Aiming perfect, on what’s potential
Foreign experts, who visited Sri Lanka to conduct coaching camps for national shooters, had spoken optimistically on the local talents while pointing out the importance of having training facilities with good standards. Despite obstacles Tehani Egodawela (pictured bottom) took centre stage after her recent international performances
Sri Lanka shooting sports have made indications that it still remains as one of the potential sports in claiming medals internationally, if they are nurtured and guided well, after the recent outcomes from two regional events. Two Sri Lankan lasses — namely Tehani Egodawela and Amandhika Amarasinghe — managed to give the finest performances recorded by any Sri Lankan shooter in the recent years or decades, by reaching the Top 10 in 10m Air Rifle Women’s qualification round at the 8th Amir of Kuwait International Shooting Grand Prix 2019.
The event was held during the second week of February as Egodawela, representing Sri Lanka Navy, secured 613.2 points to qualify for the final round, while her compatriot Amarasinghe, finished at tenth with 611.2 points, but failing to qualify.
Egodawela shot 101.5, 99.0, 102.0, 103.5, 103.5 and 103.7 respectively in the six rounds and finished eighth among 26 shooters. She then went on to impress in the final to complete at sixth overall. Amarasinghe, a student of Devi Balika Vidyalaya Colombo, shot 100.9, 103.0, 101.9, 101.8, 102.7 and 100.9 after an impressive six rounds of shooting, but was unfortunate to miss the final round by a mere margin. This achievement is considered as the first instance in the recent decades, a local schoolgirl had managed to reach the Top 10 at an international event.
The National Shooting Sports Federation (NSSF) of Sri Lanka sent six shooters for the championship in Kuwait, with most of them being youths or schoolgoers. This event was mainly used as a platform for the ISSF World Cup which was held in India during the final week of February. For the World Cup, the NSSF fielded a 15-member team with two officials assisting them.
According to Pradeep Edirisinghe, the Secretary of NSSF, Sri Lanka could not make much headway with many of the global giants in shooting sports sending out their cream of shooters, but when it counts regionally, the local shooters stand a good chance in upcoming events, notably the South Asian Games.
Thought the South Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Nepal in December and with nine more international events lined up prior to that, the NSSF would have ample time to train its national squads.
“The World Cup held in India was an event where Olympic quotas are issued. Unlike the event in Kuwait, the World Cup is a massive event. End of the day it’s all about how the shooter performs on the day. To be able to constantly maintain the best form, the mental strength matters, but more training under a highly qualified coach, would see Sri Lanka in the best position to claim medals easily. With the resources we have at present, I’m certain that we have performed above par, but we surely can and need to imporve,” Edirisinghe stated.
Continuing her form gained at the Kuwait event, Egodawela impressed with two notable performances at the ISSF Shooting World Cup in India. She earned 612.1 points in the 10m Air Rifle Women’s event — behind Madushani Gamage, who achieved 613.6 points, and above Kavindya Perera, who shot 611.4 points.
Egodawela again hit the spotlight when she obtained 1142 points in the 50m Rifle Three Positions Women event. This is considered as a national record, yet the outcome is confirmed as Egodawela’s personal best.
Amali Kulatunga recorded 571-15x in the 25m Pistol Women’s, which is considered as overwhelming according to local standards, and at an international event. Janaka Hemachandra, competing in the 10m Air Rifle Men’s event, shot 614, which is also considered one of the best achievements recorded by a Sri Lankan in the recent history.
Appallingly, these performances are recorded by Sri Lankan shooters come at a time when NSSF run its affairs on assistance by individuals, who are within the fraternity. The shooting governing body was compelled to set up a makeshift shooting range with four lanes and electronic target, solely for the usage of national shooters for training at a location owned by one of its members.
It is learnt that the NSSF officials had met the Minister of Sports to discuss on highly important matters such as the setting up of a national shooting range, a project pending completion since 2015 and appointing an international coach with the highest qualifications, which too was trialed out by NSSF and pending Ministry approval for months.