Remembering the legends:

Darsha; one of the greatest

It is time to remember athletes who brought honour and glory to Sri Lanka and it is for this purpose that Dialog Telekom in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Pubic Recreation pays tribute to over 200 athletes in over 15 disciplines on July 15 at the BMICH.

Dialog Telekom has been a prominent sponsor of Sri Lankan Sports and is committed to developing talent in Sri Lanka to international standards.

She is one of the country's greatest athletes. In a period of twelve years hers was one of the most recognized faces in Sri Lanka. K.V. Damayanthi Darsha still holds the Asian Games records for both the 200 and 400 metres, and has represented Sri Lanka at two Olympic Games, semi finalist in the last one.

Many believed Darsha would one day bring that 400 metre Gold to Sri Lanka. But destiny had other plans for the village girl who roared into all our lives as the 'Ampara Express'. By a cruel twist of fate, her feet would let her down. An ankle injury.

She has never given excuses, however evident her pain, losing due to this injury. She does not discuss it or refer to it. She believes there are no excuses in life for failure. You go out there and you do your best for your country.

This young woman's humanity and humility are exemplary. She inspires all who are fortunate to know her, however superficially.

When she retired and decided that she would not compete at the Beijing Games, in her farewell speech she thanked all those who had supported her, including the twelve thousand machine operators of the company she works for, whose lives she had touched and who had touched hers in return. "I always remember at the starting block that there are twelve thousand colleagues who are watching me run and praying for me. I always remember them with the greatest gratitude."

That is Darsha. So at one with anyone she meets; she is so at ease with herself. Machine operators, international athletes, men and women from any and every walk of life.

Who would believe she wrote our country's name into the record books with her flying feet.

Darsha the fastest woman in Asia, - icon, wife, and mother of the next generation of hope.