Suresh Dharmasena, a prominent figure in wheelchair tennis, represented Sri Lanka at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which took place from August 30 to September 7, 2024. His journey to the Paralympics is marked by resilience and determination, overcoming significant personal challenges to compete at an elite level.
Dharmasena was born on June 24, 1989, in the village of Paluketuwewa, Kahatagasdigiliya, Anuradhapura, where his family engaged in farming. During his school years, he excelled in volleyball, representing his school in all-island tournaments. In 2007, Dharmasena joined the Sri Lanka Army, training at the Minneriya Army Camp before being deployed in military operations in the North and East.
On February 23, 2009, while near Chalai Lagoon in Pudukuduirippu, Dharmasena was severely injured by a landmine explosion. He lost his left leg in the incident, which drastically changed the course of his life. Following his injury, he underwent a rehabilitation program at Ragama Ranaviru Sevana for four months. It was during this challenging period that he was introduced to wheelchair tennis in 2010 at the Panagoda Army Headquarters, where he was encouraged by his superiors to pursue the sport.
Dharmasena’s dedication to wheelchair tennis paid off as he achieved significant milestones in his career. He won the 2017 Malaysia Open Para-Tennis Tournament and the 2018 Thailand International Tennis Federation Para-Tennis Tournament. Notably, he and his partner Lasantha Ranaweera secured a bronze medal in the men’s doubles event at the 2018 Asian Para Tennis Championships in Indonesia, marking Sri Lanka’s first medal in Asian para-tennis history.
At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Dharmasena competed in the Wheelchair Tennis Men’s Singles event. He faced Austrian player Josef Riegler in the first round, winning decisively with a score of 6-1, 6-3. the third set was cancelled due to bad weather conditions and considering the significant score gap, allowing Dharmasena to advance with a 2-0 victory.
As a veteran athlete, Dharmasena aims to finish among the top 16 players in the world, further solidifying his place in the sport and inspiring others with his story of resilience and determination. His journey from a landmine victim to an accomplished Paralympian exemplifies the spirit of perseverance and the transformative power of sports.
Written by Nadun Kumarasinghe | Moraspirit