Wijewickrema on course for more deeds

by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Cor. , Kandy Sports Corr.

Seventeen year old Bevishan Wijewickrema of Trinity College brought honour to Sri Lanka when he won a silver medal at weightlifting at the Commonwealth Youth Games 2015 held in Samoa this month.

Wijewickrema competing in the 77 kgs category made a snatch of 93 kgs and hoisted 134 in the clean and jerk to make a total 227 in a championship which was won by a Samoan.

Wijewickrema was ahead in the total lift against many lifters from other countries like New Zealand and Barbados.

Wijewickrema has family-weightlifting in his blood and his performance comes as no surprise as he is capable of greater achievements.

His father Athula Wijewickrema was the national weightlifting champion and the holder of many records who also served as the national weightlifting coach and produced a large number national weight lifters.

He is also the fitness and conditioning coach for many rugby playing schools.

His uncle S.A. Wijewickrema has been the national coach and is a trainer of great repute himself.

Young Wijewickrema took to weightlifting four years ago and has several age group records to his credit in various weight categories. He has excelled at the junior weightlifting Nationals and has won his title at the National School Games in 2013 and 2014.

Four years in the game, he has brought a medal for Sri Lanka and at present he has set his eyes on the Junior Asian Championship and the SAF Games.