Despite the existence of conventional women's sports like Netball, Basketball and Athletics, Nishadi Lakshika Perera opted to enter the rough and tough arena of wushu where she has met with unparalled success. While being a grade 4 student at Vishaka Vidiyalaya Nishadi first fancied the sport of Wushu then and since entering local and international competitions has been a Medal winner 90% of the time. The latest being the silver Medal she won at the 4th World Traditional Wushu Championship held in China recently where she gained the distinction of being the only woman competitor from Sri Lanka to be decorated with a Medal competing with athletes from 83 Countries.

Nishadi Lakshika Perera

This speaks volumes for her talent and class notwithstanding her thirst for excellence in her chosen sport. She first gained success when she entered the Western province schools wushu Association Meet in 2003 and obtained a Gold Medal in the Thaiji Jan Event. This win opened the floodgates for Nishadi to excel at School level and later on at National level.

The trophies and Medals won by Nishadi stand testimony not only to her talent but also to her commitment and sheer hard training under her school coach. Ms N Weerasinghe guided and encouraged by Ms Disna and Ranjini teachrs-in-charge and by her current National coach Sujith Manju Kumara.

The wins and places secured by Nishadi are awe inspiring to say the least. She went on to win the gold Medals in the Thaiji Jan and Thaiji Quan events representing Vishaka at the Western Province Schools wushu associations on numerous occasions and was also the silver Medal winner in the spear and long sword event in 2004. Then in 2006 she won Western province Colours and a Merit Certificate being supreme in the Thaiji Jian and the Thaiji Quan events with commendable ease.

She was inducted to the National pool in 2008 immediately after the 10th Wushu Nationals where she gained 3rd place in the Nanquan event and has been a permanent member since then. She was also named the Most outstanding sports personality in Vishaka Vidiyalaya in 2008 receiving a special award for a single event plus glittering trophies from the then Pime Minister the Hon.

Ratnasiri Wickremanayake who was the Chief Guest at the School's prize giving.2008 and 2009 were really glorious years for Nishadi as she really shone for Sri Lanka claiming the Bronze Medal in the Nandao event at the Traditional world championship followed by bagging 3 silver Medals in 2009 at the National Wushu Championships after recording an unprecedented win in the same three events ie. The Nan quan, Nandao and Nangun events at the Western Province Schools meet earlier.

Perhaps once and only once in a lifetime that we will be privileged to see a schoolgirl like Nishadi climbing the stairway to success both at school and National level and this should serve as an inspiration for other athletes no matter what their sport is, to do equally well.

Incidentally our very own Manel Dharmakeerthi accompanied the Sri Lanka team on their latest tour to China to take part in the fourth world Traditional Wushu Championships in the capacity of an official.
-Maxie Kariyawasam