Dilshan to make an impact

Improved on technique and shot selection due to the intensive training that he underwent in China

“The Mexico Experience was an unforgettable one”

Dilshan deserved a spot in the Sri Lanka team for Singapore World Youth Olympic Games

Dilanka Mannakkara

He is one of the most promising shuttlers in the country and his thunderous performances has been finally rewarded with a well deserved spot in the Sri Lanka team to Singapore to represent in the World Youth Olympic Games which would commence on August 14. In fact rising badminton star Dilshan Kariyawasam was one of the four athletes to have earned the place for the prestigious Youth Olympic Games based on merit and is the only badminton player to be selected so as the other shuttler Lekha Shehani has been selected based on the Universality list.

When Daily News contacted Dilshan, he was hard at practice for the Youth Olympic Games. He has had an impressive badminton career which has blossomed in the recent past. 2010 has been a fruitful year for Dilshan as he had the honour of leading the Sri Lanka team for the World Junior Badminton Championship in Mexico.”

Honour to be the Captain

It was indeed a privilege and an honour to be the Captain of the badminton team representing Sri Lanka and the experience in Mexico was unforgettable as we met a lot of different players from different countries and also exchanged our ideas and views about badminton,” said a jubilant Dilshan.

He also led the Lankan badminton team at the Asia Junior Badminton Championship in Malaysia.”

I won the second round game against a Kazakhstan player but unfortunately lost in the next round to a Chinese player who eventually went on to win the tournament,” said Dilshan.

He was just 17 years when he won the doubles title along with another shuttle star Nuwan Hettiarachchi in the 2009 Junior National Badminton Championships and also was adjudged the first runner up of the singles title and the mixed doubles title. He also had an outstanding year of 2008 as he won the triple crown in the Junior Nationals.

Dilshan started off his badminton career as an eight year old in 1999 at Sri Sumangala College, Panadura. He showed a lot of promise in the early parts of his career and joined Ananda College, Colombo to pursue his badminton dream. His first coach was veteran badminton player K.S. Pushpakumara who is currently the head coach at Ananda College.

Dilshan won the under 11 title at the 2002 Junior National event and thereafter has never looked back and has gone from success to success.

He also won the under 15 and under 17 badminton titles including the singles and doubles titles which was indeed a tremendous feat.

Due to his immense potential Dilshan got selected for the South Asian Team Championship in 2005 and played a huge part in Sri Lanka reaching the finals. In 2006, Dilshan went to China for a badminton training program which was conducted by the International Badminton Federation”.

Technique and shot selection

I improved on my technique and my shot selection due to the intensive training that I under went in China”said Dilshan.

He also captained the Ananda under 11,12,14,15 and 19 badminton teams and has been a major factor in Ananda’s recent successes in badminton.

His heroics in badminton was crucial in Ananda winning the National School Games in 2008 and 2009.

He also won the National Badminton Championship in 2007 also was adjudged the winner of the All Island Age Group Badminton Championship in the under 17 category.

Dilshan also won a scholarship for the Asian Development Badminton team in 2009 and 2010 and the training has helped Dilshan in improving his forehand shots, backhand and smash shots as well as to preserve his energy to play attacking shots at the right moment. His favourite shot is the forehand smash. He also mentioned that he has to improve in his back hand and his net shots so that he can be a complete player. Dilshan prefers to play the defensive game and likes to tire his opponent by having several rallies and then go on the offensive to gain points. Indonesian Badminton champion Taufeeq Hadayat who is one of the top players in the world is Dilshan’s favourite player.

Dilshan wishes to thank his personal coaches Chameera Kariyapperuma and Lakpriya Edirisinghe who have been helping him throughout his badminton career.

He is also grateful towards his Physical Trainer Vimukthi Zoysa and also Shimal Aponsu who is the current National coach of the Sri Lanka National pool.

He is also amiably supported by S.T. Selvarathnam of the Tamil Union Sports Club.