Dr. Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam is a prominent figure in Sri Lankan athletics history with several notable achievements:
He represented Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) at the 1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympic Games.He participated
in three Asian Games: 1954 Manila, 1958 Tokyo, and 1962 Djakarta1.His most remarkable accomplishment was winning
the Gold Medal at the 1958 Tokyo Asian Games, which was the first Gold Medal of any kind for Sri Lanka.
At the 1962 Djakarta Asian Games, he secured a Silver Medal.
He was a co-record holder at the 1954 Manila Asian Games after jumping the same height as the gold, silver, and bronze jumpers, but was placed fourth due to
more misses In addition to his athletic prowess, Dr. Ethirveerasingam has also contributed significantly to academia and sports development:
He taught at universities in Sierra Leone, Papua New Guinea, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka.
He worked for UNESCO for five years.
He captained the University cricket team in Sierra Leone and was appointed vice-captain of the national team that played against Gambia in 1973.
He holds a PhD and has authored several books, including one on complex verbal learning and retention. Dr. Ethirveerasingam’s legacy extends beyond his athletic achievements, as he has been a bridge-builder and an inspiration for many in the field of sports and education.
May he rest in the peace!
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