Decided to quit at right time - Dharsha

Plans to take up coaching:

Bernard Perera

RETIREMENT: Damayanthi Dharsha Ace Woman Sprinter announced her retirement officially at a function attended by the Minister of Sports and Entertainment and Recreation, Gamini Lokuge and many other distinguished invitees.

Dharsha announcing her decision in a emotion filled mood said ‘that she reached all these great heights mainly due to dedication towards the sports. This was a very difficult task. I continued this with many hardships.

That was a time period I did not get even an opportunity to attend to my family functions. In fact she said that she even could not attend her grandmother’s funeral as she was involved with athletics.

I had to spend half of my life with athletes. This was a pleasant period I missed lot of family engagements but my parents and family members never accused me and it became a great strength for me. I am thankful to my parents and my other family members if not for their encouragement which paved the way for me to come to this status.

At the start of my carrier I did not have all necessities like the present day. But I was able to have all the support from everyone involved with athletics. I had the opportunity of coming under a good coach and a fine set of officials at the commencement of my career.

The then Minister of Sports S.B. Dissanayake was a tower of strength for athletes. He took a personal interest to have a good look at the athletes for their requirements. He had a vision to promote athletics in Sri Lanka. That became encouragement not only to me but to all athletes, said Dharsha.

Dharsha paid a special tribute to everyone in this country who made it a point to cheer her when she achieved success. This is a thing that all sportsmen and women should not forget, she added.

Their blessings too count on us. She also did not forget to mention that there was a period that their achievements were not given the recognition. These are things that happen at times but we have to forget the past, she said.

She requested all sportsmen and women to devote their time for the sport with more enthusiasm. If you do this you are sure to gain good results. The set athletes who were produced after 1991 has won many accolades.

They are the athletes still performing well to bring honour to this country. We must try to develop young athletes to take their places to maintain the standards if we are to hold a high position in athletic arena.

Answering a question she said that she had to take this decision after long thinking. I have used my body excessively for the last 16 years. For the last one and a half year I have prone to many injuries.

Due to this I even could not compete at the last South Asian Games. So now the time has come to quit the competitive meets. She said I will only leave the track from competition but will be available for other activities involving athletics, she said.

Finally she said that she will take to coaching. “I am sure that I can do this, but I will not get onto the job immediately. Because experience alone can not bring in good results as a coach. First I need to read a lot which I hope to do at least for two three years before moving to coaching.

She thanked all media organisations for the publicity extended to her during her career. If not for this I would not have been to the world, she added.

She also thanked all her sponsors who joined hands with her during her whole career.

Sunil Gunawardena, Dharsha’s coach speaking on the occasion said that Dharsha came from a ordinary family but today she has achieved everything in her life. On a directive by the former Minister of Sports S.B. Dissanayake they set up an olympic pool in which Dharsha was one.

Dharsha was an athlete of a different character. She worked to a plan when we picked her we had to bring her to a Colombo school. The day she was to be brought to Ladies College she even cried saying that she will not fit in there. But she overcame all these due to her dedication.

She planned everything on her own as she had to continue her studies. This helped her to have better education while engaging in sports. In school too she was the sporting star. Her achievements was enough for school authorities to pay special attention on her.

She holds the 100, 200, 400 Asian and South Asian records. She was able over run Asian giants like India, China, Korea and Japan on the track to set up these records. In other words she is one athlete who has conquered the whole of Asia, said Gunawardene.

All these done by Dharsha on the athletic scene have to considered as great achievements to bring honour to her country. Sri Lanka has to be proud of Dharsha’s success during her career spanning for 16 years.

Today Dharsha says bye to the track but we need her services for the future. I am sure her experience on the track will put to use by parting with same with the young athletes aspiring to follow the footsteps of Dharsha.

Minister Lokuge said that Dharsha’s success has to be appreciated well. The Sports Ministry needs sportsmen and women of high standards if we are to produce great athletes in the future.

Dharsha is an experienced and dedicated athlete. I think the Ministry of Sports need her services to groom youngsters. Whenever necessary the Ministry will request her services.

He also said that Ministry will arrange a special function to felicitate Dharsha in the near future.

Former Minister S.B. Dissanayake too wished a happy future for Dharsha. He too expressed that Dharsha’s success was mainly due her dedication. She is one athlete who took no pains when she lost. But made it a point to correct the mistakes and come back strongly to win again. That was sheer courage, he said.