A commitment to a sport requires the sacrifice of many other things in life. Most often, a sport itself could be sacrificed for the betterment of another. It is seldom as it can be, to come across an athlete who mastered not one but two sports at the same time while balancing life as a university student. Today, we shine the light on Sithumini Wijewickrama hailing from the University of Ruhuna, who not only excelled in the sport dear to her heart, but within the span of just three years, went on to excel in another bringing glory to our nation. From representing Sri Lanka at two editions of the World University Karate Championships (2016 and 2018) to conquering the sport of Taekwondo and medaling at the 2019 South Asian Games, she has done it all. We had the immense pleasure of talking to Sithumini about her journey to stardom.
Tell us something about your sporting life during while schooling.
Well, I started karate, athletics and chess at a very young age. As a chess player, I participated in the All Island Inter-School Chess Championships from a young age. I even won the third place in the 2007 championships. When it comes to athletics, I participated at the All Island National School Athletic Championship in the year 2009 and was selected to the best eight in the discus throw event.
Nevertheless, from my childhood I paid more attention to karate. The highlight of my early Karate career was becoming the unbeaten Junior National Karate Champion from the years 2009 to 2011. To add to that, in 2007 All Island School Championships, I was placed third in both the Kata and Kumite events; and in 2009 and 2010 at the All Island School Games I was placed first in the Kumite and second in both the Kata and Kumite events respectively. So I think I spent quite an accomplished school life.
Did you represent the country as a sportswoman during your school years?
Yes. The highlight of my school time would definitely be the fact that I represented Sri Lanka as part of the National Team at the 2010 10th Asian Junior Karate Championships in Hong Kong and the 2011 7th World Junior Karate Championships in Malaysia.
So basically from the years 2007 to 2011 I was a member the national schools karate pool and in 2010 and 2011 I received Colors for karate from Sri Lanka Schools Sports Council.
Who were the special people who supported you throughout your journey?
I descend from a family with a great sports background. My father and brother were also athletes. So I received great support from my family. Ammi and Appachchi was always there for me. They were my safety net for my life. Further, I would like to mention my karate coach since grade one, Mr. Rohitha Senevirathne. He set the base for all my sports achievements.
Also, I would like to mention my Taekwondo coach Mr. Sasheen Divanjana for trusting me and for his dedication, and especially my life partner Jonathan for being with me through thick and thin; these two were the greatest pillars who stood by me.
So how were you introduced to the sport of Taekwondo in the first place?
Firstly, I was invited to the university Taekwondo pool by our Taekwondo coach Mr. Sasheen Divanjana. My taekwondo coach contacted me through my fiancé as he was also Taekwondo player. Since he was there I went for training. I started training with literally just one month to go for the Inter University Taekwondo Championships in 2017. I didn’t expect to take part with such little training but I was selected to the team and I managed to win a gold medal with very little training. To add to that, in 2018, I had to balance Taekwondo training with Karate as I was getting ready to take part at the World University Karate Championships in Kobe, Japan.
Tell us more about your major achievements in Taekwondo.
I recently jumped into taekwondo, so my 1st achievement was at the Inter University Championships 2017 where I won my first medal which was a gold for Individual Poomsae event and a silver for the Team Poomsae event. At the 2018 Inter University Championships I became the 1st runner up in the Individual Poomsae event and won the gold in the Team Poomsae event (I participated with a bad back injury at that time). At the 2019 SLUG we won silver for both individual and teams events.
I think the most memorable of my achievements would be the Korean Ambassadors Cup where I won the gold medal in junior belt category for 2 consecutive years (2017 and 2018) and in 2019 I won a silver medal in the individual event and two gold medals in Team Poomsae and the Pair Poomsae with my coach.
What were some of the disappointments that you had to face during your sporting journey?
I think my single biggest disappointment would be my removal from the Sri Lanka Team for the 2019 World University Games in Italy. It was first decided by SLUSA to hold the trial open for all color belters. I initially managed to get selected to the team defeating opponents including black belters, but SLUSA later changed the criteria mentioning that only players graded above red belt could compete. As a result another player and I were removed from the team. That was a very tough time for me as I knew that I deserved to be on that team.
How was your experience in Nepal at the South Asian Games and how did you prepare for it?
Well at first the National Trial for the South Asian Games was scheduled on a day that was going to clash with my final year exams. Honestly, I didn’t want to forego my exam so I had given up the idea of giving SAG a chance, but fortunately my coach Mr. Sasheen Divanjana was able to change the exam dates and I was able to compete.
Having been selected to the National Team, I had to go through one of the toughest training regimes I have ever encountered. We trained daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and we even had a training camp in Nawalapitiya, where I suffered from a torn tendon. I eventually went on to win a silver in the Team Poomsae event with a torn tendon. I also had the support of my two teammates from the Universities of Colombo and Moratuwa. The three of us were the only university students in the team.
What are your plans for your future and what would you like to say to young athletes who aspire to reach your level?
Right now I’m planning to continue with my higher studies. I’ll probably give a pause to my sports life as a player since I’m hoping to be a coach and encourage talented players in Sri Lanka. At the same time, I would like join an NGO involved in the welfare of children. If there anything I could say to younger athletes, I would like to say this. Sometimes, people use to label me as a “troublemaker” when I had to fight for what I deserved every single time. So I would like to give the message to current athletes to fight for what you believe and fight for what you deserve no matter what and have that kind of a backbone.
We are thrilled above and beyond to have been able to get to know more about Sithumini’s journey and to share her amazing words of encouragement with all the young budding athletes out there. We at MoraSpirit would like wish Sithumini all the best in all her endeavors as she nears the end of her university life and moves on to the next chapter of her life.
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