Sports

Sports

Shooting to stardom
By Mahangu Weerasinghe
Intense hand eye coordination, deadly concentration, and nerves of steel - these are some of the prerequisite qualities for a pistol shooter. Looking at nineteen-year-old Suranga Fernando, you would never guess that he possesses these qualities. A model student, and Head Prefect of his school, Prince of Wales College, Suranga seems like your average book driven A/L student. But as they say, looks can be deceiving.

Since his early years, Suranga has had one clear talent - shooting. The son of retired army officer and National Shooter Manjula Fernando, Suranga was drawn to the sport by the love his father had for it. "I don't recall when I first started pistol shooting, but it may have been around the age of ten," recalls Suranga.

He first competed at the National level at age fourteen, where he won a Gold Medal in the Junior Air Pistol category at the National Meet organized by the National Rifle Association.

A year later, at a little over fifteen, he took part in the 3rd South Asian Federation Shooting Championships. The young lad performed exceptionally well at this event by winning the Gold Medal and setting a new event record in the Air Pistol Junior Men's Individual Event.

In 2002, he climbed a rung higher by representing Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Games in Great Britain. Since then Suranga has gone on to win medals in the both the Senior and Junior categories, making him the youngest shooter ever to represent Sri Lanka in either category. At present, he dominates all five events in the Asian Junior Category, and is making big impressions in two senior events as well. He is said to be Asia's current best junior shooter.

"This sport is one that requires an immense amount of concentration," remarks Suranga. "Every shooter spends a few minutes before his event, just meditating and focusing his mind," explained the lad.

The uncanny thing however, is that fact that this Champion, who has brought so much honour to Sri Lanka, is not being supported in his sport in anyway. "Although I take part in all five pistol shooting events - I only have the guns and ammunition to train for one - the Air Pistol," says Suranga.

"I do not have access to a firing range to practice the other five disciplines so I usually end up working on them only during the allotted 'practice time' given before competitions," explains the young shooter. Using only his practice knowledge of the Air Pistol discipline, Suranga still manages to outperform in the Standard Pistol, Centre Fire, and Free Pistol and Rapid Fire events.

"Even at the competitions, I am forced to borrow guns and ammunition from others and this limits my practice as well," said Suranga. "My ultimate goal is to win an Olympic Gold Medal, and bring glory and honour to my country," says Suranga with pride.

With both the private and government sector seemingly obsessed with more popular sports, it is sad to see the talents of young athletes like Suranga Fernando going waste.

With little equipment and support, Suranga Fernando has already done so much. With the proper guns, ammunition and practice ranges, it's hard to imagine what the boy will be capable of.

This young shooter has the will to reach new heights in his sport. He has the determination to bring the ultimate honour of Olympic Gold to his country. All he needs is a little bit of support from Sri Lanka - support that needs to be given to him today.

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