Short-distance running champion Yupun Abeykoon retires from the sport

Yupun Abeykoon, one of Sri Lanka's greatest short-distance runners, has announced a sudden decision to retire from his athletic career. He has taken steps to inform the public about this unexpected decision by adding a special note via his official Facebook account, stating that it was not an easy decision to make, even though he still had time left to continue his sports career.

Further commenting on his retirement, he stated, "But in the end, I was forced to make that decision. Let's talk about why and what happened. Let's talk about the current state of sports in Sri Lanka. I have many experiences to share. See you in the next chapter."

Yupun Abeykoon's full statement, posted on his Facebook account, expressing gratitude to everyone for their support throughout his sports career and emotionally addressing this decision, is as follows.

"I retire from sports, owing nothing to my country, but indebted to the world!"

"I realized that being called the fastest runner in South Asia wasn't my victory, but 'our' victory, only after I ran the Sub 10. Until then, I thought it was a win I needed to claim for myself. For a boy to go from belonging to his home/family to belonging to an entire nation is an incredibly rare and wonderful experience. A victory that thieves and enemies cannot take away once it's achieved. For giving me that experience first, I express my gratitude to this life and to my country and nation."

"All of you were never just ordinary fans or supporters; you all became my family. Throughout this journey, all I truly gained was that love and strength. I deeply love everyone who stayed up late to watch my races, lit lamps, and prayed. I want to remind you that all of that became a great strength for me. It was my duty to you to ensure I played my best, protected your trust without betraying it for money, and behaved disciplinedly without tarnishing your honor."

"So, on this day, as I end my sports career, there are people I want to thank. First, I thank my parents who brought me into this world and gave me life; it makes me very happy when they are so proud of me. I thank my family and my friends for being a great support to me, and also my two schools for introducing me to sports. Thanks to all my coaches and my team in Italy for introducing me to sports. Without them, my journey would not have come this far."