Nilmini shoots to glory

Dinesh WEERAWANSA

GAMES: She does not have that rough look that is generally associated with other men and women in her trade. She is slim, tall and beautiful. Perhaps, Sri Lanka Navy would have been too rough at the early stages for this young lass.

Holding a merciless rifle would have been even more challenging to her smooth hands. But in less than eight years after joining Sri Lanka Navy, she brought honour and credit to her service team.

She is the only golden woman shooter in the Sri Lanka contingent that took part at the 10th South Asian Games. The feat of this charming young lass - Nilmini Illangarathna, becomes even more significant, when considering the fact that it was only her second international meet.

Interestingly, she faced this second international meet more than two years after her first ever international meet. Considering her inexperience and the gap between the first two meets, a few people would have put their bets on Illangarathna.

But she did it in style to make Mother Lanka proud. Illangarathna won the gold medal in women's 50m air rifle prone event of the 10th South Asian Games at the Welisara Navy Range.

Illangarathne, attached to Sri Lanka Navy, did well to aggregate 588 points to win the final in style. Competing under familiar conditions at her Welisara base range, Illangarathna was in good form.

The best of her six shots came in the fourth with a perfect 100 points. She had scores of 97, 97, 97, 100, 99, 98 to aggregate 588 points in her 50m air rifle prone event for women.

Finishing second behind the Sri Lanka Navy shooter for the silver and bronze medals were Indians K. Meena (584) and Raj Kumari (584).

But her road to success had been hard and a bitter one. She joined the Sri Lanka Navy in 1998 and took to shooting from the very next year.

But in 2000, she experienced the saddest moment of her life when her brother, who was just 19 years then and who had come to the Colombo Eye Hospital for treatment, became an unfortunate victim of the Town Hall bomb blast.

But Illangarathna fought a lone battle with her parents. In the meantime, she gave her 100% dedication to Sri Lanka Navy and also mastered the art of firing. Despite all the ups and downs in life, she kept her cool and concentration to go for goals.

"I am really happy for what I have achieved for my country. I want to capitalise on this and do even better at Asian level," a determined Illangarathna said.

But shooting as a sport had not been even her wildest dreams while she was a student at Hatharaliyadda Central College in her native Kandy. She has been a good volleyball player during her school career before she took the rifle to shoot to glory.

"I started firing at 1999. But before the Colombo SA Games, I had taken part in only one international meet. That was the 2004 South Asian Games in Islamabad. But I could not win a medal there," she said.

But she has worked hard over the last couple of years with her Navy coach U. Premalal. However, she has not got a single opportunity to compete at an international meet between the 2004 and 2006 South Asian Games.

"But I did not give up. I worked hard for my goal. Even when there was a shortage of ammunition we kept on training. But I am happy that all those hard efforts have brought results at the end," she said.

Asked whether she dreamt of the gold medal before the Games, she replied positively. "I fired even better scores before the South Asian Games. Hence, when I considered the performances of other rival competitors, I thought I would stand a chance," she said.

She said the new International shooting range at Welisara is a big boost for Sri Lanka shooting. "It is a nice place and we are lucky to have that type of a venue. I have been practising at Panagoda when the Welisara range was closed for redevelopment.

But once the Welisara range was completed, I got an opportunity to train there and it was a good experience, she continued.Illangarathna now plans to go beyond South Asian level.

"I am looking forward to the Asian Games in Doha this December. If I get an opportunity to fire there, I will do my best to make my country proud. I want to train hard and prepare to fulfil that dream," the Lankan golden girl said.

She thanked all those who have helped her to win the shooting gold. "I want to thank the Navy Commander, all officers and sailors who have helped me and our shooting team, my coach, my parents and all those who have been a part of our success," she added.

But a lass like Illangarathna needs better attention. She even does not have a proper jacket. She is an investment for the future. If the authorities would take better recognition of her talents and lend her a helping hand, she could well give Sri Lanka a medal at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.