I have achieved my target - Jayasinghe

Chinthana WASALA

The name Thilini Sudara would not ring a bell for most Lankans. But when it is Thilini Sudara Jayasinghe, or better known as 'Thilini Jayasinghe' she becomes the most popular name among the female shuttlers in Sri Lanka.

This Kandyan girl will be the first Sri Lankan shuttler to represent Sri Lanka in two versions of Olympics, the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Olympics which starts in another six days time.

Jayasinghe, who always likes a challenges, became the first ever woman shuttler to represent Sri Lanka at the Olympics and she has made it a double, qualifying to play among the best 46 shuttlers at the London 2012 Games.

The former national champion and three-time South Asian Games silver medallist Jayasinghe, who in 2008 became the first ever Sri Lanka woman shuttler to compete at Olympic Games, is the only woman athlete in the Sri Lanka contingent for the London Games with previous Olympic experience.

'I have been the singles champion in every major badminton tournament in Sri Lanka. It's the primary objective of any badminton player of the country. I have been doing really well in most of the foreign tournaments too; therefore I don't think that there is anything left for me to achieve. Now that I have made it to the London games, my prime objective is to bring honour to my country," said Jayasinghe.

During the recent years, she had been collecting points, playing in tough international tournaments with the help of financial support of her employer Sampathh Bank and her own finances, while most of the other women shuttlers in Sri Lanka were not focusing on the future.

With the help of Sampath Bank, she played in many overseas tournaments, including the Namibia International, Zimbabwe International, Syria International, Malaysia International Challenge, Bahrain International, Bangladesh International, India Open, Thomas and Uber Badminton Championship, French International and the Asian Badminton Championship to always keep improving her world rankings.Like any sportsman or woman she has her critics,but does not take notice of them.

According to her, some champion shuttlers who failed to achieve feats such as hers, are making allegations saying that she has used influence to make it to the Olympics.

"When I qualified for the Beijing Olympics, I did what I did without any help from anyone, and I have repeated it without any invisible hand helping me. Booking a place in the Olympics again was surely a dream come true for anyone. But I am a player who fulfilled that dream twice,'' she says.

"I always believe in myself and I run my own race.

Jayasinghe is currently the 116th in the BWF world rankings with 12613 points, way ahead than the other Sri Lankan competitors Achini Ratnasiri (149) and Chandrika de Silva (136).

"I worked hard to come up in the world rankings. Unlike other women shuttlers who skipped most of the major international tournaments where top ranked players had to be faced, I took advantage of playing against the toughest in the world. That way, I came up in the world rankings while the othersare still lying below me in the BWF rankings" says Jayasinghe.

"A special thank goes to Sampath Bank Chief Executive Officer Aravinda Prerera who has a good knowledge of the sport and has always extended his support to me.

The bank has released me full time for practices and to take part in local and overseas tournaments, helping my sports career," says Jayasinghe.

"I must also thank our Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage who tmakes the correct decisions at the right time, Mr. Jayanthan and Mrs Nilanthi Ramanayaka of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association selection committee, my coaches, the Chairman of Power World Gymnasiums, my cosmetics sponsor Oriflame and my family for always backing me.

"I like challenges, no matter who or what blocks my path, I have achieved what I targeted," says a contended, happy and smiling fair lady. We wish her well at the Olympics.