Ranithma eyes 2024 Olympics after national shuttle title
There are a group of people, sportspersons covered, not talking much, but letting their results do the talking. Ranithma Liyanage, a triple triumphant, in the recently concluded National Junior and Senior Badminton Nationals, has engraved as an epitome to that.
The all-in-one single room rented house where Ranithma and her mother sleep, cook and relax. It's also where her trophy collection is kept (below pic)
Born in Baddegama, South of Sri Lanka, now based in Colombo, also due to her shuttling commitments, she is emerging to become a brilliant badminton player. The rising star, Ranithma, is clearly a different breed. Already promising to be a prodigy, she revealed dwelling on these video games is not her cup of tea, rather is busy showing her flying colours in the real world game of this racket sport.
“I never had such sky high, fancy interests. Since childhood itself, I never developed any interests towards such entertainments,” she said speaking from her tin shed of a house, in the vicinity of the P. Sara Oval Stadium.
Her mother, Geetha Sooriyaarachchi, added, “We don’t have the means for such entertainments.”
Her parents too, have played their part in instilling that indispensable discipline in disconnecting the TV, since their second child is an A/L student and now Ranithma too, is in Grade 10, having her O/Ls when it happens.
A product of Christ Church School, Baddegama, placing her school on the country’s map for badminton, ever since her childhood itself, she has been that calibre of kid, uninterested in those.
“Pointless spending time on those”, she said, having her mother right under her nose.
Ranithma, 15, the country’s No.1 in Under-17, world’s 867, has set sights on Olympics 2024, as any other athlete. In her path to get picked for Paris 2024, the only daughter of the family is faced with a daunting challenge of needing to leap within the top 100 in the world, which would enable an Olympic berth.
“I have to play in as many tournaments as possible and gather points”, said Ranithma, who regarded Japanese female player Akane Yamaguchi as her favourite.
Palitha Hettiarachchi, the Chairman of National Pool Training Committee of Sri Lanka Badminton Federation, when contacted by the Sunday Times on their plans to push her for Paris 2024 said, “If she is below 90 (rankings), the chances are very good. It depends on rankings only. Or else, it would be on a wildcard entry only”.
“We are hoping to concentrate more on junior international events, because she is just 15 and has couple of more years in the junior category. When she goes to juniors, we’ll allow her to participate in the senior events as well”.
Responding to how she will strike a balance during O/L days, she coolly responded, “I will devote more time towards studies. Even if I am overseas, I will follow online classes”.
Speaking about that successful Sunday, when she won three titles, throughout two of the finals, she had not conceded a lead at all, in fact was only ahead of her opponents by a good margin. In both the Under-17 and Open categories, she aced the matches in straights sets winning 21-2, 21-13 and 21-8, 21-16, respectively.
“I was carrying only confidence and no pressure”, Ranithma, considering the singles as her pet event, said.
“I had another match too coming up. Hence, I went about it in the normal way. Coach too backed saying don’t give it all. To use the energy and stamina, evenly”.
Her mother, watching the finals unfolding, believed her daughter was destined for the title.
“We knew in our minds she would clinch it”.
The 48-year-old housewife, sporadically chipping into her husband’s small scale school bag manufacturing business, proudly said, “Sports, studies or even other activities, she does it, wholeheartedly. She will never do it with dislike”.
The now national champion apart from her bond with badminton, also has a desire in drawing and has developed as a hobby. Cramped up in a small house, they had once approached and requested for a bigger and better house, only for that to be on futile note. Sooriyaarachchi, cautiously revealed a bigger house is becoming the need of the hour.
When asked isn’t Sooriyaarachchi or her family want to enroll her to a leading Colombo girls’ school, such a move is not ruled out, and after O/L they will consider that.
Giving an insight on how her usual day is, Ranithma revealed, she rises before the sun itself at 5.00a.m. Sometimes, if she has practices at their federation, her day starts at 4.30a.m. itself to attend practices and return home for online studies. Then rest, recuperate and the routine repeats.
“If you dedicate yourself deeply and diligently, you can achieve anything you dream and desire of. Devote 200%,” is her message.
Wearing that constant smile, she said her needs are badminton kits, rackets, shoes, drills and equipment.
Hettiarachchi, in the meantime, said, “We have found sponsors. We are going to send her for overseas training. Likewise, equipment, food, clothing and everything is being given by us. Rohan (de Silva) is working to organiser separate sponsor for her. She’s being well looked after and I heard Mclarens might sponsor her”.
During the interaction, Ranithma was wearing a Li-Ning jersey, which bore anything is possible. In badminton alone, anything seems to be possible for her.