Avishka’s cycling dream
Avishka Medonza, who was the overall winner of the Tour De Air Force says that if he is given the opportunity at the Commonwealth Games or the Asian Games next year he will do his utmost best to bring home a medal in cycling.
The Commonwealth Games will be held from April 4 to 15, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. The Asian Games will be held from August 18 to September 2, 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Avishka Medonza represents Sri Lanka Navy. He is only 19 years of age. Other than being the overall winner of the Tour De Air Force this year he also won an award for being the the youngest rider at the grueling event.
The total distance of the Tour De Air Force was 415 km. Avishka finished the first stage from Colombo to Puttalam – a distance of 128 km in the first bunch with a time of 2hrs 46mts and 45secs.
Avishka finished the second stage from Puttalam to Vavuniya – a distance of 138 km, also in a bunch returning a time of 3hrs 01mt and 31secs.
 Avishka finished the final stage from Vavuniya to Jaffna – a distance of 148 km – by emerging the winner. He returned a time of 3hours, 21mts and 22secs. He finished the entire tour with a time of 9hours, 09mts and 38secs to be the Overall Winner of the 18th Tour De Air Force.
The overall second place went to Madusanka Perera of Air Force with a time of 9hrs 09mts and 40secs. The third place was taken by Buddhika Warnakulasuriya also of the Air Force with a time of 9hrs 09mts and 42secs.
This is after eight years that a rider from Sri Lanka Navy emerged winner at the Tour De Air Force. The last time a Navy winner triumphed was in 2009 when Janaka Hemantha Kumara won the event.
Avishka Medonza is the son of Prasanna Pradeep Medonza, a former national level rider. He has also triumphed in the Tour De Air Force in 2006.
Avishka is presently in front at mountain climbing, sprint and time trials. He is also a member of the national cycling pool. In 2016 at the South Asian Games he bagged the Bronze Medal as a team member.
In 2016 SLT Cycle Tour he captured the fourth place and also bagged the trophy for the youngest rider.
He has triumphed in four local races this year. They are the Meegoda Savariya, Moratuwa Fit Wheel Savariya, Atthidiya Savariya and the latest being the Tour De Air Force.
“I have made a lot of sacrifices to win these events. I cycle almost 150 km per day for training. My main target is to represent Sri Lanka at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games and bring honour to the Island Nation” he concluded.