It’s ten years after Susanthika’s record breaking feat

It’s exactly ten years after that record breaking feat of Susanthika Jayasinghe, who bagged Sri Lanka’s first ever IAAF World Championship medal.

The Lankan sprint queen rewrote local sports history by securing the women’s 200m silver medal at the 6th IAAF World Championships in Athens Greece. It was on August 8, 1997 that Jayasinghe finished behind Ukranian Zahana Pintusevick in women’s 200m final worked off in the Greek capital.

Though this significant milestone was reached a decade ago, no other Sri Lankan has been able to emulate this feat. Thus, Jayasinghe remains Sri Lanka’s one and the only medallist in the 24-year-old IAAF World championship history.

The World Championship in Athletics, which is only second to the Olympic Games, began in Helsinki, Finland way back on August 7, 1983. Ever since, only Jayasinghe has been able to reach a final, forget winning a medal altogether. That shows the competitiveness and professionalism that are evident when the cream of world class athletes clash for supremacy.

It was that rare feat of Jayasinghe in Athens 1997 that led to a revolution in Sri Lanka athletics. That was the time when the Sports Ministry was playing an active role in the promotion of sports obtaining lucrative sponsorships especially for track and field. It was this trend that continued and reached its climax with Jayasinghe winning Sri Lanka’s first Olympic medal in 52 years at the Sydney 2000 Games.

Though our own ‘Susie girl’ made a few more attempts for another World medal, she has not been successful. However, in her farewell World Championship meet in Osaka, Japan later this month, Jayasinghe is looking forward to winning another medal.

A series of leg injuries during the last few years slowed down her progress after her 100m gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan. But it seems Jayasinghe, who turns 32 in December, has now reached her peak.

Her golden double at the recent Asian Championship in Jordan is an indication that the Lankan sprint queen could spring a surprise once more.

Jayasinghe, the most successful athlete that Sri Lanka has ever produced, has been a controversial character. Her fans expect too much from her. As a result, she has been under tremendous pressure to perform at every given opportunity.

Unlike a team sport where a group of sportsmen or women make a collective effort towards the success of a team, it is difficult for an athlete to maintain 100% consistency all the time. We must understand it’s a ‘human machine’ where parts could not be replaced.

But Jayasinghe has been at the receiving end each time she complains of even a genuine injury. Her shock exit at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok is one of them. Though she was treated as a hero after the 1997 World championship silver medal, she had a bitter experience on her arrival after her first round exit at the Asian Games on the very next year.

However, two years later, she was accorded a red carpet welcome on her arrival at Katunayake with the women’s 200m bronze medal at the Sydney Olympic Games.

Whatever it is, Jayasinghe has been our sole hope at world or international meets. Hence, to commend or to criticise, we only have Jayasinghe at top level meets. True that we all expect too much from her at all times. That is because we do not have too many elite athletes to crow about. Though that is not Jayasinghe’s fault, she has been compelled to take that pressure as well.

With the retirements of three-time Asian Games gold medallist Damayanthi Darsha and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Sriyani Kulawansa, Jayasinghe will have to shoulder greater pressure on the final lap of her great athletic career.

At the same time, it’s the duty of our athletic officials and Sports Ministry authorities to implement a constructive plan to make sure Sri Lanka produces another Olympic medallist by 2016.

Many laughed at the Sports Ministry idea of an Olympic super pool in mid 90s. But in less than five years, that dream became a reality. There is enough and more talent in the provinces.

What matters is a forceful programme, with a vision to spot talent and carefully groom then for the future.

If Jayasinghe had not come to Colombo from her remote village of Ethnawala in Warakapola or if Darsha had remained in Ampara, we would have never heard of their remarkable feats. Kulawansa, who hails from Melsiripura in the Kurunegala District came to the limelight at the 1987 Mahaweli Games in Bakamuna.

Similarly, former Asian Games and Asian Championship gold medallist Sugath Tillakaratne has been a product of Norton Bridge in Nuwara Eliya.

It has been mainly raw village talent that has flourished in Sri Lanka athletics over the years. That could well be the pattern in the future too.

Unfortunately, most of our sports officials have been affected by dreaded club politics and ego syndrome. The day we find a cure for that, Sri Lanka athletics could reach greater heights.