Artistic Gymnast Amaya to Make history at World University Games

Artistic gymnast Amaya Sithumini dazzles the crowd with her extraordinary performance at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Amaya Sithumini Kalukottage, the number two ranked artistic gymnast in Sri Lanka, has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first-ever gymnast to represent the country at the World University Games. The prestigious event is scheduled to take place in Chengdu, China, from July 28 to August 8.

Sithumini, a talented third-year undergraduate from the Faculty of BSc Hons Sports Science and Management at Sri Jayewardenepura University, will proudly don the Sri Lankan colors at the 31st edition of the FISU World University Games, where she will compete as the first artistic gymnast in the country’s history to participate.

Having been a standout performer from a young age, Sithumini honed her skills at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya Colombo 07, where she clinched consecutive all island school championships for several years. Demonstrating an exceptional ability to balance academics with sports, she also held the esteemed position of Games Captain in 2018 and was recognized as the Best Student of 2019.

Under the guidance of National Artistic Gymnastic Coach Ranjana Tharanga, Sithumini’s career took off as she secured a spot in the National High-Performance Team. Her dedication and talent have seen her represent Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Games twice, first at the 2018 Gold Coast event and then at the 2022 Birmingham edition.

Notably, Sithumini played a pivotal role in leading the women’s team to victory, securing a Bronze medal at the Central South Asian Gymnastics Championships 2021 held in Bangladesh.

Expressing her gratitude, the 22-year-old gymnast thanked her parents, coach Ranjana Tharanga, and Nishanthi Vidanage, the Director of the Department of Physical Education at the University of Sri Jayawardenepura, for their unwavering support. She also extended her appreciation to her school Principal, R.A.M.R. Herath, and all her teachers, as well as the National Gymnastics Association, including President Premnath C. Dolawatta, for their contributions to her journey.