Some mothers do have ’em

Nineteen year-old Lankan SAF games gold medalist Sherina Clerance, certainly was not born with a silver spoon. In fact she finds the going very tough. Unlike the other damsels of her age in the city where they spend most of the evenings in very choosy hot spots, she has to pluck coconuts, tend to her farm and looks after cattle in order to support her family in Koslanda, Haldummulla.

As we noticed within two to three minutes Sherina is on top of the coconut tree plucking coconuts and gets down equally at a high speed displaying her ability. She proved agility beyond any doubt when she brought home the ‘Gold” medal in the Javelin Throw at the last SAF games which was held in Colombo. However even that fame did not bring her any fortunes nor even a decent job to make her living.

Her father is employed with the RDA as a junior employee and therefore the family has been able to occupy the quarters located opposite the Koslanda hospital, but the house is in a dilapidated condition with cracks in the walls and a leaking roof. Her two elder sisters and two elder brothers along with the parents reside in this house. She also shares the house with numerous medals which she won at national level from 2004 to 2007 along with a stack of certificates too.

She practiced her pet event – throwing of the Javelin by using a sharpened stick and throwing it in her garden, but later sports officer Ms. Geetha Pathirana saw her talent and spurred her on until she reached national level.“I am good at cultivating, plucking coconuts and also at sports such as Netball, Volleyball, throwing the disc or the putt shot and the principal of the school said I looked like a boy”, Sherina said.

She said her father gets a poor salary and her brother halted his higher education and joined the police force.

Sherina said she cultivated Manioc, Sweet potatoes, Tomatoes and Bananas to make a living. She said that she regretted that she could not take part in a meet in India early this year as she could not find money for the ticket and other expenses amounting to Rs. 35,000.

She said despite the assistance from the Mayor of Haputale, --Samayadasa and provincial council member Madar and pawning her mother’s jewellery she was able to collect only Rs. 16,000.

Sherina’s mother Rita Marysuse, 41 says that when ever villagers needed her daughter’s assistance to pluck coconuts or get a coconut flower they used to come looking for her.

Sherina’s ambition is to continue in sports, but equally important is to support her family as well.