Jayamini, Lanka’s golden girl at SA Games

From the Sunday Observer sports desk

Perhaps the name Jayamini Illeperuma may not near anything to present day teenagers but it was a household name here when and after Sri Lanka hosted the South Asian Games for the first time.

It was at the 5th South Asian Games in Colombo some 17 years ago that sprinter Jayamini Illeperuma rewrote the Games history books with four medals, including two golds.

Many placed their bets on Indian champion Shiney Wilson for the women’s 400m gold medal but at the end, it was this tiny little lass Jayamini from Sri Lanka who proved that the miracles do happen in a 53.70-second dream run.

The Lankan lass not only won the women’s 400m for Sri Lanka, but also won a silver in women’s 200m. Here too, there were seasoned athletes in the South Asian region competing in the half lap race but Illeperuma maintained her superb form to finish second. She was also a member of Sri Lanka’s 4 x 100m relay team which won the ‘gold’ in 45.71 seconds.

Today, nine years after hanging up her spikes, Jayamini Illeperuma looks back with mixed feelings. “When I look back at my achievements, sometimes I can’t believe that I had achieved all those milestones. I feel I have achieved some important feats, especially to win medals at so many track events ranging from 100m to 800m,” she said in an exclusive interview at the ‘Sunday Observer’ Sport Avenue.

She was right! Illeperuma is probably one of the few woman athletes in the Asian circuit to win medals in women’s 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m events. She had also been a regular member of Sri Lanka’s women’s 4 x 400m relay team.

“We made immense sacrifices to achieve those feats. Those were hard-earned medals. We did not have that much of facilities or perks enjoyed by present generation, who are indeed very lucky. Hard work and dedication have been the key to our success,” she added.

Illeperuma was considered the prettiest woman athlete in Sri Lanka team during the 90s. She had the rare honour of representing Sri Lanka at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and at 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games. She also had the rare honour of representing the Asian continent in women’s 4 x 400m relay at the 1994 World Cup meeting in London.

“Apart from by feats at 1991 South Asian Games, those were the most cherished moments in my career. It was a dream come true to compete at the highest level, at Olympic Games,” she recalled.

Asked whether she is satisfied with what she has achieved as an athlete, Illeperuma replied positively. “Yes, I am happy with what I have achieved during my career. True that I would have loved to add a few more medals at international level. Nevertheless, I am happy with what I have won. I have done my best for the country,” a smiling Illeperuma said.

Though she was unwilling to express in public, she looked somewhat dejected to observe how athletes of yesteryear are treated at present.

“I feel there should be better recognition for former Sri Lanka athletes who have brought glory to our country. But it is sad to note that only a few former athletes are treated well with even duty free vehicle permits. I do not wish to be a cry baby, neither do I want to put the blame on anybody. But such incidents would definitely give some awful feelings to former gold medallists,” she continued.

She was somewhat unfortunate not to get the same perks that the other gold medallists of the 1991 South Asian Games got. While almost all gold medallists were given either houses or plots of land, Illeperuma was not rewarded in such manner. Nevertheless, she looks at all those with an open mind.

“There is no point in complaining or feeling jealous of someone. If some recognition is due, I would get it,” said Illeperuma who follows a ‘yoga’ class during her leisure time.

But she is not an athlete who would bargain or go behind people for perks. “I wish to be what I am and continue my career as a banker. My employer has been encouraging me in all my endeavours as a sportswoman,” said Illeperuma who has been employed at the Hatton National Bank for many years.

It is hard to find an athlete of her calibre. Sri Lanka’s failure to find a versatile woman athlete who could compete from 100m to 800m even nine years after her retirement speaks for itself.