Meet Sri Lankan Olympians to London
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Meet Sri Lankan Olympians to London ilini Jayasinghe Sri Lanka National women’s singles ‘crown’. A banker by profession, she has been working hard to gain Anuradha Indrajith Cooray Olympic qualification by play- ing in several international London 2012 Games will be the ranking tournaments all over second Olympiad for veteran Sri Sri Lanka will field a seven-member contingent for the XXXth the world in the past year. Lanka marathon champion Summer Olympic Games which begins in London on Friday Not all the sports stars Having won the Under- Anuradha Indrajith Cooray. would become lucky to cre- 13 junior national title in He made his Olympic debut (27). ate history but Thilini Jayas- 1998, Thilini went on to win eight years ago, competing at The Lankan contingent includes two athletes, two swimmers, two inghe is one of them who had the national women’s singles the Athens 2004 Games. As that rare honour of becoming title in 2004. She won her Sri Lanka’s national record badminton players and a shooter. The Sri Lanka contingent for the the first ever woman shuttler first title at the age of 13 in holder in men’s mara- London Olympics is led by national men’s singles badminton cham- to represent Sri Lanka in the a Kandy under-13 tourna- thon and men’s 10,000m, centenary-old history of the ment and soon became the Cooray is probably the best marathon runner produced by pion, Niluka Karunaratne. modern Olympic Games. national champion in the same Sri Lanka after the late K.A. Karunaratne, who competed at She represented Sri Lanka age group. She continued her Barcelona 1992 Olympics. at the 2008 Beijing Olympic success, winning national age Cooray has been familiar with the weather conditions in Games. Having made it to the group titles until she was 19. London and is looking forward to a grueling race through- last 48 in the women’s singles out the streets of London, ending near Buckingham Palace draw for London 2012 Games, in Central London on August 12. Jayasinghe has the distinction He is one of the four Sri Lankans to reach qualifying of qualifying for back to back standards and booked his passage to London Games after Olympic Games on merit. an impressive performance at the 2012 London Marathon A product of Mahamaya in May. He was initially a 10,000m specialist who later Girls School, Kandy, opted to concentrate on Thilini has won all marathon running. major women’s bad- Prior to that, he held minton titles in Sri Sri Lanka junior national Lanka, including the record for 5,000m. He began his school career as a 5,000m runner at Divula- Olympian fact file: pitiya Central College. Hav- Full name: Thilini Sudhara Jayasinghe ing joined the Sri Lanka Niluka Karunaratne Age/date of birth: January 15, 1985 Army in 1999, Cooray School/University: Mahamaya Girls School, Kandy came under the watchful There was a time Sri Lanka had would take Sri Lanka’s challenge to Home town: Kandy eyes of the late Brigadier a champion shuttler in Niroshan Olympic arena as national men’s Sport: Badminton Parry Liyanage who sharpened the skills of the talented lad. Wijekoon who made it to the 1992 singles champion Niluka Karunara- Event: Women’s singles At the 2003 South Asian Games in Islamabad, Cooray Barcelona Olympic Games in Spain. tne competes at the London 2012 First major title won: Under-13 Junior national clocked two hours, 16 minutes and 36 seconds to take the Exactly 20 years later, Sri Lanka Games. champion in 1998 gold medal. He won the Singapore International marathon has produced yet another champi- Niluka has been Sri Lanka’s undis- First represented Sri Lanka: Asian Junior Champion- for three successive years since 2001. on shuttler who puted shuttle king for over a decade, ships in India, 1998 winning many titles. His trophy shuttler who has been playing in Major events representing Sri Lanka: cupboard is filled with almost all many international tournaments to Olympic Games, Beijing in 2008, Commonwealth men’s singles champion trophies be ranked within the top 50 men’s Games in 2006 and 2010, Asian Games in 2006 and 2010, Olympian fact file: that were on at all major badminton badminton players in the world. South Asian Games in 2004, 2006, 2010, Badminton tournaments in Sri Lanka. Niluka is among the top 38 men’s World Championships in Malaysia 2007 and many open Full name: Anuradha Indrajith Cooray A proud product of Royal Col- badminton players who will be seen and international meets. Age/date of birth: 34 years / March 24, 1978 lege, Colombo, Niluka will be the in action at Wembley Arena. In his Current coach: Shankar Annamale School/University: Divulapitiya Central College overall captain of the Sri Lanka lead up to the Olympiad, Niluka Achievements/Titles won: Home town: Divulapitiya contingent for the London Olympic played in international ranking South Asian Games silver medallist on three occasions Sport: Athletics Games. Niluka’s powerful smashes tournaments in South Africa and – in 2004, 2006 and 2010 Event: Men’s marathon and impressive net killings have America before moving on to Scot- Sri Lanka national women’s single champion 2004 First major title won: National marathon been the hallmark of the champion land, Ireland and Wales. First ever woman shuttler to represent Sri Lanka at First represented Sri Lanka: - Olympic Games Major events representing Sri Lanka: 2004 Has won almost all women’s singles titles at all major Olympic Games in Athens, South Asian Games, Olympian fact file: Major events representing Sri Your target at London Olym- tournaments in Sri Lanka London Marathon, Several Asian Championships. Lanka: Had represented Sri Lanka pics: To make the best use of the Has won many titles and medals at international rank- Current coach: - Full name: Edirimuni Niluka at all major international events for opportunity I got to compete at the ing tournaments. Achievements/Titles won: Gold medals in Rushan Perera Karunaratne almost 11 years. highest level and perform some- Event and your best personal achievement: Women’s men’s marathon at 2004 South Asian Games in Age / date of birth: 27 years / Current coach: Louvie Karunara- thing extraordinary to make my singles – participating in Olympics 2008 Islamabad, won Singapore Open marathon on February 13, 1985 tne country proud. Your target at London Olympics: To come out with several occasions, Silver medal in men’s 10,000m School / University: Royal Col- Achievements / Titles won: Sri Ambitions: Bring more glory my best ever performance. at 1999 South Asian Games in Kathmandu, placed lege, Colombo. Lanka national champion for10 to Sri Lanka and make my country Ambitions: To give out my best for my country until sixth at 1998 Asian Games marathon in Bangkok, Home town: Balapitiya years since 2001. Has won many proud as a sportsman. I retire. In personal life, to excel in my career as a banker placed fourth in two Asian Grand Prix meets. First major title won: Under-11 international ranking tournaments Special comments / observa- and to become a good housewife in future. Event and your best personal achievement: All Island Age Group Champion- during the past decade. On his lead tions: This is the big break and Special comments/observations: Thank all those 2012 London Marathon ships. At the age of 16, he won up to London Games, he won five the memorable moment that I who have helped me, especially the CEO of Sampath Your target at London Olympics: To improve both the Junior and Senior National other international titles in major have been looking forward to Bank Aravinda Perera and bank management for all on my personal best and make my presence felt. Champion simultaneously while he ranking tournaments. and I thank my family, coaches, the encouragement given. Ambitions: Do my best for Sri Lanka athletics was also the Junior Triple Crown Event and your best personal officials and more importantly before I retire. champion. achievement: Qualifying to play at my sponsor for all the support Special comments/observations: Every time I First represented Sri Lanka: 2012 Olympics after being ranked they have extended. represent Sri Lanka is a special and a memorable 2000 Asian Championships in Indo- 47th in the men’s singles world rank- occasion for me. nesia ings. Olympian Fact file Full Name: Heshan Bandara Unam- Heshan Unamboowe boowe Mangala Samarakoon Age/Date of Birth: 20 years / 19 May 1992 Lanka was awarded A promising youngster who has already pion in under- School / University: Trinity Col- a re-allocated quota proved his mark in the local arena and 10 (twice), lege Kandy/ Miami University, Ohio place by the Inter- looking forward to bring more glory at under-12 (twice), Hometown: Kandy national Shooting international level. A recipient of an under-14 (twice) Sport: Swimming Sport Federation, Olympic Solidarity Scholarship, awarded and under-16 Event: 100m backstroke and as a top shooter by the National Olympic Committee of Sri (twice) - a credit- Personal best: 57.47 seconds in this country, Sama- Lanka, that gave him an opportunity to able feat. First Major Title: National Pentath- rakoon secured the train at the Nunawading Swimming Club He came out with lon Championship 2000 (Under 10) Olympic berth. in Melbourne, Australia. a remarkable per- First Represented Sri Lanka: 4th Asian Age Group Swimming Champion- Coached by Brigadier Ken- He was also selected as the male athlete formance in 2007 to ships 2005 in Bangkok Thailand neth Edema, Samarakoon has from Sri Lanka for the Asian Swimming become the best male Major Events: Youth Olympic Games, come a long way in Sri Lanka Talent Identification Project organised by swimmer in the country.