Sport · Sri Lanka Bureau
Sri Lankan runner Achintha claims historic Youth Olympic silver in 1500m
Middle-distance runner Lahiru Achintha has secured a silver medal in the men's 1500 metres at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, marking another significant achievement for the emerging Sri Lankan athlete. Achintha finished just 0.35 seconds behind Ethiopia's Wabi Seblega in Monday's closely contested final in Senegal.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Lahiru Achintha clocked 3:59.08 to claim the silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games, adding to his growing list of international achievements on the middle-distance circuit. The Sri Lankan runner's time placed him narrowly behind gold medallist Seblega, in what proved to be one of the most competitive races of the Games.
Achintha's performance underscores his rapid development as a serious contender in the 1500 metres discipline at youth level. The medal represents a significant milestone for Sri Lankan athletics on the international stage, demonstrating the country's emerging talent pipeline in distance running.
The tight finish—decided by mere fractions of a second—highlighted the intensity of competition at the Youth Olympic Games, where the world's best young athletes compete across multiple sports. Achintha's silver medal adds to Sri Lanka's medal tally at the Dakar Games, held in Senegal.