Thilini to retire playing women’s singles?

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from England

Sri Lanka shuttler Thilini Jayasinghe is set to retire from women's singles after competing in her second successive Olympic Games.

“I have achieved many milestones. Every good thing has an end I feel time is now opportune for me to call it a day,” said Jayasinghe, who in Beijing 2008 became the first ever woman shuttler to represent Sri Lanka in the century of Olympic Games history.

“I may quit playing singles but would continue to play in doubles for some more time.

But if Sri Lanka needs my services at any time, I am ready to oblige in whatever way that I could,” she said shortly before her departure from the Olympic Village at Stratford after the 2012 London Olympic Games.

“Competing Olympics is the ultimate dream of a sportsman or woman. I have achieved that dream not only once but twice. I consider that alone is a creditable achievement, though the level of competition is very high. I have achieved many first in my career and I am really happy with my achievements,” she said.

Asked about accusations in certain section of the media, Jayasinghe said she does not care about malicious campaigns and by those who have not played the game. “I really don't care. I don't waste my time on rag sheets. But at the same time, I must mention that the majority of the media act in a responsible manner and I salute them,” she said.

Replying to claims that there are players with higher local rankings, Jayasinghe said she qualified on merit and that nobody could question that as she gained direct qualification. “This is not a wild card.

I earned my place as the highest ranked women's player in international rankings. We are talking about the highest level of the game and the IOC or the world badminton federation does not go by local rankings,” she said.

“Players for the badminton tournament of the Olympic Games are picked on their world rankings and not on local rankings of respective countries. In that case, the IOC and the WBF would have asked the NOCs to send their national champions or local no. 1 players.

Why do they rely on world rankings for Olympic qualification in badminton? That is the way it happens in internationally as players we have to prepare ourselves accordingly,” she said.

Jayasinghe said she is not concerned about local rankings and she thinks beyond national championship level.

“I became Sri Lanka's women's singles national champion at the age of 18 years and there is no point in stagnating at that level. We must play in the world circuit and get ranking points as much as possible. That is what I did because I knew I must come up in my world ranking if I am to earn a place at Olympics. That's exactly how I did its ultimately,” she explained.

“Some people or a section of media could level any allegation but they should first get their facts right.

They should know the international selection criteria. As international players, we must try to go up in the world rankings by playing in many international rankings tournaments possible. There is no point in blaming that universally accepted system by not making a real effort to improve on world rankings,” she said.

Jayasinghe thanked all those who helped during her career. “It was a hard journey.

I had to struggle to find sponsors and play in international tournaments. I must than Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage and my employer Sampath Bank for helping me and inspiring me to reach this level,” she said. She also thanked Oriflame for their support.

The 27-year-old Lankan lass who took her country's women's badminton to Olympic arena said Minister Aluthgamage is making a sincere effort to promote sports in Sri Lanka and that all officials must rally round and support him. “There is talent in the provinces and they need support.

We reached the top through hard work and dedication. My advice to younger ones who take to sports is to keep hard work and dedication as their moto. That is the path to success,” Jayasinghe said.

LONDON, Tuesday.