Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 3, 2026: Sri Lanka’s Nipuni Wasana returned to a hero’s welcome on Saturday, May 2 after she won the first-ever gold medal for the island nation at an Asian Beach Games.

Nipuni won the gold medal in the women’s 50kg beach wrestling event at the Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games which ended on Thursday, April 30.

Nipuni received a warm welcome at the Bandaranaike International Airport where officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport, representatives from the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, senior officers from the Sri Lanka Air Force, local media and many supporters were on hand to receive her.

“Nipuni’s historic gold medal victory, achieved by defeating her Vietnamese opponent in a thrilling final, adds a moment of profound pride to our nation’s sporting history. Her achievement is a clear testament to the success of our ‘Olympic Mission’ programme initiated by our Ministry,” Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage posted on Facebook.

Nipuni, an aircraftwoman in the Sri Lanka Air Force, defeated Vietnam’s Doan Thi Kim Oanh in the gold medal final.