Sri Lanka, Sept. 11 -- Nuyara Fernando of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda, has achieved what no other Sri Lankan teenager has done in gymnastics. She has not only become the youngest national champion but also emerged among the top 24 gymnasts in Asia, sending a powerful signal that Sri Lanka may have found its future Olympic star.

At the recently concluded Senior and Junior Women's Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in South Korea, Fernando was the only Sri Lankan competitor in the senior women's category. Facing Asia's strongest gymnasts, she delivered a total of 42.199 points, finishing 23rd overall - a remarkable effort that placed her ahead of gymnasts from India, the region's dominant nation.

Her all-around score placed...