I wanted to balance my cricket and studies to move forward and I’m happy to get 9A passes at the GCE O/L exam this year, said Sri Lanka under 19 women’s skipper Vishmi Gunaratne in an interview with the Daily News, yesterday.
My father Aruna Gunaratne and mother Dhammika Wijeratne have motivated me to continue with my studies and cricket. Without any failures, I gave my best and brought honour to my school Ratnawali BMV, Gampaha.
When I was in grade three, I started doing athletics as a sport at Algama Medagama Primary school which is situated in the Sabaragauwa Province near Warakapola. I was keen to do 100m, 200m, and 4×100 relays. Later i started playing cricket and reach the National level said Vishmi.
Finding the balance between sports and studies is difficult but dedication is an important factor to maintain. When I passed my Grade Five Scholarship Exam at my village school Medagama Primary school, I obtained 182 marks which paved the way to join Ratnawali BMV Gampaha which was the turning point of in career.
Aruna Gunaratne Vishmi’s father was a former National athlete at Tholangamuwa Central.
Vishmi was a 100m, and 200m athlete and I was her first coach. Vishmi helped her women’s 4×100-metre relay team to clinch the gold at the John Tarbet Junior Athletic meet and set up a new record. They erased the 20-year-old relay record set by Museaus College. However, as an athlete, she is very keen to continue cricket as her major sport. I knew running between the wicket, endurance and flexibility always develop from athletics which is useful for cricket. That is the success story of Vishmi. We never put any pressure on Vishmi.
Vishmi’s elder sister Nethmi as also a former Ratnawali BMV cricketer who also captioned the college team and also got 9As. Most of the times Vishmi is away from the school. She went to Zimbabwe for the World Cup qualifying tournament when she was tested positive for Covid 19 and then the Commonwealth Games qualifying tournament and most of the time she is away from home and residential training at Hotels and overseas tournaments.
Her mother Dhammika Wijeratne said all credit should go to Ratnawali BMV Gampaha and it’s Principal Hema Jayawadena. They made good systems for students. When my daughter gone away overseas tours the online education system was very helpful for Vishmi. The College staff was very dedicated while Vishmi class teacher Lakmali teacher personally attended to my daughter. The missing lessons and activities always once again done by Vishmi.
The college coaches Asela Senaratne who passed away due to Covid 19 and later Gayan Munasinghe and her private coach Anusha Samaranayake have done a fine job.