Archives

DINESH WEERAWANSA reporting from South Korea

BUSAN, Friday. - Celebrated woman sprinter, Susanthika Jayasinghe aims to give Sri Lanka its first ever Olympic Games gold medal before she hangs up her spikes in a couple of years time. She expressed her hunger for 'gold' after she was crowned the fastest ever woman in the 50-year-old Asian Games history with a record breaking run in the women's 100m. dash at the 14th Asian Games here.

"I want to win an Olympic Games gold medal. That is my final target. I want to make my country proud, see our lion flag being raised and 'Namo namo matha' national anthem being played at an Olympic Games victory ceremony. I want to make that dream come true in Athens," a determined Jayasinghe said in an exclusive interview with the 'Daily News' at the Athletes Village here.

Asked whether she is ready to confront American 'super woman' Marion Jones, Jayasinghe said she is ready to face the challenge. "I am really looking forward to it. I will my best attempt to win the gold," the Lankan sprint queen said. Jones bagged women's 100m and 200m gold medals when Jayasinghe won women's 200m bronze at the last Olympic Games in Sydney, 2000.

I could still recall what American Olympic medallist Marion Jones said after her triumph in Australia two years ago. "Jayasinghe and Bahamas girl ran a pretty good race and they helped me to accelerate and win the race" Jones said after the 200m victory. Jones looked so friendly with Jayasinghe when she embraced the Lankan sprint queen and posed for an exclusive photograph taken by me for the "Daily News', immediately after the 200m final in Sydney.

Jayasinghe said though she is not getting the best of facilities enjoyed by the world renowned athletes, she is still ready throw a challenge and try out for an Olympic gold, a feat no Sri Lankan has achieved in the 106-year-old modern Olympic Games history. Jayasinghe became the first woman and only the second Sri Lankan to win an Olympic medal, after the late Duncan White bagged men's 440 yards silver at the 1948 London Olympiad.

"I may not get the facilities which top women sprinters like Marion Jones or Zahana Pintusevich get.

They get the best of nutrition needed for world class athletes, latest training techniques, best of coaches and training methods and many more. I am not trying to make a fuss out but I just want to show the gap between the training we have. But I will try to beat all odds and give my country its first Olympic gold medal, said Jayasinghe who will be turning 27 years in December.

She recalled her humble beginnings at the remote village of Uduwaka, off Warakapola and said she is proud of what she had achieved, considering the financial difficulties her family had then. But Jayasinghe was humble in victory. "The gold medal I won at the Asian Games does not belong to me. It was for my country and it was won by a Sri Lankan," she added.

Jayasinghe thanked everybody who helped her in numerous ways and helped her to go places in the world track and field scene. "I am thankful to all of them, mainly for the Sri Lankan athletic fans who have been with me in the good times and the bad times," she said. She made a special mention of Daham Wimalasena, who has been a tower of strength for her when she had to face some bitter experiences off the field in the late nineties. Jayasinghe also thanked her employer - Lanka Cement and its dynamic chairman, Anil Koswatte, who cemented her future as the Business Development Manageress with an attractive salary.

She said her husband Dhammika Nandakumara, the former Sri Lanka athlete and ex Sri Sumangala cricketer, has been the guiding force behind her. "Dhammika aiya has given me courage and confidence to face challenges, both on and off the field," she said about her proud husband.

Despite her busy schedule at present, Jayasinghe has a dream for what all women dream of - the motherhood. "I dream of becoming a mother. I am not a run machine. I am a human and I want to enjoy the lovely feelings of a devoted mother. No sooner I retire after my final goal in my career, I want to be a mother.

It is a nice feeling when I recall what my mother did for us when we were small," an emotional Jayasinghe said.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager