the first Sri Lankan, first South Asian sprinter, as well as the fourth Asian overall in history ever to break the 10-second barrier when he won the Résisprint International 2022 title (which was a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger meeting) in Switzerland.{{Cite news |date=4 July 2022 |title=Watch: Sri Lanka's Abeykoon becomes first South Asian to sprint 100m in less than 10 seconds |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/watch-sri-lanka-abeykoon-100m-record-less-than-10-seconds-8007454/ |access-date=4 July 2022 |newspaper=The Indian Express |language=en}} His achievement also meant Sri Lanka became the 32nd country in the world to have a sub-10 second sprinter; he also became the 167th member of the sub-10 club.{{Cite web |last=Vasudevan |first=Estelle |date=3 July 2022 |title=Abeykoon becomes first South Asian to break 10 second barrier |url=https://www.thepapare.com/yupun-abeykoon-national-record-100m-3rd-july/ |access-date=3 July 2022 |website=Thepapare.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=3 July 2022 |title=Yupun becomes first South Asian to finish 100m below 10 seconds & win |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2022/07/03/yupun-becomes-first-south-asian-to-finish-100m-below-10-seconds-win/ |access-date=3 July 2022 |website=Newsfirst.lk |language=en}} After becoming the first South Asian to break the 10-second barrier, Abeykoon revealed that he was inspired by Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra's heroic gold medal performance at the 2020 Summer Olympics and insisted that he would follow Chopra's footstep to inspire young kids in the field of athletics.{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/sri-lanka-yupun-abeykoon-south-asia-fastest-neeraj-chopra-inspiration |title=Sri Lanka’s Yupun Abeykoon, South Asia’s fastest sprinter, wants to inspire kids like Neeraj Chopra |website=Olympics.com |access-date=11 August 2022}}

On 15 July 2022, Abeykoon qualified to represent Sri Lanka at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in the men's 100m competition, and was also the only male athlete to represent Sri Lanka at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.{{cite web |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2022/07/15/sports/283024/south-asia%E2%80%99s-fastest-athlete-yupun-take-part-100-metre-heats-today |title=South Asia’s fastest athlete Yupun to take part in 100 metre heats today |website=Dailynews.lk |access-date=11 August 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thepapare.com/world-athletics-championship-2022-qualified-sri-lankan-athletes/ |first=Chathura |last=Kumarasinghe |title=Three Athletes qualify for World Athletics Championships |date=30 June 2022 |website=Thepapare.com |publisher=Dialog Axiata |access-date=16 July 2022}}{{cite news |date=1 July 2022 |title=Three Lankan athletes for World Championships |url=https://www.colomboguardian.com/three-lankan-athletes-for-world-championships/26570/ |work=Colombo, Sri Lanka |location=Colombo, Sri Lanka |access-date=16 July 2022}} It also marked his maiden appearance at the World Athletics Championships. He entered the event as the fifteenth-fastest athlete globally for the year, and as the fastest Asian.{{Cite web |last=Walpola |first=Thilina |title=Yupun among top 15 as World Championship commences today |url=http://island.lk/yupun-among-top-15-as-world-championship-commences-today/ |access-date=16 July 2022 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Yupun Abeykoon – South Asia's fastest on the world stage - MoraSpirit Initiative |url=https://www.moraspirit.com/news/yupun-abeykoon-south-asias-fastest-on-the-world-stage |access-date=16 July 2022 |website=Moraspirit.com |language=en}} He was ranked 37th out of 56 athletes who had qualified in the world rankings (Road to World Championship List) for the 2022 World Athletics Championships, but he managed to obtain direct qualification for the competition on the back of his record-breaking performance at the Resisprint International in Switzerland.{{Cite web |last=Ratnaweera |first=Dhammika |title=I trained hard for years, and it paid off, says Yupun |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2022/07/05/sports/282333/i-trained-hard-years-and-it-paid-says-yupun |access-date=16 July 2022 |website=Dailynews.lk |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=9 July 2022 |title=Yupun aware of the tougher road ahead |url=https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2022/07/10/sports/yupun-aware-tougher-road-ahead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709194614/https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2022/07/10/sports/yupun-aware-tougher-road-ahead |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 July 2022 |access-date=16 July 2022 |website=Sundayobserver.lk |language=en}} Abeykoon also became the first Sri Lankan sprinter in 13 years after Shehan Ambepitiya to compete in the men's 100m at a World Athletics Championship.{{Cite web |last=Weerasooriya |first=Sahan |title=Yupun, Nilani, Gayanthika leave for World Championships |url=http://island.lk/yupun-nilani-gayanthika-leave-for-world-championships/ |access-date=16 July 2022 |language=en-US}} He placed fifth in the heats round in the men's 100m event with a timing of 10.19 seconds, thus failing to qualify for the semi-final.{{Cite web |last=Kumarasinghe |first=Chathura |date=16 July 2022 |title=Yupun Abeykoon finishes 5th in Heats |url=https://www.thepapare.com/world-athletics-championship-2022-yupun-abeykoon-100m-heats/ |access-date=16 July 2022 |website=Thepapare.com |language=en-US}} His participation along with Gayanthika Abeyratne and Nilani Ratnayake for the 2022 World Athletic Championship was clouded with uncertainties owing to delays in obtaining US visas in order to participate at the competition.

On 3 August 2022, Abeykoon won the bronze medal in the men's 100m final at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games after finishing the race in 10.14 seconds.{{Cite web |date=4 August 2022 |title=Sri Lanka's Yupun Abeykoon bags 100m Commonwealth bronze amid soft-peg crisis |url=https://economynext.com/sri-lankas-yupun-abeykoon-bags-100m-commonwealth-bronze-amid-soft-peg-crisis-98177 |access-date=4 August 2022 |website=Economynext.com |language=en}} He also became the first Sri Lankan to win a Commonwealth Games medal in athletics since Sriyani Kulawansa and Sugath Thilakaratne's medal feats at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.{{Cite web |title=Yupun Abeykoon wins Commonwealth Games bronze - Headline {{!}} Daily Mirror |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/headline/Yupun-Abeykoon-wins-Commonwealth-Games-bronze/419-242392 |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Dailymirror.lk |language=English}} He also became the first Sri Lankan to win a Commonwealth Games medal in either the men's or women's 100m events.{{Cite web |date=3 August 2022 |title=WATCH : Yupun wins bronze at 100 meters in CW Games 2022 |url=https://www.newswire.lk/2022/08/04/watch-yupun-wins-bronze-at-100-meters-in-cw-games-2022/ |access-date=4 August 2022 |website=Newswire.lk |language=en-US}} During the heat event of the 2022 Commonwealth Games men's 100m category, he managed to set an all-time fastest-ever timing in Commonwealth Games history for the event after finishing with a timing of 10.06 seconds. The previous record in the 100m men's heats was held by Canada's Glenroy Gilbert, who had finished the heat with a timing of 10.10 seconds during the 1994 Commonwealth Games.{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka's Yupun Abeykoon wins 100m bronze at CWG 2022 |url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/84081/sri-lankas-yupun-abeykoon-wins-100m-bronze-at-cwg-2022 |access-date=4 August 2022 |website=Adaderana.lk |language=en}} Abeykoon's timing of 10.06 seconds in Heat 6 of the men's 100m event eventually earned him a spot in the semi-finals of the competition.{{Cite web |title=Yupun Abeykoon qualifies for CWG semis, fastest in 100m heats - Sports {{!}} Daily Mirror |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/sports/Yupun-Abeykoon-qualifies-for-CWG-semis-fastest-in-100m-heats/322-242272 |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Dailymirror.lk |language=English}}{{Cite web |title=Yupun Abeykoon qualifies for men's 100m semi-final |url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/84044/yupun-abeykoon-qualifies-for-mens-100m-semi-final |access-date=4 August 2022 |website=Adaderana.lk |language=en}} He finished with a timing of 10.20 seconds in the men's 100m semi-final, which helped him secure a berth in the men's 100m final, the only Asian athlete to qualify for the final.{{Cite web |title=Yupun Abeykoon qualifies for men's 100m final at CWG 2022 |url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/84080/yupun-abeykoon-qualifies-for-mens-100m-final-at-cwg-2022 |access-date=4 August 2022 |website=Adaderana.lk |language=en}} He also became the first Sri Lankan to reach the final of the 100m event in Commonwealth Games history.{{cite web |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2022/08/04/sports/284392/yupun-abeykoon-storms-100m-final |title=Yupun Abeykoon storms into 100m final |website=Dailynews.lk |access-date=11 August 2022}}

In 2024 May, Yupun won at the Anhalt Athletic Championship held at Germany, recording 10.16s with wind at +0.3. This was for the Men's 100m sprint. https://www.newswire.lk/2024/05/25/yupun-abeykoon-wins-mens-100m-at-anhalt-championship-2024/ https://www.adaderana.lk/news/99421/yupun-abeykoon-wins-at-anhalt-athletic-championship

A leading prominent Sri Lankan English-language newspaper edition, the Sunday Observer, was heavily criticised by several Sri Lankan politicians, including Sri Lankan sports minister Namal Rajapaksa, for insulting Abeykoon with the headline "Pathetic Yupun cuts a sorry figure," referring to his 6th-place finish in the men's 100m heat event at the 2020 Summer Olympics.{{Cite news |title=Pathetic Yupun cuts a sorry figure |work=Sunday Observer |url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2021/08/01/pathetic-yupun-cuts-sorry-figure |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731201455/http://sundayobserver.lk/2021/08/01/pathetic-yupun-cuts-sorry-figure |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 July 2021 |access-date=4 August 2021}}{{Cite news |date=2 August 2021 |title=Ministers slam Government media for insulting athlete |url=https://colombogazette.com/2021/08/02/ministers-slam-government-media-for-insulting-athlete/ |access-date=4 August 2021 |newspaper=Colombo Gazette |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{World Athletics}}
• {{Olympedia}}
• {{Olympics.com|yupun-abeykoon-mudiyanselage}}
• {{2022 Commonwealth Games profile|61627}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Abeykoon, Yupun}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sri Lankan male sprinters

Category:Olympic athletes for Sri Lanka

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Sri Lanka

Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Category:Medallists at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Category:South Asian Games gold medalists for Sri Lanka

Category:South Asian Games medalists in athletics

Category:Medalists at the 2019 South Asian Games

Category:Military World Games bronze medalists for Sri Lanka

Category:Military World Games medalists in athletics (track and field)

Category:People from Negombo

Category:Sportspeople from Western Province, Sri Lanka

Category:21st-century Sri Lankan sportsmen