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| Sunday, 13 January 2002 |
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Former squash queen going strong as coach administrator by Leslie Fernando Nine times winner of the national squash title and five times captain of the Sri Lanka Squash team - Yasmin Zarook holds a unique feat being a double international having represented the country in swimming too. She gave up playing competitive squash two years ago. Yasmin is the present national coach of the Sri Lanka Squash Federation. But Yasmin's first love was swimming at St. Bridget's Convent despite being a good tennis player as well. Thereafter, she took up to squash and spent more time on squash as there were several competitions. At age 13 Yasmin (then Ahamed) was selected to represent then Ceylon at the first Indo-Ceylon dual aquatic meet held in Bangalore in October 1966. She in particular showed up well improving on the under-14 breast stroke record by over five seconds. She was a breast stroke specialist at this young age winning at several open meets which found recognition when she was awarded the 'Greg Roszkowski Trophy' presented by the President of the Ceylon Amateur Swimming Association. Yasmin gave up swimming at an early age and started playing tennis. She represented St. Bridget's in swimming and tennis and won school colours, public school colours and national colours in swimming. After a very successful school career, Yasmin took up to squash in a big way. She started playing squash in 1990 and in the year 1991 she became national women's runner-up. From 1992 to 2000 she really dominated the ladies squash scene. The squash queen has won the national ladies title in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. A remarkable feat. From 1991 to 2000 Yasmin's name spelt magic. It looked as if Yasmin was the last word in squash. Her athletic movements, sharp reflexes and remarkable cool brought a new dimension to the game. Yasmin had the rare honour of captaining the Sri Lanka team on five occasions. In 1991 she captained the squash team at the 6th Asian Championships in Bombay, 7th Asian Championships in Jordan in 1994, 8th Asian Championships in Malaysia in 1996, 9th Asian Championships in Malaysia and again in the year 2000 for the 10th Asian Championships in Malaysia. At the 7th Asian Championships in Jordan Yasmin brought honour to the country by winning the Plate Event for the first time. Her prowess in squash also earned her the rich award Robbialac Kreeda Shoora Sammanaya for the most outstanding sportswoman of 1996 - in squash. Since retirement, Yasmin has also turned a good administrator. Since she has held several posts at the Sri Lanka Squash Federation while also stepping into the shoes of a coach too. She has accompanied the Sri Lanka Junior Squash teams as coach to Hong Kong in 1995 and Malaysia in 1999. The Sri Lanka Squash Federation selected her to attend the World Referees and Coaches Conference held in Melbourne, Australia in December 2001. She has gained valuable experience in coaching and refereeing. She is a qualified referee and successfully completed coaches exams. Yasmin was appointed as the national coach last year after a lapse of 9 long years. She is quite happy at the progress of the national squash squad. "Our young squash players have potential talent. Our main task is to prepare for the SAF Games to be held in March in Islamabad, Pakistan," said Yasmin of the future. She said that 16 players, 8 men and 8 women are under going intensive training at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium squash courts, "All have shown tremendous enthusiasm. As national coach I hope to give all the knowledge and expertise I have learned by playing the game," added Yasmin. The squash also benefitted from the valuable training of national men's champion, Saman Tillekeratne. Tillekeratne won the title for the sixth time playing after ten years. Saman who presently in France as a professional squash coach, likely to help our squash squad again. Yasmin highly commended the officials of the Sri Lanka Squash Federation for their efforts for the upliftment of the sport. She said that in Col. Ananda Sooriyabandara its President and Col. Tissa Jayasuriya there had been tremendous support to promote the game in a very big way. She announced that SLSF is making every effort to take the game to the outstations. Already a squash clinic was held in La Kandyan Hotel and the SLSF hoped to conduct squash programs in Ambalangoda and Guruthalawa where there is promising talent. Yasmin said that five coaches from the SLSF, Messrs, Nalin Jayathilake, Tissa Jayasuriya, Ranjan Samarasinghe, R.S. Deen and Lakdasa Perera followed the Level One Coaching Instructors Course in Chennai, India a couple of months back and are expected to impart their knowledge to the younger players. In addition to her duties as national coach Yasmin takes time off to coach the royal squash team. She made special mention of Hareen Perera, Praveen Perera (brothers), Minusha Hettiarachchi, Hirantha Gunathilaka and Jayanath Marambe as players with natural talent to make the top grade. Yasmin finally said that she loved sports especially squash and valued the support extended to her by husband Rasik and daughter Rishdha. |
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