New South Asian Sprint Queen ‘Shafiya Yamik’ aims Olympic Glory!

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Shafiya Yamik touches her heart, right where the Sri Lankan flag rests on her jacket, before stepping onto the podium to receive her gold medal.

A new sprint queen is born — not only for Sri Lanka but for all of South Asia.

Shafiya Yamik, who clinched the gold medal in the Women’s 100m final at the South Asian Senior Athletics Championship with a new games record, has her dreams high.

“My target is 2028 Olympic,” she says with a confident smile.

The girl from Vihara Maha Devi College, Kandy, was once just a reserve in the Sri Lankan relay squad at the 2019 South Asian Games.

Today, she stands as a champion, bringing glory to her country.

Athletics was her father’s dream as he was a athletics lover.

“It was my father’s dream — and my parents always stood behind me,” she adds.

She credits her family members, school, sports ministry, medical staff and her coach S. P. Vithana.

A soldier by profession, serving in the Sri Lanka Army, Yamik showed promise from an early age.

Being named the Best Athlete of her school gave her the motivation to pursue the sport seriously, and soon she broke into the national ranks.

A specialist in the 100m, 200m, and 4x400m relay, Yamik also captured the 200m national title at the National Athletics Championship 2025.

She continued her stellar form at the Defence Services Meet, winning gold in the women’s 100m.

With her record-breaking gold medal, Yamik has brought fresh hope to thousands of aspiring Sri Lankan female athletes, proving that determination and discipline can turn dreams into reality.

At the South Asian Championship, she clocked 11.53 seconds to take the gold, with compatriot Amasha De Silva close behind, securing silver in 11.72 seconds.

Her best timing is actually 11.51 recorded at the Sri Lankan defense meet and its the third highest in Sri Lankan women’s 100. This shows her potential for further glory.

Sri Lanka’s new sprint sensation now looks beyond regional glory — the army girl has her eyes set on the Olympic podium.

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