Kenyan experience spurs Chaminda Wijekoon
by Tyrell Peiris
At 28 years, much is expected of
Sri Lankas latest athletic sensation Chaminda Indika Wijekoon, the 1500
metres SAF Games gold medal winner.
Training in Kenya, the land where its athletes are world renowned
champions in long distance running is seen as a big factor in further
conditioning the Sri Lankan to reach peak international level. Chaminda,
who is under Sri Lanka Army coach Major Lal Jayasekera, is expected to
undergo further training in Kenya under the supervision of Joseph Gooray
and Jimmy Beutizimba. In fact the coaching program in Kenya has
completely changed his training system and the preparations have made
him more competitive and strong both physically and mentally.
 Following the Kenyan example, Chaminda says that his favourite runner
is Algruj
Chaminda Indika Wijekoon in fact, is Sri Lankas new, big athletic
prospect on the international horizon. What propelled Chaminda, attached
to the Sri Lanka Army, was when he landed the first gold medal for medal
Sri Lanka in the 1500m event at the recent 11th South Asian Games held
in Bangaladesh.
For Chaminda, the South Asian Games holds a special significance.
Apart from winning the first medal in style he also had the singular
honour of captaining the Sri Lankan contingent to the games. Locally,
this ex-student of Dikkapitiya Vidayalaya and Welimada Central College,
has reigned high his superiority winning all the major national athletic
meets.
Meeting veteran athletic coach the late Brigadier Parry Liyanage is
what completely changed Chaminda Indika Wijekoon’s career.
On the directives of Brigadier Liyanage, Wijekoon decided to switch
to the 1500 metres event from other areas, and that decision certainly
has worked well for the youngster.
Brigadier Liyanage realising the fact that Wijekoon had the potential
to become a top athlete did not hesitate to provide all the assistance
including accommodation at his residence during the early stage of his
career. Brigadier Liyanage also made certain that Wijekoon found
employment in the Sri Lanka Army which has been providing great support
since then.
He first went through the basics of athletics under the guidance of
his school coach Sisira Kumara and also came under the supervision of
Gunasiri Dissanayake and S. P. Kulatunga.
He thanked the Sri Lanka Army, Artillery regiment, Prema Pinnawala
(Athletic Association Secretary), Major General Palitha Fernando
(President of the Athletic Association), Hemasiri Fernando (Vice
President of Commonwealth Games Federation, Chairman National Olympic
Council Committee Sri Lanka), Mathugama Jayasinghe, Amal Jayasinghe and
and Kapila Wijegoonawardena for all their support and encouragement.
Chaminda’s ambition is participate in the 2012 Olympic Games in
England.
Pic by Rukmal Gamage
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