Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
Last Updated : 2024-05-19 15:58:00
25 July 2023 04:00 pm - 5 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Pole Vault women Sri Lanka record holder Sachini Kushalya Perera has left the country and is working as a domestic worker in the Middle East not because of any shortcoming or mistake from the athletics administration, said Sri Lanka Athletic (SLA) General Secretary Saman Kumara Gunawardena in an inquiry by 'Daily Mirror'.
National athlete Sachini Perera was attached to the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Corps and she was also a gymnast who represented the Sri Lanka at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
She has left gymnastics since 2018 and joined athletics, and has managed to renew the Pole Vault women's Sri Lanka record on several occasions.
Sachini Perera last renewed the Sri Lanka record in that event in 2022 clearing 3.71 metres.
She had commented in front of the Dubai media that her only objective was to participate in an international athletics tournament and win a Gold medal for Sri Lanka, but she did not get an opportunity to participate in any international tournament.
She had further said that she had to reluctantly give up sports to take care of her ailing mother and family and come to work as a domestic worker in the Middle East.
In relation to the accusation made by Sachini Perera in front of the international community, he said:
"As athletics administrators, there is nothing we can do for her. The main reason is that there is no international competition for Sri Lanka in the event she represents (Pole Vault Women).
"That event did not even belong to the 2019 South Asian Games. Also, the Asian Games or Asian Athletic championships Pole Vault Women standard is at a high level.
"For example, in the 2023 Asian Athletic Championship recently concluded in Thailand, the Pole Vault women event has finished as Gold Medalist (4.66m), Silver Medalist (4.51m) and Bronze Medalist (4.10m).
Also, the quota that Sri Lanka gets for the Asian Games or Asian Championship is very low.
Therefore, the Athletic Selection Committee selects athletes by targeting events where they can win medals. According to our athletics history, international competition participation for Shot Put, Discus Throw, Hammer Throw, Pole Vault Event has been very less.
Sachini Perera has been breaking the Sri Lankan record for several years but her best performance is 3.71m.
We appreciate Sachini's talent locally, but the talent to win a medal internationally is still not enough," said Saman Kumara Gunawardena to Daily Mirror today. (Susil Premalal)
Marcian Chrisopher Tuesday, 25 July 2023 04:21 PM
There is an opportunity to find a good coach and train her to improve on her event as she showed enthusiasm to better her performance. But this is the is the usual story in our sports bodies to find excuses and not give encouragement, as a result so many drop on the wayside. History repeats as long as our officials act in this manner without giving a hand to deserving enthusiastic athletes to improve their performance.
True Lankan Tuesday, 25 July 2023 05:18 PM
Not ready to take responsibilities, find an excuse and blame her, usual story of Sri Lanka. Sachini you better work in Dubai meanwhile train in your sports there. Hope you achieve your goals.
Wije Tuesday, 25 July 2023 08:46 PM
Definitely non of the Govt officials in Sri Lanka will take a blame instead they will create a story against the individual who raised the matter .
Gamini Wednesday, 26 July 2023 10:32 AM
Seeni Bola may try to help her
G Dias Wednesday, 26 July 2023 05:11 PM
With due respects for her skills and ambitions, she is unlikely to represent Sri Lanka in pole vault. Her Sri Lanka record is 3.65 m. She claims that her average is 3.5-3.6 m. Qualifying standards for Asian Games 4.1 m. World Games 4.71 m. Olympics 4.73 m. Sri Lankan girls are good at track events not field events as we saw at recent Asian Games. She may be good as a motivational coach for school level girls in athletics and other sports.
Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.
Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
The state-run loss-making State Mortgage & Investment Bank (SMIB) has reveale
US authorities are currently reviewing the manifest of every cargo aboard MV
On March 26, a couple arriving from Thailand was arrested with 88 live animal
According to villagers from Naula-Moragolla out of 105 families 80 can afford
17 May 2024 - 0 - 124
