Champion diver Dulanjan looking forward to ‘crazy experience’ at Games

When champion Sri Lanka diver Dulanjan Fernando takes the plunge in the Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Birmingham on Thursday in the 1m Springboard event of the XXII Commonwealth Games, it will be a dream come true and vindication of his prodigious talent after the injustice meted out to him four years ago.

Although he was initially selected to represent Sri Lanka for 2018 Gold Coast, it is still a mystery as to why he could not make the flight to Brisbane. “I got selected but I couldn’t go because of politics. There weren’t enough slots apparently,” said Dulanjan in an interview a year ago from Melbourne where he moved to pursue higher studies.

Many others in his place would have walked away from the sport, after the mental agony of rejection. Fortunately, the outstanding sporting product of Royal College, took it on the chin and resolved to fight back. “My target is to participate in the Commonwealth Games. I can go to the Olympics but I have time. I am still 21. I am planning to train for another five or six years,” he said.

Adjudged the most outstanding Royal College sportsman for two consecutive years in 2017 and 2018, he captained the school in gymnastics, diving and water polo leading the team to victory when they regained the Hayman Cup against S. Thomas’ after five years. He first represented the country at the 2015 Asian Age Group Championship in Bangladesh while his career peaked the following year. In 2016 he won three silver medals in diving at the Singapore Invitation National Championship competing in the 17-22 age category and also a silver and bronze medal in the South Asian Championship held in Colombo. A bronze medallist as a 14-year-old in his debut at the Nationals, the high point of Dulanjan’s career was being among the top eight at the Asian Championship in Tokyo in the 10m event.

It is pleasing to note that he has overcome several obstacles including the covid-19 pandemic in his fight to bring glory to Sri Lanka on the international stage in the 1m and 3m springboard diving events at Birmingham.

“It’s going to be a crazy experience for me. Last time it was a sad moment. I had to wait for four more years,” said Dulanjan, who has been giving attention to diving while pursuing a degree in Exercise and Sports Science at Deakin University in Melbourne.

He competed in the Australian Age Championship in April 2020 in Adelaide where he won one event and took part in the Victorian Open to qualify for the Australian Nationals. “It’s very hard to qualify but an opportunity to participate with some of the world’s greatest divers,” said Dulanjan whose main goal is the 2024 Olympics.

“I came to the finals in both events. It was a really good competition. I had only one and half years from these facilities,” he said.

His preparations for Birmingham2022 suffered a blow despite being the first Sri Lankan to qualify for the World Swimming and Diving Championships to be held in Hungary in June but because of visa wrangles for other swimmers, Sri Lanka did not send a team. He also missed a competition in Italy in July.

“I have been planning for the whole season. This is my first international competition after four years. I have been training from December while the diving season is from March to August,” said Dulanjan who achieved a personal best of 280 (1m) and 310 (3m) at the 2022 Australian Open.

He was realistic about his expectations in Birmingham. “I want to do my best at the Games. I know they are better than me. I will try to get into the finals and do my personal best,” said Dulanjan who has been priming for the Games taking part in the two or three competitions in Melbourne and other states in Australia.