Triple International Major Gen. Dr. Thurairaja did Sri Lanka proud

LESLIE FERNANDO

Major General (Dr.) C. Thurairaja holds a unique record representing the country in three sports-basketball, badminton and golf. He is not only a sportsman but also a super star.

He represented Sri Lanka in two sports in the Asian Games, basketball in 1966 and golf in 1982. His name will go down in the annals of the sporting history of Sri Lanka as the only sportsman so far in South East Asia to represent his country in two sports in the Asian Games.

Chelliah Thurairaja began his sporting career in Royal where he won colours in cricket, rugger, basketball and badminton. After a brilliant academic and sports career at Royal College he shone as a medical student at the University of Ceylon. In 1961-62 he was adjudged as the University Sportsman of the Year which undoubtedly was a rare achievement.

He won colours in cricket, rugger, badminton and basketball at the University of Ceylon. He also played cricket at the highest level in the Sara Trophy and Inter-University Games in India.

He was in the national pools of basketball, badminton, rugger, golf for long periods. He has captained the National teams in basketball and golf. Thurairaja was also the captain of the Sri Lanka contingent for the 1982 Asian Games. He played rugger at Clifford Cup level, Basketball and Badminton at national level. At the time University of Ceylon were the national champions in basketball, badminton and cricket.

In badminton he was in the national pool with Sam Chandrasena and Doctors N. Rasalingam and V. Sriskandaraja. In the Army in addition to cricket he excelled in rugger, basketball and badminton. He went on to play tennis and then golf in which he became a national champion.

The Army won every sports at the highest levels of competition during his time. Played international rugby in India and against visiting British Lions and Combined Universities, international golf, cricket in inter-university games in India and international basketball.

He was the first sportsman to be awarded the Defence Services colours in six sports cricket, badminton, basketball, tennis, rugger and golf a feat that would be most difficult to emulate.

He played international rugby also against British Lions, Barbarians and Combined Universities United Kingdom, in the Defence Services team which also won the Adam Bridge Trophy for rugger played in India. His contemporaries were Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Sena de Sylva, C. S. Fernando, Sarath Wijesinghe.

Dr. Thurairaja has won the Eminent Personality of the Year Award for Sports 2007-2008 for his contribution towards sports awarded in the jubilee year of 50 years of Lions Service by the Lions Association District 306 A2.

Major General (Dr.) Thurairaja had the distinction of bringing honour and glory to Sri Lanka at the World Masters Games held in Australia by winning the gold medal in golf in 2002.

He was also involved in Sports Medicine in a big way it gave him great satisfaction in the field of sports. He has been helping lot of sportsman and sportswomen to perform to their fullest capabilities. He was a maestro in sports medicine. He joined the army in 1961 and retired as Major General in 1998.