Nadeeka still wonders how a sponsorship could work
If Sri Lanka places its female sports heroes on a manuscript, undoubtedly Nadeeka Lakmali Liyanage, the country’s ace javelin thrower, will occupy an eminent slot. Hailing from Elpitiya, a rural town in the Southern Province situated over 100 miles away from Colombo, Nadeeka has won many medals, both locally and internationally, but the high point of her javelin career came at the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Luzhniki, Russia a week ago.
She became one of 12 competitors to participate for the medal and although she may have not won a medal, finishing 12th after recording distances of 55.10, 58.16 and 55.77 metres respectively in three attempts, she undeniably left a great impression upon her fellow countrymen.
“I’ve faced great difficulties to reach this status. Though my hometown is Elpitiya, for years I lived with my sister in Meepe where I had to travel a distance 70 kilometres by bus for my daily training. The bus is still my mode of travel and in a way I’m glad of that because that will help me to remain humble,” Nadeeka said, three days after her return from Moscow.
What is significant about Nadeeka’s voyage to Moscow is that she became only the second athlete from Sri Lanka to reach a final in an event after Susanthika Jayasinghe. Jayasinghe won a silver and a bronze medal respectively in the 1997 and 2007 versions of the IAAF Championship in the women’s 200-metre event. Nadeeka may be far behind Jayasinghe in terms of winning international medals, but she almost achieved the impossible by placing herself among the world’s 12 best female javelin throwers despite being nearly overlooked by the local sports authorities.
“In comparison to other athletes who reached the top at the international level, I think I’m still way behind in receiving support. Greats from the recent era like Susanthika Jayasinghe and Damayanthi Darsha were able to reach great heights because officials those days had a positive vision of their abilities. I have proven my potential but lack that same backing. It doesn’t mean that I’m just in need of financial support. At least a little motivation, some positive words to cheer you up from those who are responsible at the top level can make athletes like us strive for more. I eagerly anticipate that, simply because I have a dream, to win an international medal before calling it a day. The recent years have not been so good for the athletes, leave aside the officials,” a disappointed Nadeeka lamented.
Luckily Nadeeka is employed by the Sri Lanka Army, one of the few institutions that encourages talented athletes and offers them a ray of hope in pursuing their dreams. But shockingly the modest monthly wage paid by the Army to Nadeeka, a member of its volunteer force, is the only source with which she meets the expenses of her day-to-day activities and the costs of her javelin career. Unlike other sports stars of the country, Nadeeka does not know how a sponsorship works or how it could benefit her as an international athlete, but longs for assistance.
“I’m 31 years old at present and I think I will have the energy for two years or more to perform at this level. I’m eager to enhance my performance during that time with the aim of winning international medals. But I really don’t have an idea how a sponsorship works. For the event in Moscow I had to borrow cash from my father to buy a pair of spikes, which costs nearly Rs. 25,000. The gear that is used at throwing events is a bit more expensive than it appears. The Ministry of Sports is supporting, not only me but all others, the best way they can. If I could at least get a benefactor who can supply the gear, more than half of my burden is over. I can clearly say that the passion in me for the sport always remained the same and it will be the same for the future, no matter what occurs,” she stressed.
Nadeeka has no idea what she may have become if she didn’t take up athletics. But for a village girl she has achieved what many others would have only dreamt of. She has won many medals and awards at local events while claiming a gold medal at the Asian Grand Prix in Beijing 2008, a silver at the Asian Championship held last month in Pune India and a bronze medal at the Asian Championships in Jordan in 2007. The existing Sri Lanka record of 60.64 metres was set by her exactly a month ago at the 20th Asian Athletics Championship held in Pune, India. By achieving that feat, Nadeeka bettered her own national record of 60.16 metres which secured her qualification for the Moscow event. Overall she has won three gold medals at international events so far.
Her international commitments may have ended for this year but at the domestic level Nadeeka has three more meets to participate in. Despite not being challenged by fellow javelin throwers domestically, she claims that it has never bothered her performances or standard in any way.
“I achieved the 58-metre mark in 2007 and in five years I managed to clear two more meters to reach the 60-metre mark. I wish I had more support during this period; had I received more endorsement I could have done better. Next year I will take part in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. At the moment I’m seriously aiming to better my performance at both these events,” she revealed.
Nadeeka also stressed that her experience in Moscow, getting the opportunity to compete alongside 11 other top athletes in javelin throwing, was a great moment in her career. She did not have her long-time coach, A.J. Rodrigo by her side to guide her after reaching the final, which was held a day after the qualifying rounds. Knowing that winning a medal was impossible Nadeeka did her utmost to record a personal best, but failed. She had one month since qualifying for the Moscow event from the Asian Championships but again the local officials took very little interest to grant those eligible with special training.
“The achievement in Moscow, to perform among the best 12 throwers was an amazing feeling. It was a great experience for a person like me who came from a village. I felt proud to be among those who are considered the best in the world. But I couldn’t go beyond the 60-metre mark. My ambition was to reach the final of the event in the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championship. Recording 60 or a centimeter farther than that point was a bonus. The other finalists who competed with me in the final had cleared 66 to 72 metres as their personal best and beating them required an extraordinary effort. As far as I’m concerned I did my absolute best and I’m really satisfied with it. I owe a lot for all I have achieved in my athletic career to my coach Mr. Rodrigo. He has been my coach since 2001. In addition, my fellow athletes have greatly motivated me to reach great heights.”
Nadeeka may achieve the unthinkable in the future or may fade away like some of the unsung heroes in the history of Sri Lanka’s athletics. But she and a few others have managed to prove the local athletics officials wrong about their understanding of throwing events in Sri Lanka. Nadeeka has proved that she is an asset to her country though officials of the Sri Lanka Athletics Association (SLAA) could not take appropriate steps to cut and polish a gemstone that could have had a totally different value today. She feels that the SLAA hierarchy should be more committed to helping future talents and medal prospects.
Nadeeka:Bringing pride to her country through undying grit. Pic by Amila Gamage
“My view is that the AASL should have a comprehensive programme to help those who are medal prospects but are lacking support. They should work more seriously, aiming at the future, and future medals. I really am not satisfied with the way the AASL treats us,” she said.
Nadeeka is optimistic of her future as an athlete, though destiny may lead her to other boulevards in life. Her humble way of life is a fitting testimony to a true human being though Nadeeka had the opportunity to compete amongst the best in the world. In years to come Sri Lanka may find Nadeeka a pensioner who was able to bring pride to her country through undying grit, positivity and humility. Even today passengers of the Colombo-Avissawella bus route may encounter Nadeeka as just another commuter. But at the back of her mind Nadeeka says she really enjoys the proud feeling of being able to come, see and conquer the world of athletics.
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