Her Journey, Her Victory—tale of sportswomen’s path to glory
Five of Sri Lanka’s top female athletes were celebrated at ‘Her Journey, Her Victory,’ recognising the resilience and achievements of women in sports. Organised by the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL), the event served as both a celebration and a call to action for gender equity in sports.
In his speech, NOCSL President Suresh Subramanian addressed struggles women face in sports—how, for centuries, societal expectations have dictated their paths. Yet, sport has become a battleground where women rewrite history with every sprint, every lift, and every goal.
“For centuries, society has dictated what a woman can and cannot do. But sport has always been a battleground where women have rewritten the narratives. Every sprint, every swim, every serve and every lift has been a defiance of history. It is a journey that demands sacrifice, perseverance and unshakeable belief in oneself,” he said.
The event also marked a policy milestone with the signing of the Consensus Statement on Gender Equity and Safe Sports Policy. A panel discussion followed featuring some of Sri Lanka’s most accomplished female athletes, including three-time national champion and the fourth-fastest Sri Lankan woman in the 100m sprint – Amasha de Silva, International swimmer who finished first in South Asia in the 2024 World Championships – Hiruki de Silva, 15-year-old cricketer who took five wickets against England – Chamudi Prabodha, weightlifting Commonwealth Games and South Asian Games medallist – Hansani Gomes and the first Sri Lankan badminton player to reach the Round of 16 at the World Junior Championships Ranithma Liyanage whose stories were a testament to perseverance, overcoming obstacles to put Sri Lanka on the global sports map.
The discussion was moderated by Chairman of the NOCSL Athletes’ Commission, Olympian Niluka Karunaratne, three-time Olympian (London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020), 17-time national champion, and Sri Lanka’s highest-ranked badminton player to date (World Ranking 34). Inspired by the former star shutttler, the young athletes, who were in the spotlight at the event, related how they dedicated themselves to reach global success.
“As a child, I trained about three days a week and remained consistent in my efforts. Over time, my dedication paid off. I won four gold medals at the South Asian Junior Championships in 2018, followed by two silver medals and a bronze at the Asian Junior Championships in Japan the same year. In 2019, I competed in the World Junior Championships, where I reached the semi-finals,” sprinter Amasha de Silva said with pride.
Sharing her side of the story, swimmer Hiruki de Silva said: “I represented my country at the Junior World Championships, Youth Commonwealth Games, and World Championships. Competing internationally was a completely different experience. Facing new challenges, getting to know my competitors from around the world, and learning more about the sport made it an incredible experience.”
Fifteen-year-old Chamudi Prabodha, who is longing of becoming a global cricketing sensation said: “As a child, I was inspired by my father, who loved watching cricket matches. Watching the game with him, I dreamed of becoming a cricketer myself. At first, I only saw boys’ cricket, but when I competed at district level, I was introduced to girls’ cricket for the first time. I played on a turf pitch for the first time during the Super Provincial Tournament, which was a big moment for me. Soon after, I was called for U-19 team selections in Colombo. In my first tournament, I performed well and even broke a world record. That year was incredible. I also played in the U-19 Asia Cup and the U-19 World Cup, becoming the youngest and best bowler to play in a World Cup within a year.”
Distinguished guests who were present at the event - Pix by Indika Handuwala
Powerlifter Hansini Gomes said: “We didn’t have the sport in our school, so a trainer came from outside to select athletes. Although I wasn’t initially chosen, I still joined the training sessions. Over time, as other girls started dropping out, my trainer noticed my dedication—that’s how my journey began. I became a national champion in Grade 10 and have continued to hold the national title in my weight category ever since.”
“I started my badminton journey in school and continued training under my coach, even at his private academy. In 2021, I reached the semi-finals of the National Badminton Tournament, which was a turning point for me. Since then, I have held the national champion title for three consecutive years now,” shuttler Ranithma Liyanage added.
Sports Minster Sunil Kumara Gamage appreciated the athletes’ success stories stating, “Their journeys remind us that success is not just about reaching the finish line. It’s about the countless hours of hard work, sacrifices made, and the courage to continue even when the odds are against them.”
Minister Gamage also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for female athletes, announcing initiatives to improve funding, infrastructure, and support systems.
“As the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, I want to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every female athlete in
Sri Lanka has equal opportunities to train, compete, and succeed. We are taking steps to enhance funding, infrastructure, and support systems to create a more inclusive and equitable sporting environment.”