Shanika, martial artist turns cricketer

Seventeen-year-old, K.M.Shanika Sathyanganie, is a Grade Twelve student of Mahamaya Girls School,Kandy in the Arts stream and she started playing Cricket in the School under the coaching of Samantha Dikkumbura, level One cricket coach. Before joining

Mahamaya Shanika was a student of Gothami Balika and in that School she had been involved in Martial Arts at Zen Buda Martial Arts Academy, an International Martial Arts facility for some years. She has been an accomplished Martial Arts sportswoman and has participated in numerous Championships and won many competitions and in the Sri Lanka Muaythai Championship she has won a Silver Medal in 2017 and a Gold medal in 2018 under 44 Kg weight class. Another Gold Medal in 2019 at the Under 45 Kg weight class and she has become the Under 18 Best sportswoman in 2020 and a special trophy was awarded to her.

Shanika started playing Cricket at Gothami Balika too and represented the School in 2017 at the Central Provincial Cricket tournament and scored Thirty five runs against her present school Mahamaya Girls School,Kandy. She was much interested

in Cricket and joined Mahamaya to improve her cricket skills and to do higher studies. Shanika improved her Cricket career as a right arm leg spinner to capture 3 wickets for 35 runs against St. Anthonys’ Girls School at the provincial Cricket Tournament and for her talent in cricket she has been selected for the Central Province Cricket Association cricket squad under the coaching of Amila Pinnaduwa, Provincial Cricket Coach. At present Shanika is a regular player at the girls cricket squad of Central Province.

Shanika’s intention is to improve her Cricket to be a National Player while doing her higher studies well and is grateful to the Principal of the School as well as the Coaches for the support they give to improve her talent.