The eight athletes who will represent Sri Lanka at the Paris Paralympics were presented with official clothing by MAS at a ceremony held at the Galle Face Hotel on Wednesday (14) evening.
The ceremonial kits included track, swim and wheelchair tennis kits that will certainly encourage and enhance their performance levels during the competitions.
The clothing was designed when MAS ventured into the Adaptive Apparel space in 2019 conducting research and development of innovative products that enable independent dressing. It will provide the athletes with lifestyle clothing and enhance their performance level when competing globally.
Samitha Dulan the captain of the team who does the Javelin throw in the F44 category said that he has trained hard and is hoping to win the gold medal in his event.
Dulan won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Paralympics, a milestone he cherishes deeply. He later won a bronze medal at the Paris World Para Athletics Championship and a silver medal at the Asian Para Games. He is now focused in winning a medal at the Paris Paralympic Games as he has promised.
“This collaboration with MAS Holdings means a great deal for us, as it ensures our athletes have the highest quality attire for their competitions, on par with global competitors. This partnership goes a long way in empowering our athletes,” said retired Lt. Col. Deepal Herath, President of the NPC and Chef-de-Mission of Sri Lanka’s Paris 2024 Paralympics contingent.
The clothing incorporates special functional features for comfort and better performance.
The ceremonial kit includes a hooded jacket that enables targeted ventilation and breathability, along with an adjustable draw cord and magnetic zipper. The versatile track bottoms can convert to shorts and the polo shirt includes a zipper with an extended puller loop for convenience.
Customized swimwear is made to fit unique athlete proportions and the wheelchair tennis shorts are designed with high-stretch fabric, sensory-friendly waistbands and easy-to-use fasteners for performance.
“We are thrilled to support Sri Lankan Para athletes on the global stage as we have done over the years. Their performance has brought pride to Sri Lanka and we hope through this continued commitment we will enable them to perform at their best in the upcoming games,” said Suren Fernando, CEO of MAS Holdings.
