Sri Lankan powerlifting champions Darin Weerasinghe and Ransilu Jayathilake stole the show at the first round of the National Raw Powerlifting Championship held recently at Bandaragama Youth Centre.
Raw powerlifting is sport of pure strength as it does not permit any support gear.
Darin was in unfamiliar territory as it was the first time he took part in the “Over 120kg” class.
Darin went on to break the Squat, Bench Press, Deadlift and overall total record with combined lifts of 630kg. Darin has also secured three Sri Lanka bench press records in the “105kg”, “120kg” and “Over 120kg” classes.
Ransilu Jayathilake broke the Squat and Deadlift record in the under “120kg” class. Dhanushka Kodikara broke the Squat record in the under “105kg” class. Ranga Wimalasooriya was 1st runner up in the novices event in the “Under 120kg” class.
This meet was conducted under the Sri Lanka National Sporting Code, along with the Guidelines of the International Powerlifting Federation.
All three athletes have additionally secured places representing Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships, which will be held in South Africa in September 2017.