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| Sunday, 2 November 2003 |
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by Farah Macan Markar A good eye, aim and accuracy is what 33-year-old Ruwini Abeymanna has. First glance itself, reveals the sharp eyes and muscular figure, giving her away for what she is, a sportswoman. Ruwini however is no ordinary sportswoman. She's not a runner or swimmer, basketball or netball player. She's a modern day Robin Hood/William Tell. A Shooter. Specialising in Air and Sport Pistol Shooting events, Ruwini was the first Sri Lankan to ever participate in the Air Pistol Shooting (APS) Event in the 2000 Olympics. She came 31st out of 47 participants and also took part in the Olympic Sport Pistol Shooting (SPS) Event. In Sri Lanka, meanwhile, she holds the records for both events, putting a woman in front of all the men. While Air and Sport Pistol events are Ruwini's Shooting speciality, she does Metallic Silhouette Shooting (MSS-the shooting of metallic targets consisting of game animal silhouettes placed at varying distances from the shooter) as a hobby. Recently in the South African MSS Championships held from the 23-27 September, she clinched two gold medals in her two events (Small Bore Metallic Silhouette Shooting-SBMSS and Small Bore Light Rifle-SBLR). In another meet held in South Africa, afterwards, Ruwini got a gold medal in SBMSS and a bronze medal in the SBLR. In S.A, out of all the shooting events, which had 200 participants, Ruwini was the only female winner. In Sri Lanka too it is she who holds the MSS record. So how did Ruwini get into this field of sport? Most Sri Lankans in shooting events, coming from the forces, Ruwini's indulgence in the game too was born there. Her father having died when she was just seven, Ruwini was brought up by her mother, two elder brothers and one younger one. Perhaps it was being the only girl, in a siblinghood of 3 boys, Ruwini grew up to be a stubborn, determined and at times difficult young adolescent. 1989 was a life turning year for Ruwini. She had finished her O's and had just started the beginning year of her A's at Ratnapura Seevali Central College when the JVP problems arose. Says Ruwini today "I was not JVP but got involved in some strikes". To pull her away from this path of destruction, her principal put her into the Army. At the time she was the youngest member to join the Sri Lanka Army, as then recruits were not taken just after their O's as today. The Women's Corp Commanding Officer Kumudini Weerasekera helped Ruwini get through her A's in the Army. In that same year Ruwini won Best Shooter in the Army Recruitment Course. She then did a Physical Training Instructor Course and came Best All Rounder. Having a love for sports she also did army athletics, basketball and hockey. Seeing she had an eye for the bullet, in 1992 when Ruwini was going to leave the Army, Major Kamal Dias, who was the Course Officer in Diyatalawa, put her into its Sniper Training School. There Ruwini faced fresh obstacles, namely being left-handed and there being no left hand weapons. Not someone to give up, ever determined, she trained her right hand to use the weapons, under the guidance of Colonel Ananda Chandrasiri. Within two weeks she mastered the art, and a month later participated in the National Practical Shooting Meet and was awarded 3rd place. In 1994 Ruwini's military career, came to an end. Not however, her shooting one. She joined the Negombo Rifle Club and participated in shooting events through it. In 1995 she joined SriLankan Airlines as a Female Security Officer and became a member of its basketball, swimming and athletics team. In 2000, after participating in the Olympics, not being able to afford continuing with the game, Ruwini was going to give up the sport, when Dian Gomesz of Slimline, called her up. He offered to sponsor the cost and arrange a range for her to practice. Ruwini incidently was given a post at Slimline as well. Shooting according to the expert is a mental sport. "You have the physical side to it, like being fit and having a strong arm, but to be really successful in the game, it is the mental aspect of it, which takes you a long way. You have to be mentally geared. Have patience. Be able to concentrate and be quick thinking". A daily trainer, Ruwini practices from 6.00 A.M-10.00 A.M indoors, and 5.00 P.M.-8.00 P.M. outdoors. Ruwini has won three gold, three silver and two bronze medals in International Air and Sport Pistol Shooting events, and was selected in the warm up rounds held in Germany and Croatia, this June, in the run up to the 2004 Athens, Olympics. The History of Shooting Sports Formal target shoots evolved from the use of bow, arrow and spear. The three were first used as military training activities, but Homer's "Iliad" indicated that the Greeks also held archery contests to shoot pigeons on the top of tall poles in honour of the Gods. Indians, Persians, Slavs, Celts and Germans too engaged in similar activities. By the 10th century, marksmanship evolved into a social and recreational sport regarded as the progenitor of great shooters, Swiss hero William Tell gained honour during the 14th century after successfully shooting an apple off his son's head. A tyrannical Austrian bailiff forced Tell to use a crossbow to perform the legendary feat. (-Internet) |
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