Fresh hopes for Lankan athletics:

Another star emerges from Kegalle

Chinthana Wasala reporting from China

Sri Lankan athletics had a number of proud moments to celebrate in the late 90's and the early years of the new millennium. The most dazzling stars who took country's name to the world included Susanthika Jayasinghe, Sugath Thillakaratne, Damayanthi Darsha, Sriyani Kulawansa and Rohan Pradeep Kumara who are the heroes of the new generation. The future of Lankan athletics did not have a clear picture for more than a decade. Then came in athletes like Chandrika Subhashini and Nadeeka Lakmali but after Susanthika and Darsha, the Lankans have always found it difficult to cope with the pace of international athletes in the short distant events.

But a new hope has emerged from the same region of Sri Lanka which produced its most celebrated athlete. Rumeshika Kumari Ratnayake who hails from Kegalle, where Susanthika Jayasinghe is from, is the new sigh of relief for Lankan athletics.

The wonder girl, Rumeshika is a schoolgirl from St. Joseph's Balika Vidyalaya, Kegalle, has amazed many with her abilities. At the ongoing 21st Asian Athletics Championships, she finished 6th in the women's 100 metres final clocking 11.56 seconds, keeping her on par with the two golden girls of Lankan athletics, Susanthika and Darsha. Although she failed to book a podium finish, the achievement in her very first senior international meet was impressive. Her 11.56 second run is regarded as the best after Susanthika retired.

The gold medal was won by Japan's Fukishima Chisato who clocked 11.23 seconds to erase the previous Asian championship record.

Sri Lanka did not expect Rumeshika to break records in her first senior international meet but had high hopes on the budding athlete who lived upto expectations in the best way she could.

Rathnayake who was not even included in the Lanakan team for the Championships in Wuhan, China, initially, says that she was determined to prove everyone that she was capable of doing 11.6 seconds in her pet event. Just few days ago, her best timing was 11.80 seconds. When it comes to a 100 metre dash, achieving such a vast improvement is seemingly impossible.

Few days ago, she created history when she smashed Damayanthi Darsha's 22-year old record by clocking 11.85 seconds in the girls' under-20 heats of the Junior National Athletics Championships concluded at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama. Darsha's record stood at 12.0 seconds and this means she was way ahead than Darsha at the age of 18. In the same meet, she achieved another amazing feat when she erased Darsha's girls under 20, 200m record which was set 22 years ago (in 1993) at the 200m heats. She further improved her time in the final with an impressive 24.12 second run to win the gold.

Unfortunately, Rumeshika missed the opportunity to run in the 200 metre event at the Asian Championship due to her late entry.

The young lass was a last minute inclusion to the Sri Lanka contingent and the opportunity alone was like a medal for her. But the girl was mentally strong enough to take up the new Asian Championship record holder in the female 100m in her first senior international meet.

"I always told myself that I should do well here and prove myself to doubters. "

"I wasn't selected for the tour initially. I had to go to the Sports Ministry and then appeal to President Maithripala Sirisena too" said Rumeshika.

The girls is over the moon right now, but the path she took to reach such achievement was not so bright.

Like all the athletes produced by the region where she comes from, she had to train under immense pressure and nasty conditions which lacks even basic standards.

Rumeshika clocked the third fastest time in the Sri Lankan history of female sprint history, for her the basic requirements are unavailable to train properly in Kegalle.

"I trained in a marshy track in Kegalle. We don't have many facilities, and if there is a synthetic track in Kegalle I think it would be much better" said Rumeshika who trains under renowned coach A.D. Nandawathi (Nanda).

"It was she who always give me the confidence, she called me the night before and even before the race and said always think about 11.6 and I kept that in my mind which always came back to me and was able to go beyond that" said Rumeshika.

"I believe, I can. If I get the opportunity to take part in more competitions like this, and with more experience and exposure, I'll be able to clock better timings.," said the young star who is probably the best hope for Sri Lanka athletics in the years ahead.