Dr. Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam, who won the first Gold medal in any sport for Ceylon at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, passed away in Los Angeles in the US aged 89 years.

His athletics journey continued as he went on to win the Silver medal at the 1962 Asian Games In Jakarta, Indonesia. He also competed at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Ethir was a proud product of Jaffna Central College and St. Joseph’s College, Colombo.

In 1956, he was awarded a full athletic scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He later earned a Master’s Degree from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, and a PhD from Cornell University in 1971.

In 1994, after retiring at the age of 60, Ethir wanted to ‘give back’ to his country and people for all the support he had received during his athletics career. He applied for a position at the University of Jaffna, Kilinochchi Campus (Agriculture) at the height of the war. 

His application was accepted and despite the dangers due to the ongoing war and severe embargoes on fuel, electricity, medicine, and other essential items to most of Northern Sri Lanka, he returned to his homeland to work in the LTTE-controlled Vanni on a one-year contract.

Rest in peace Ethir, may the turf lay easy on you!