Jaffna Athlete Claims Discrimination in Past Event, Wins Bronze at National Race-walking Meet

A young woman from Jaffna, Thamilarasi Jeeveswaran from Ponnalai-Jaffna, has won the bronze medal in the 10,000-meter race-walking event at the 2025 Union National Meet, competing against tri-forces athletes and others.

In her statement, she revealed past experiences of discrimination; during a previous Asian selection event, she was initially barred from entering the field, Only after her coach intervened was she allowed to compete, but she was then disqualified with a foul.

Thamilarasi believes the foul was intentional and discriminatory. “This time, I did not wear a pottu (traditional forehead mark) and appeared just like a Sinhala girl — they didn’t foul me,” she said.

Thamilarasi, who had previously won gold in the 5,000-meter school-level race-walking competition in 2023, said she had also participated in several district and provincial meets.

Statement of Tamilarasi : https://web.facebook.com/kaji.ripport/videos/704902708851673/

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