Poornima striving to reach greater heights

Anuradha Abeysekera

Striving to reach higher whether in sports or in life, M. K Poornima Jayamalee Gunarathne of Leeds International School, Panadura Reached another mile stone in her athletic career by emerging champion of under-15 high jump event with a performance of 1.57 meters at the recently concluded All Island Schools' Athletic Championship worked off at D. A. Rajapaksa ground in Beliatta.

Poornima has shown a keen interest in athletics as a toddler and took up to sports when she was nine years old. She started with 100 meters hurdles and high jump events, but later realized her potential in high jump and chosen it as her main event. Her personal best has been 1.60m in the high jump event.

With the support and encouragement of her parents and coach, Poornima continued her training under Nimal Dharmarathne, who has been her coach from the day one. She has won many accolades at the circuit meet to all island level and proven her talent in many occasions. She bagged her first national level medal in 2011 by winning the high jump second place in the Women's Athletic Championhip.

2012 saw turning a new winning chapter in Poornima's career as she won the unde-15 high jump title in the International Schools' Athletic Championship (ISAC) earlier this year before her big triumph in the Schools' Athletis Championship.

Poornima is a maulty faceted girl and engaged with swimming, badminton and karate apart from athletics. She is a brown belt holder and trains under Ruwan Satharasinghe. Poornima is also a good swimmer and represented her school in all island swimming meets under the guidance of coach Rajitha. She has performed up to the Provincial level in badminton and her shuttling talents are being moulded by coach Jude Fernando.

She never misses her practices, but keeping a good balance between studies and sports. Poornima's ambition is to become a doctor by profession while working hard to develop her sporting skills to national and international level.

Poornima is a grade 10 student and preparing for her O/Ls. She is also interested in music apart from her passion for athletics. She is a determined personality and hope to represent the country in the Asian championship and her greatest aspiration is to participate in the 2016 Olympics and bring honour to Sri Lanka.

"I work hard to make my dreams a reality and acknowledge the support of my parents, Upul Gunarathne and Shirani de Silva as they have been greatest strength. My only brother Pasindu Nimantha is also very supportive while the coach Nimal is guiding me well.

My school Principal, teachers and friends are also part and parcel of my success as they always backing me generously and I will try my best to make all of them proud one day," said Poornima in a promising voice.