Sri Lankan Gymnast Amaya Sithumini Makes History at 20th Asian Games

Sri Lankan gymnastics has reached another historic milestone as Amaya Sithumini Kalukottage has been appointed as an International Technical Official for Women’s Artistic Gymnastics at the 20th Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan in September 2026.

A graduate of the B.Sc. (Hons) in Sports Science and Management from the Department of Sports Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Amaya will serve as a judge on the international panel during the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics competition, scheduled to take place from 21 to 25 September in Nagoya.

Her appointment marks a historic first for Sri Lanka, as she becomes the first Sri Lankan Women’s Artistic Gymnastics judge to officiate at the Asian Games in this prestigious capacity. It is a proud achievement not only for Sri Lankan gymnastics but also for the country’s sporting community.

Amaya’s journey in gymnastics began as a national athlete. She proudly represented Sri Lanka at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games and also competed at the FISU World University Games 2023, earning valuable international experience on some of the world’s biggest sporting stages.

Now, she takes on a new role in the sport, exchanging the competition floor for the judges’ panel while bringing the same dedication, discipline and technical expertise that defined her career as a gymnast.

Her appointment highlights the growing presence of Sri Lankan sports professionals on the international stage and reflects years of commitment to artistic gymnastics. As Asia’s finest gymnasts compete in Nagoya, Amaya Sithumini Kalukottage will proudly represent Sri Lanka in one of the sport’s most respected officiating roles.