Age is no barrier to win medals, says Nadeesha Lekamge

I had good confidence about my medal before this Asian Games said Sri Lankan javelin thrower Nadeesha Dilhani Lekamge the 36 year old athlete who won the silver at the Asian Games in an exclusive interview with the Daily News yesterday.

Lekamge who hails from Parakaduwa village at Ratnapura said the day when I competed this Javelin throw event I had good confidence and I wanted to do my best. Age is not a barrier and it is only number and my age is 36, added Lekamge. Actually China’s athlete who is a world champion and Indian athlete also very talented who won the gold and I was able to pass the world champion Chinese athlete to take silver. It was my dream come true, said Dilhani Lekamge.

I started my education from Parakaduwa Narada MMV and then crossed over to Arepola Mahinda MV. Actually I started from running events when my age was 15. I changed my event to Javelin throw with my coach’s advice. When I was at Narada MMV my first coach Aruna Shantha sir told me to do Javelin throw and my coach had confidence on me. I chat with Aruna Shantha sir after this medal and he was really happy with my performance, said Lekamge .

I had more difficulties in my school days. Actually my parents couldn’t give support to my sport and that’s why I entered the Sri Lanka Army which was the turning point of my career. My mother Chandra Weerasinghe who is a tea plucker and father Buddhadasa is ill and without a permanent job they can’t provide my facilities while my Aunty, Chandra Lekamge (father’s elder sister) gave some assistance. I am the only daughter having younger brother and elder brother. We have to live with lot of difficulties. I joined the Army on December 30, 2006. All Army commanders, senior officials especially Army Athetic committee give excellent support and not to forget Sri Lanka Athetics head Rt Major General Palitha Fernando and his staff and Sports Ministry and Ritzbury (Ceylon Foods Company Ltd – they give Rs. 35 ,000 monthly allowance throughout the year). All these encouragement led me to success. My parents’ blessings and I must say my throwing coach late A.J Rodrigo and the present coach Pradeep Nishantha is the strength behind this medal, added Lekamge.

Sri Lanka Army give tremendous support to me. Still I am a Sergeant and hope will get a promotion after this Asian Games silver medal .

This silver medal gave me big boost to go for Olympics. This time I was able to set up new Sri Lanka record and erased my previous record. Nadeeka Lakmali the previous Sri Lanka javelin throw Olympian and record holder and Vijitha Amarasrkara who won last Asian Games medal in 1990 and today I am also privileged to add to that list. Actually my present coach Pradeep Nishantha told me I can go for the medal and this was told before the Asian Games. However my coach Pradeep Nishantha sir couldn’t able to come this tour and without his strength I had some pressure. However all other coaches with the team gave me good support. But I think my personal coach’s absence is a big loss. After I won the medal Sports Director General Dr Shemal Fernando, Sri Lanka Athetics President Major General Palitha Fernando as well as Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe congratulated me.

I have good confidence for next Olympics. After I come back home I have to do Defence Services Meet which is the last meet of this year and from next year I have to go for Olympics qualifications. My coach Pradeep Nishantha is also the coach of Paralympics medal winners Dinesh Priyantha and Samitha Dulan, said Nadeesha.

At this moment I think sponsorship is very vital but I can’t go on begging and anyone can realize my issue and I hope to have their support. Actually age is not a barrier and if I keep my fitness I can continue this sport and my ultimate goal is Olympics, concluded Nadeesha.

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