Heusden-Zolder, Belgium – July 19, 2025
Sri Lanka’s sprint sensation Yupun Abeykoon delivered a commanding performance on the European stage, clocking an impressive 10.03 seconds to win the men’s 100 metre final at the 46th KBC Night of Athletics in Belgium.
This victory marks a season’s best for Yupun and reaffirms his position as South Asia’s fastest man. Though the time was wind-assisted and doesn’t qualify as a national record, it remains the fastest 100 m performance by a Sri Lankan sprinter in 2025.
Event Highlights
- Event: Men’s 100 Metre Final
- Meet: KBC Night of Athletics 2025
- Venue: De Veen Stadium, Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
- Date: July 19, 2025
- Performance: 🥇 10.03 seconds (wind-assisted)
- Outcome: 🥇 1st Place Finish
Performance Breakdown
| Athlete | Country | Time | Wind | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yupun Abeykoon | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 10.03 s | +2.5 m/s | 🥇 1st place – season’s best |
- Fastest time by a Sri Lankan in 2025
- Not eligible for record status due to wind exceeding the legal limit (+2.0 m/s)
National Context
While the 10.03 s cannot replace his official national record of 9.96 s, set in Switzerland in 2022, it is still a major milestone:
- 2025 KBC Night of Athletics: First place, affirming comeback form and international caliber
- 2022 Commonwealth Games: Bronze medal (10.14 s) – first for Sri Lanka in 100 m history
- First South Asian sprinter to run under 10 seconds (9.96 s, legal wind)
Significance for Sri Lanka
This performance is more than just a race—it’s a message of continued excellence and resurgence. Yupun’s result at a prestigious European meet:
- Reignites Olympic dreams after a quiet 2024 season
- Reinforces his elite status ahead of the next World Athletics season
- 🇱🇰 Elevates Sri Lanka’s visibility on the global sprinting map
Official Reactions
“Yupun Abeykoon clocks a wind-assisted 10.03 seconds in the men’s 100m final to secure first place. What a comeback by South Asia’s sprint king!”
— Ceylon Athletics (Source)
“A brilliant run from Sri Lanka’s speedster. One step closer to breaking new ground.”
— ThePapare Sports (Source)
What’s Next?
With form returning and confidence rising, all eyes are now on upcoming international meets and Olympic qualification windows. Yupun Abeykoon’s return to the top step of the podium signals more to come.
Stay tuned for more updates on Yupun’s upcoming races, world rankings, and Olympic prospects, only on [srilankadirectory.com].
