SLUSA Magazine 2021 | 51
52 | Sri Lanka Universities Sports Association
SLUSA Magazine 2021 | 53
54 | Sri Lanka Universities Sports Association
Prathushan Inparaj University of Moratuwa SLUSA Magazine 2021 | 55
Arulananthathevan Viyasan University of Jaffna SLUSA Magazine 2021 | 57
Thivaharan Rajenthiram University of Peradeniya SLUSA Magazine 2021 | 59
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Kavidi Sirimanage Badminton GOLD - Women’s Doubles at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 Silver - Team Event at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 Champions of Group 3 in the Team Event at the Sudirman Cup Best 16 - Women’s Doubles at Asian Badminton Championship We were under great pressure in the South Asian games, because Sri Lanka had never won a gold medal in South Asian badminton tournaments. We had the challenge to claim the gold medal for Sri Lanka. And finally, we were able to claim the gold medal in this event for Sri Lanka for the first time. “The majority of the students quit engaging in sports after getting selected to university, some of them are professional athletes. They think that it is difficult to balance studies and sports. But my partner and I engaged in sports while doing our studies. For that, what we should do is work hard.” Hasara My biggest inspiration was Wijayarathne to represent my country, Sri Lanka GOLD - U21 Women’s Doubles at South Asian Badminton Championships SILVER - Mixed Doubles at South Asian Badminton Championships SILVER - Women’s Singles the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 Badminton “No matter what the situation, balance your studies and sports, go to your targets and never give up.”
Taekwondo S. L. A. Maneesha BRONZE - Women’s Sparring (Lightweight) at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 “We should always do our best and never give up. If we do not practice hard, we don’t deserve to be among winners. To be deserving of victory, you must practice hard and constantly motivate yourself. Engaging in a sport is not all about always working hard. There are a lot of fun bits that come along with a sport. The team becomes your second family, staying with you through thick and thin. It is so fun to practice with team mates and spend time with them. Moreover, sports boost your confidence and elevate your personality in the eye of others. So practice hard and give it your best.” Dhanusha “Nothing is easy but nothing Rajapakse is impossible Taekwondo either.” SILVER - Women’s Team Poomsae at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 My mother. She is my role model, my boss lady, my everything. It’s from her that I learnt how to commit to something, how to believe in myself and how to become more humble with every achievement. Being her daughter, it would have been a big disappointment if I couldn’t become who I am today. “Always use available opportunities to improve yourself. Never be scared of facing challenges, because challenges are the best way to discover one’s hidden potential.”
Harshani Wijewardhana Fencing BRONZE - Fencing at the 13th South Asian Games held in Kathmandu, Nepal - Women’s Team Foil Unlike any other ordinary match, I didn’t feel any pre-match jitters when I was going to play. All I had on my mind was sheer determination to secure a medal, because I wasn’t playing only for myself this time, but for my country too. I was simply elated when I could finally bag a bronze for Sri Lanka. Lakshitha Herath Karate SILVER - Kata Team Event at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 BRONZE - 5th South Asian Karate Championship, 2019 I represented my country and I was able to win the event, defeating eight South Asian countries. That was a memorable moment not only for me but also for the whole Nation. It was a great pleasure to win as a Sri Lankan. If we were not able to win the gold medal, we could challenge them well at the finals. I am proud of having such a win with a bunch of talented players from several countries. Hurdling Roshan Ranathunga National Champion in 110m Hurdling in 2019, 2020 BRONZE at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019
Yasitha De Silva Tennis QUATER FINALS 13th South Asian Games, 2019 CAPTAIN 2019 Sri Lanka University Team for the World University Games held in Italy World University Games as a whole was a massive experience. It is a huge arena, only second to the Olympics. You get to see all these competent players from around the world. The value of being able to see and witness their intensity and dedication was unfathomable. The most important thing my mother told me when I was doing my A/L’s was that you don’t need sacrifice academics for sports. You can surely find a healthy balance between the two. It isn’t always as easy as it sounds, but if you believe in yourself and make up your mind, you will find the perfect balance that would suit you. That’s my success formula. Balancing is the key. Anjalika Diyawadana Karate SILVER - South Asian Karate Championship 2019 in Bangladesh BRONZE - South Asian Karate Championship 2019 in Bangladesh BRONZE - 13th South Asian Games, 2019 REPRESENTED SRI LANKA Asian University Karate Championship Asian Karate Championship Do what you do with love, then you will give it your best. The more you give your heart to it, you will be blessed with it. Doing a sport in university is great and more than just being an addition to your CV, it’s good for your health as well.
Isuri Mendis Taekwondo GOLD - Pair Poomsae at the 13th South Asian Game, 2019 BRONZE - Female Individual Poomsae at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 BRONZE - Female Team Poomsae at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 The event was held in the capital city (Kathmandu) of Nepal. The weather was cold and dry at that time. We had been training at Nawalapitiya, Sri Lanka, which also had somewhat of a cold weather, for around a month. So we were able to adapt to the weather fast. We had to do longer warm-up sessions before starting though. Air had a considerable amount of pollution and almost everyone was wearing masks in the streets. I was nervous at first, but since everyone was breathing the same air it did not affect our competitive spirit. Madhavee Jayaweera Taekwondo GOLD - Individual Poomsae Group 03 at Korean Ambassadors’ Cup Taekwondo World Championship - 2019 SILVER - Individual Poomsae at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 SILVER - Pair Poomsae at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 SILVER - Team Poomsae at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 REPRESENTED SRI LANKA at the 30th Summer Universiade in Napoli, Italy I experienced the great happiness of seeing the flag of my motherland among lots of other countries’ flags. And it always reminded me that I am not alone. The whole country was with me. They were waiting for us with a hope of achievement. That hope and the feeling gave me the strength to win. Don’t be afraid. It doesn’t matter if the university is the first place where you are doing a sport. There are so many opportunities for you, whether you have done a sport before or not. You can achieve the national level and international level though you started from zero. Doing a sport will balance your life and also reduce stress. It will have a big effect on your career also. SLUSA Magazine 2021 | 65
Taekwondo Udyogya Jayasinghe BRONZE - Poomsae Team Event at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 “I have played Taekwondo since childhood. My goal was to bring an international award to my Motherland.” I was able to win an international medal for Sri Lanka from Taekwondo, becoming the first South Asian Games medalist of the Nuwara Eliya District Taekwondo Association. Being able to give great pride and joy to my mom, dad as well as brother and the whole family, being able to give respect to my university and being able to give respect to my school made me feel that I have done my duty. Remembering those things gives me great inspiration. Hasini Taekwondo Madushanika BRONZE - 13th South Asian Games, 2019 REPRESENTED SRI LANKA at the 30th Summer Universiade in Napoli, Italy “Believe in yourself, push yourself and don’t underestimate how valuable you are, and realize that learning from small failures makes you strong. So, recover quickly and move on.” For me the best experience is the day I won the South Asian Games bronze medal at Kathmandu. I remember the emotions I felt and the thoughts that ran through my mind at that time. When I was competing, I felt so proud of myself. At that time, I promised myself to never give up. After getting the bronze medal I was literally crying. That day was the most exciting experience I ever had. 66 | Sri Lanka Universities Sports Association
Hasitha Boyagoda Cricket Represented Sri Lanka Cricket A Team against Ireland South Africa and Bangladesh tours - Asia Emerging Cup “My driving force is the willingness to give back to everyone who helped me on the way.” If you are a university athlete, aim for nationals. Once you get there, aim for international events. Once you finally reach the international level, try to be the greatest you can. Always try to aim higher than you can possibly achieve. Thilini Hendahewa Badminton GOLD - Women’s Doubles at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 SILVER - Mixed Doubles at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 SILVER - Women’s Team Event at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 GOLD - Group 3 at the Sudirman Cup, 2019 BEST 16 - Women’s Doubles at Asian Individual Championship, 2019 BEST 16 - Women’s Singles at Lagos international Challenge BEST 16 - Women’s Doubles at Lagos international Challenge BEST 16 - Women’s Doubles at Hydrabad Open Super 100 Badminton Championship 2019 “We engage in sports to do something for the country with our talents. So, if a player practices well with the ardor, commitment and diligence that are needed to achieve his target, he can win easily.”
Omaya Udyangani Running REPRESENTED SRI LANKA at the 30th Summer Universiade in Napoli, Italy GOLD - 4 x 400 m Relay at 2019 South Asian Games “Not everyone can be a winner at the first attempt, it takes time. Every time you lose, you have to convince yourself to try even harder. Only you can make your name a memorable one, not anyone else.” Srimali Samarakoon Weightlif t ing SILVER - 13th South Asian Games, 2019 I competed in the new 45kg weight class by changing the 48kg weight class that I had competed before. Losing 6kg was a significant challenge that I have faced in my 10 years of sporting life. Losing weight is a very difficult task. I have been able to maintain the same body weight for 10 years. I also had to face a surgery in August 2019 due to a sports injury. But the blessings of my coach and my parents, and the hardship and the dedication of the Sports Medical Unit of the Kandy National Hospital, I was able to recover in a short time. The biggest challenge I had to face during this tournament was, I had to compete without the guidance of my coach who knows my strengths and weaknesses. 68 | Sri Lanka Universities Sports Association
Tharika Fernando Shot Put SILVER - 13th South Asian Games, 2019 REPRESENTED SRI LANKA at the Asian Grand Prix Series “Never give up your dreams for any reason. Work hard, be dedicated and honest to what you are doing, and one day your hard work paid off.” Erandi Table Tennis Warusawithana SILVER - Table Tennis Team Event 13th South Asian Games, 2019 BRONZE - Table Tennis Singles Event 13th South Asian Games, 2019 REPRESENTED SRI LANKA at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Indonesia REPRESENTED SRI LANKA at the 30th Summer Universiade in Napoli, Italy I am very happy for being able to win a bronze medal and I am also sad because I am not able to reach my goal. But on the other hand I was lucky because I lost to the athlete who won the gold medal in that tournament. She is also the number one player in the Indian table tennis rankings. So before the match there was a little bit of fear about the Indian player. But I also wanted to compete with her to win or lose. So I was able to give her a good competition. 70 | Sri Lanka Universities Sports Association
Amasha De Silva Running SILVER - 100 m - 13th South Asian Games, 2019 GOLD - 4 x 400 m Relay - 13th South Asian Games, 2019 When I arrived at the track, with all the other elite athletes who were about to compete alongside me, it was a very nerve wracking moment. But I tried my best to be strong and face the challenge since I was not just competing for myself, I was representing my whole nation. So, I kept that in my mind and gave it my best. In the end, I succeeded and it was a very proud moment for me. Usually when athletes get into universities they miss or neglect practice sessions and eventually they lose all the energy and skill they had during their school time. So, my advice is to never let that happen. Hasini Balasooriya Triple Jump GOLD - Triple Jump at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 “I strongly believe every undergraduate should be encouraged to engage in any kind of sport even at a smaller scale.” The passion I have for sports is my biggest inspiration. Although my main event is Triple Jump I have engaged in many sports including running events, volleyball and netball. When I started as a kid I didn’t have a specific target that I would be representing my country at international competitions. When I realized my gradual growth in sports, I just wanted to be better at what I do. The journey has been a long and hard process to reach this level. SLUSA Magazine 2021 | 71
Taekwondo Sithumini Wijewickrama SILVER - Team Poomsae at the 13th South Asian Games, 2019 Though I have participated in an international event in Karate, the 2019 SAG was my 1st taekwondo international tournament. We had very little time to practice for less than a month. But we trained from morning 6 to 7pm. While training I had an accident where a tendon of my leg ruptured so I had to compete with the injury where no one thought that I would be able to play, but in the end I was able to make it. With my father I used watch films of Bruce Lee who became my role model where we will be able model ourselves in to anything we want like water. Vimukthi Senevirathna Baseball Represented Sri lanka National Baseball team in 2019 CHAMPIONS - 14th West Asia Baseball Cup 7th Place at the 29th Asian Baseball Championship Work hard to go beyond the university level and always showcase you talents to the world. I wish success to all university athletes to bring glory to mother Sri Lanka!
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Acknowledgements Designing Team Sanoj Rosa Lead Designer Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka University of Sri Jayewardenepura Dumindu Sasanka University of Peradeniya University of Moratuwa Angulugaha Gamage Susira Rajarata University of Sri Lanka Wayamba University of Sri Lanka Duvishka Kaveen Kumburage University of Peradeniya Avishka Udara Chamath Herath Muraleetharan Anukoolan Editorial Team Thivaharan Rajenthiram University of Peradeniya Hansini Wijekoon University of Sri Jayewardenepura Thrividya Liyanaarachchi Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka Prarthana Chithrananda Wayamba University of Sri Lanka Pramod Madushan Rathnayake University of Peradeniya Kavishka Kodithuwakku University of Kelaniya Akhila Seneviratne University of Moratuwa Sahashra Dinasiri University of Colombo Special Thanks to Mr. B.L.H. Perera Ms. Judy Senevirathne Mr. I.M. Ranasinghe Ms. Charani Palangasinghe Ms. Shilendree Seneviratne Mr. Sudharshana Sandaruwan
SLUSA Magazine Committee Dr. Chandrakantha Mahendranathan Eastern University, Sri Lanka Mr. K.R.D.C. Rathnamudali University of Moratuwa Mr. S.U. Wijesinghe Rajarata University of Sri Lanka Mr. R.J. Wellassa Wayamba University of Sri Lanka Eastern University, Sri Lanka Mrs. Rohini Antony Puvanasingam University of Sri Jayewardenepura Mrs. Nishanthi Vidanage University of Kelaniya University of Colombo Mr. G.G.U. Saman Kumara University of Moratuwa Mr. Sanjeewa Jayasinghe University of Sri Jayewardenepura University of Kelaniya Mr. G.L. Wijesuriya University of Peradeniya Mrs. Ramani Kulathilaka University of Colombo Mr. H.D. Sameera P. Wijayagunaratne University of Kelaniya Mr. S.A.M.B. Samarakoon University of Sri Jayewardenepura Mr. J.P. Anusha De Silva Ms. M.I.P. Kumari Mr. L.A.D. Priyadarshana
With Best Wishes from /SrilankaTuskers.SLR /srilankatuskers www.srilankarugby.lk
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