Unique feat by bodybuilder Prasanna Peiris

Chris DHAMBARAGE

It was at the backdrop of some uncertainty that he took up the challenge to compete in the 63rd World bodybuilding championships in Doha Qatar.

But in a sensational turn of events 40 year old former Sailor from Mattumagala Ragama, Prasanna Peiris was able to emerge as a hero for his country overnight.

He cleared all odds and snatched the silver medal in the 65kg weight category event out of competitors from 90 countries. In 2005 Prasanna Peiris a father of two sons and a former schoolboy from Karunaratne MMV Mattumagala was forced to find employment in overseas having earlier served the Sri Lanka Navy for a period of six years.

It was with sheer disappointment that he took wing to Doha Qatar to serve as a physical fitness trainer having struggled to find a suitable employment at home.

Four years later, Prasanna Peiris returned to his motherland to a heroes welcome having performed a unique feat. This is a tremendous achievement for a competitor having started his bodybuilding career just after leaving school.

He continued to perform the art of bodybuilding at several major tournaments and earned a reputation for himself in the local scene. He was able to further enhance his career after joining Sri Lanka Navy and had the opportunity of representing the country with distinction.

In 1998 he was placed 8th at the Commonwealth Championships in Malaysia in the 60 kg weight category.

He performed even better to earn the fourth place at the South Asian Federation Games in India in 1999 and was placed 14th at the 2000 World championships in Malaysia in the 65 kg weight category.

In the same year he was able to clinch the 8th position at the Asian championships in Hong Kong and took the silver medal at the 2001 South Asian championships held in Maldives.

Prasanna Peiris' last appearance in a major international event at home before leaving to Doha Qatar was the South Asian Federation Games in Colombo where he did well to win a bronze medal for his country.

While performing his duties as a physical fitness trainer he was also able to continue his career as a bodybuilder in Doha Qatar a country which has a high demand for this muscular sport.

The situation and the atmosphere was absolutely perfect for Prasanna Peiris to re launch his career with the back up support coming through his main sponsor Ibrahim Allah and the Sinhala Sports Club of Doha Qatar.

In a short span of time he was able to emerge as a major force having won many titles in the region. In fact he made a clean sweep by emerging as the Gulf champion, Arab champion and Qatar champion from 2006 until 2008 in the 65 kg weight category event.

As a result he won a great amount of prize money having won these titles which also encouraged him to participate in the World Championships.

Even then there were some doubts and concern on his participation in this tournament as he was residing in Doha Qatar as an employee.

But he acted promptly by approaching the Sri Lanka Bodybuilding Federation and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.

He was successful in convening and proving his potential to both authorities which allowed and granted him permission to represent Sri Lanka at the World championships.

He certainly kept to that promise and lived upto expectations by creating history with a silver medal.

His main rival in this event of course was the competitor from Korea who was the gold medallist at the previous Asian championships held in India.

But he was pushed to the third position with Nazar Mohamed from Egypt taking the gold medal in this weight category.

Nevertheless Prasanna Peiris had the satisfaction of finishing ahead of some of the more fancied nations like USA, South Africa, Canada and Italy.

His success in the World championships has also helped him to qualify for the Arnold Classic tournament which will be staged in March next year in Washington, Ohio. This will be followed by the Asian championships in Qatar in July and the World championships in Russia.

His message to the up and coming bodybuilders in the country is that they should train hard and make an attempt to display their prowess in overseas events.

Achievements

Full name: Prasanna Peiris
Age: 40 years
School attended: Karunaratne MMV, Mattumagala
Major club: Navy Sports Club
Martial status: Married and has two children
Present occupation: Physical fitness trainer
Major international tournaments: Commonwealth championships in Malaysia (1998), SAF Games in India (1999), World championships in Malaysia
(2000), Asian championships in Hong Kong (2000),
South Asian championships in Maldives (2001),
SAF Games in Colombo (2004).
Major titles: Gulf champion, Arab champion, Qatar
champion (2006, 2007, 2008)