The shining star - Pradeep Sanjaya

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

They are the super humans in real life. They win obstacles with courage, where others find it impossible - This is the message an unknown young man hailing from Mirigama has carved. He is a super star today as he had the courage and determination to set a mark in Sri Lankan history. Sri Lanka Army's Sergeant Pradeep Sanjaya, proud of his achievement at the 2012 Paralympics continues to fight to bring 'greatness' to his mother.

Sergeant Sanjaya is Sri Lanka's first Paralympic medallist. The entire Paralympic team is an example of what high levels of courage and dedication can bring.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist and poet once said "Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons." Our Paralympic team had the courage within their hearts and soul and thus they won and obviously the highlight of their dedication is the Men's 400m T46 runner Pradeep Sanjaya.

The last occasion when Sri Lanka came close to a medal was when swimmer Priyadarshana finished fourth in Athens in 2004 in a men's backstroke event, according to known history of Sri Lankan achievements in Paralympics.

He was wounded when the LTTE fired a Rocket Propelled Grenade targeting his reconnaissance team in the Kilinochchi battlefront in 2008. Pradeep's only dream was to come back to normal life. He was attached to the fourth Battalion of the Sinha Regiment. Yet today he has become 'super' normal. "I was treated for four months at the National Hospital and then transferred to the Army Hospital. After several days it was time for me to come to the clinics for check ups and rehabilitation and then sent to my Regimental Headquarters," Sergeant Sanjaya said. There he saw disabled soldiers practising various sports and he was asked by his superiors whether he was interested in joining.

His love for sports made him agree and thus he started his sports career.

He won the Bronze medal at his third international competition. "At the Paralympics there are many differently abled people who were non-military and seeing their courage I realised that there is great potential in Sri Lankans," Sergeant Sanjaya said. "Differntly-abled people must not lose faith. They must identify their innate talent and put a little bit more effort to achieve success.

In today's technologically advanced world many things are possible. Even with our limitations as a country we can achieve a great deal," he said.

"My training with the Army has given me a lot of courage and many disabled soldiers have the courage to carry on with our lives because of that background," he said adding that all differently abled personnel must build a strong heart and mind with sheer determination to succeed in his or her own way.

Pradeep achieved his first goal and now is the time for him to run for the next silver and golden goals, said Brigadier Rajiva Wickramasinghe President of the Sri Lanka Paralympics Committee.

"He was dedicated and enthusiastic right from the beginning to succeed in his event. Dedication and commitment of his coach added to Pradeep's devotion," said Brigadier Wickramasinghe.

Considering the span of Paralympic history of Sri Lanka starting from 1996 Brgd. Wickramasinghe said it was a huge success compared to the limited resources for the differently-abled sports men and women. "You can see the climb in these sports with the increasing number of qualified sports personnel selected for the competition. This time we were able to send seven athletes for the first time. With the minimum facilities available in a developing country like Sri Lanka our athletes have done their best," he added.

So far we managed to elevate the qualification levels of our sports personnel and now we are going for medals. Now we achieved one medal for the first time and we will move ahead for more precious medals," said Brgd. Wickramasinghe.

First and foremost to achieve success for the differently-abled, we need better standards in accessibility, he said. "Anybody should have accessibility to any building, vehicle and specially for sports personnel accessibility to sports venues is a must. If a differently-abled wheel chair athlete can not access a sports venue in his wheel chair, how can we expect him to show his potential?," queried Brgd. Wickramasinghe. According to him though the Sports Ministry is giving immense support to these athletes, they need more financial support.

Travelling in Sri Lanka is an enormous challenge for those who have physical disabilities. The majority of Sri Lankans who are disabled are poor and live in remote villages connected only by dirt roads and many travel on foot. Few can afford to take private or public transit and accessible transportation simply does not exist. Buses, three wheeled tri-shaws, cars, and trains are small, jam-packed with people, and do not have accommodations, for individuals with disabilities.

Nicknamed the Blade Runner, Oscar Pistorius, the South African sprint runner created a new world record as the first disabled man to compete in an Olympics using his specially designed prosthetic legs to run next to abled athletes. American Poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox wrote "Keep on with your weary battle; Against triumphant might; No question is ever settled; Until it is settled right." Hence until correct solutions are made the battle for success must continue until we see the next Pistorius coming from Sri Lanka.