Sports

Sports

Radha, nurtures and watches them grow
A Walk Down Memory Lane
By Bernie Wijesekera
On a quiet Tuesday afternoon The Sunday Times met Mrs. Radha Sunderampillai (nee Selvaratnam) at the RCGC while training the junior (boys) with coach Tissa Chandradasa. She is the wife of late Dr. Sunderampillai and has been a live-wire of the Ladies section.

Radha Selvaratnam who started playing golf in Newcastle England in 1975 has been playing and contributing much for the development of the sport since then. Now leading a quiet life, spending much of her time with young hopefuls (boys and girls) and at leisure Radha spends her time doing community service among the have-nots.

Soft-spoken Mrs. Sunderampillai said she enjoyed playing golf since her baptism at Newcastle where late her husband worked. She may have not won big cups, but participating in club events and some tournaments in the Bronze Cup, Rose Bowl, Firestone Cup and Captains Cup etc., she played and enjoyed to the hilt.

Q: You are like a foster mother to them.
A: Though I don’t have children of my own these are my children and I love and enjoy being with them and be of some assistance. In 1982-’83, the Royal Ceylon Golf Club found that most of the young prospects or otherwise takes golf as a serious sport. They need support and guidance.

Headed by Pam Fernando Swinitha Selvaratnam, Oosha Chanmugam ‘Gun’ Peiris, Menik Thurairaja and I, we decided to start a junior coaching clinic among the youngsters. It proved an instant success. We were able to harness the likes of Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Neesha Nirmalingam, Anouk Chanmugam, Leesha Wijesuriya, Niloo Fernando. Their parents have excelled in golf and we received all encouragement. They really performed well at national level and did proud for women’s golf.

Q: Who coached them?
A: Mr. Ridly, and late Chris Seymour (professionals). They did a good job. The results attribute to their skills and experience. Today golf is developing among the youth. But the crying need is a professional international coach to guide them. To achieve this it needs funds and sponsorship package.

Q: In 1989 the then RCGC Club Captain Gehan de Silva and vice-capt. Shiran de Soysa formed a junior clinic for both boys and girls numbering over 50. Was there continuity?

A: As I mentioned earlier there should be a permanent professional coach. It’s a ‘must’. The talent is there. The golf courses are there. But there is no support unlike in some other Asian countries.

The firms have to come forward to help it reach higher levels. We may be bale to find a ‘Tiger’ Woods in the future from the woods, with a concerted effort. Golf, is no longer an affluent sport. The Caddies has proved to this effect. Happy to note more school children are taking to serious golf.

Q: In what way have you got yourself involved in administration?
A: President Sri Lanka Ladies’ Golf Union and its secretary. Ladies’ Club captain RCGC. Handicap Manager. At present I am the junior golf-co-ordinator. She had a word of praise to the Royal Colombo Golf Club and the Sri Lanka Golf Union is giving all the facilities and encouragement.

Q: Is there any future young prospects that you are nursing, as coordinator?
A: Yes, Sanjay Wettimuny who won the July Monthly Medal. The others who are making the grade are: Binupa Wijesinghe, Richard Gunawardena, Sharya Unambbowe, Naresh Kumar, etc. Besides Radha, Tissa Chandradasa, B.A. Rohana and K.J. Kumar are in the coaching panel.

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