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 will field a seven-member contingent for the XXXth the world in the past year. Lanka marathon champion Summer 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 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 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 , 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. He established Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, shooting and will be looking national record in the 2007 All-Island the Olympic Council of Asia, providing FINA World Championships, Com- (MQS) can be entered in an forward to set a new Sri Lanka Mangala Samarakoon of the further training opportunities in Bangkok. Schools Swimming Championships in monwealth Youth Games, Asian Youth record during the London Sri Lanka Army has already event on the Olympic shoot- His performances at the 14th FINA World the 200 metres individual medley and Games, Asian Age Group, South Asian proved his mark in Sri Lanka ing program. The National Olympics. Championships led them to an invita- erased the national record held by Andrew Games, Asian Schools Swimming Cham- shooting. Having bagged the Olympic Committee of Sri tion by FINA to compete at the Olympic Abeysinghe. pionships gold medal in his pet event Games on universality places (formally Though his initial hope of competing at Current Coach: U.H. Pemlath / Julian at the South Asian Shooting Olympian fact file: wild card system). Beijing 2008 Olympic Games were shat- Bolling Competition, Samarakoon of Full name: Samarakoon Mudiyanselage Mangala Sama- The backstroke specialist started his tered, young Unamboowe did not give up. Achievements: Gold at South Asian the Army Small Arms Asso- rakoon swimming career at the age of 8 years and In the following year, he came out with Games with new South Asian Record. ciation struck another gold Age/date of birth: 32 years / August 26, 1980. has set over 75 records at school, national his personal best timing of 58.66 seconds Total of 17 South Asian Medals and 5 medal at the 2006 South Asian School/University: Medawala Central College and international level. He has won in Japan. During his training stint in Aus- Asian Age Group medals. Captain of Games in the 50m prone Home town: Uva Paranagama National Age Group Swimming Champi- tralia, Unamboowe was able to better that the Sri Lankan contingent to the 1st shooting event with a record Sport: Shooting onship and the Pentathlon Championship and climb a step ahead clocking 57.47 sec- Youth Olympic Games. National Swim- score. Event: Men’s 10m air rifle eight times in-a-row. He became cham- onds in Malaysia. ming title in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011. He narrowly missed a medal First major title won: The best ever male swimmer pro- National Pentathlon Championship for at the 16th Asian Games in First represented Sri Lanka: duced by Sri Lanka Julian Bolling, who 10 years, National Age Group Champion- 2010, finishing fourth. At the Major events representing Sri Lanka: 2010 Asian Games, competed at the 1992 Olympic Games ship for 11 years. last Asian Games in China, South Asian Shooting Championships, South Asian Games. in Barcelona, coaches Unamboowe, Target at London Olympics: To Samarakoon scored 592 points Current coach: Brigadier Kenneth Edema along with U.H. Pemlath. As the achieve a personal best time and establish and also scored full 100 points Achievements/Titles won: South Asian Games gold youngest Sri Lanka overall swimming a new national record. in one round for the first time medal, South Asian Shooting Championships gold medal. captain, Unamboowe became the first Ambition: In swimming, to do the in his career. Event and your best personal achievement: Men’s air swimmer to win the prestigious Lion best for my country. In life, to become In London, Mangala will rifle - 592 points Award at Trinity College in 2008. an engineer. represent Sri Lanka in the Your target at London Olympics: To register my per- 50m Rifle Prone event, which sonal best score and improve on my performance. means he will aim at a 10-ring Ambitions: I would like to serve as a shooting representa- target from 50m away, while tive even after my retirement. in a lying down position. Only Special comments/observations: It is a rare opportunity shooters who have attained the I got to compete at Olympics. Minimum Qualification Score See also page 28