Thinara - a promising swimmer

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Correspondent

Nine year old Thinara Wimaladharma of Hillwood Girls College, Kandy is showing promise in the makings of a good swimmer and given the correct guidance and training, she could reach the top.

Her recent performances is a testimony for her capabilities. From the very young age of seven she has taken a liking for water sports which unlike other sports will have to be practised or played under supervision and her parents have to chaperone her to the swimming pool and not at time they want but at the time decided by the swimming pool authorities and the swimming coach. But this little one overcame all these problems through the dedication of her coach Dhammika Lokuketiya and her father Sagara – a national marksman and mother Seedevi who as her name indicates is all grace and gives the child the much needed encouragement.

Little girls do not like to get into the cold waters of the swimming pool as they would rather play in the garden with their pets or friends but not little Thinara who probably would have been a water bird in her previous birth.

When she was 7 years old she was the Hillwood's under 8 champion and in 2011 under 9 champion and in 2012 under 10 champion. This was the start of her climb in the success start. At the CPRASA Meet of 2012 held just two weeks ago she won four events in the under 10 Age Group – 50 metres Free Style, 100 metres Free Style. 50 metres Breast Stroke and 50 metres Back Stroke which made her the overall under 10 champion.

At the 38th National Age Group Championship she won the under 10 metres Back Stroke, She tasted further success in the National Swimming championship organized by Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union by winning the 50 metres Breast Stroke and was third in the 50 metres Free Style.

Swimming for her school at the annual championship organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Aquatic Sports Association in 2012 in the under 9 Novices segment she struck gold in both 50 metres Back Stroke and 50 metres Breast Stroke to emerge as the under 10 champion.

She was also a member of the schools under 9 relay team which was placed second in the 4x50 metres Free Style.

The other members of the team being Oshalle Rajapakse, Isuri Mapa and Dinuri Narapnawa.

Success did not spoil this young one and at the 8th Annual Kingswood College swimming championship 2012 organised by the Kingswood Aquatic Club she once again won three golds by finishing first in Under 10 50 metres Free Style, 50 metres Back Stroke, 50 metres Breast Storks. She was adjudged the under 10 girls champion.

Her success overseas was at the Invitation Swimming Meet organised by the 21st Century Sports Club, Bangalore, India, where she won the under 7-25 metres Breast Stroke, was placed second in 25 metes Back Stroke. Third in 25 metes Free Stroke.

Her school was also placed second in the 4x25 metes Relay. This was a championship in which eight top schools from Bangalore participated. A little girl from a country over a thousand kilometres away was not frightened or overawed by the situation and not familiar with the conditions did not bother her. She did her best for her school and country.

These are just glimpses of some of her performances and her rich haul of trophies and certificates speaks volumes about her and she could do much better in the future.