Sachini and Deshan destined to bring glory to Sri Lanka in weightlifting
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Deshan Kapila Kumara
Renowned weightlifting coach Chanaka Subasinghe has unearthed two uncut gems from Galle who are destined to bring glory to Sri Lanka.
They are 14-year-old Sachini Laksarani and 15-year-old Deshan Kapila Kumara who have battled adversity to rise to the top in the sport of weightlifting.
Subasinghe, a Sports Officer attached to the Niyagama Division in the Southern Provincial Council who is also an athletic and volleyball coach, spotted the raw talent of these two youngsters who are recipients of the NOCSL-Crysbro ‘Next Champ’ scholarship programme for the next two years.
Lanky Deshan who stands tall at 172cms was scouted when he came second in the high jump event at the Elpitiya circuit meet.
“I was in the high jump judging panel. After seeing his leg power and body structure, I selected him for weightlifting,” said Subasinghe.
Sachini, who is quite a big lass for her age, was talent spotted similarly by Subasinghe because of the potential power she generated when throwing the putt and discus.
“They didn’t know about weightlifting because only Richmond College in Galle has the facilities in the school for it,” explained Subasinghe.
Now both these children who come from low income backgrounds have found the perfect stage to showcase their talents in weightlifting and move up in life through sheer hard work and determination.
Deshan, who will be turning 16 next month, has already represented the country at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championship held in Uzbekistan in January where he was placed fifth in the 61kg category with a combined lift of 186kg – 83kg in snatch and 103kg in clean and jerk.
He got selected to represent the country after bursting into the limelight when he came third in a Provincial meet and second in the All-Island School Games last year. His best was yet to come as he lifted a personal best of 202kg (90+112) to emerge champion in the Southern Province meet last month held as a qualifying event for the 46th National Sports Festival.
Deshan, who will be turning 16 next month, has already represented the country at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championship held in Uzbekistan in January where he was placed fifth in the 61kg category with a combined lift of 186kg – 83kg in snatch and 103kg in clean and jerk.
Sachini Laksarani
Sachini displayed her potential when she clinched first place in the Under-17 age group at the All-Island School Games last year. Competing in the 55kg weight category, he lifted a total of 115kg (52+63) to win the gold medal. She also took first place at the Junior National Weightlifting Championship where she achieved a personal best of 117kg (52+65).
Both these youngsters who are in the national pool for the 2022 Youth Olympics have dreams of bringing glory to Sri Lanka.
Rajapakse Liyanage Sachini Radhika Laksarani, a student of Pothiyawela MV, Galle, is the second in a family of two girls.
“I like to do sports. I am confident of performing above expectations,” said Sachini, who travels seven kilometres daily after school for training while her parents toil hard to make ends meet.
Wannipura Deshan Kapila Kumara, a student of Anagarika Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Talabaddegama, has an elder sister and two brothers.
“I want to go on a long journey in the sport,” said Deshan who travels about 16 kilometres after school to train under Subasinghe who predicts a bright future for these students in the sport of weightlifting.
“They have come up the hard way. Sometimes their parents can’t afford to buy them school books let alone having a proper home of their own. But they have the potential to shine not only at national level but bring glory to Sri Lanka,” added Subasinghe, who conducts training at a gym in Niyagama.
Sachini displayed her potential when she clinched first place
in the Under-17 age group at the All-Island School Games last year.