Depleted by support, but rich in spirit
The 12 powerlifters returned from Gold Coast qualifying for the World event
Sri Lanka’s powerlifters will be aiming to impress at the World Powerlifting Championship 2019, which is underway in Helsingborg, Sweden, despite two-third’s of its contingent failing to make the tour due to financial restrains.
All 12 powerlifters, who represented Sri Lanka at the Qualifying Event in Gold Coast, Australia, in March this year, gained qualification for the World Championship in Sweden, but only four athletes have been able to take wings, after failing to attract sponsors and gain support from the higher sports authorities of the country.
Already Kakolya Silva, Vikum Perera and Hiran Fernando left for Sweden on Friday on their personal expenditure, while Ransilu Jayathilake is expected join the trio on Sunday in Helsingborg. The team is managed and coached by Mothilal Jayathilake, who also has taken the toil to pocket out all expenses for the tour.
“We were overwhelmed when all 12 powerlifters qualified for the World Championship from the event held in Gold Coast in March. But sadly eight of the lot have been forced to refrain from taking part, mainly due to the inability of preparing themselves financially. One or two female athletes have their personal reasons not to take part, but it’s sad that others had to make a big effort to attract sponsors, but without success. Eventually, only those who were able to collect the money are making it for the World Championship. Even I had to delay my travel as I had to wait until the eleventh hour to get certain matters confirmed,” Jayathilake, Sri Lanka’s most successful powerlifter, stated prior to his departure.
At the World Powerlifting Championship 2019, where over 600 athletes representing 23 countries will be in action, Sri Lanka’s hopes will be on the shoulders on Silva, Perera, Fernando and Jayathilake. Reaching for a medal will be not as easy as it assumes, according to Jayathilake, but he is of the view that if all four could reach the top ten, medal prospects could be a possibility.
“With all what happened around the team, prior to the World Championship, where athletes had to make an extra effort on other connected matters, we cannot be so certain of winning medals. But athletes have been training regularly, despite all these debacles and it’s a matter of taking one step at a time. No one would like to return home empty handed representing the country at a world event, and if we could reach the top ten, it means we are among the best in the world already. But obviously our aim will be to win a medal or two,” Jayathilake added.
Kakolya Silva will be in action in the Sub Junior 105kg category for Sri Lanka today, while the events of Vikum Perera, Hiran Fernando and Ransilu Jayathilake will be held on June 14 and 15. Perera will be competing under the Junior 105kg category while Fernando and Jayathilake will be competing under the Open category. Fernando’s weight category will be 93kg while Jayathilake competes under the 120kg class.
Sri Lanka qualified for the World Championship Qualifiers in Gold Coast after successfully winning 44 medals at the Asian Powerlifting Championship held in Mongolia last year. Since then the Sri Lanka powerlifters have been training regularly aiming at the World Championship. At Gold Coast, Jayathilake won two gold medals competing in the Open event with two Sri Lanka records. Hiran Fernando also won a gold medal under the same category. Vikum Perera won a gold medal in the Junior category while Kakolya won a silver medal in the Sub Junior category. Open Men’s gold medal winner Pradeep Kumar, Women’s Open gold medal winner Dilrukshi Kumara, silver medalist Randunu Geethika and Marian de Zoysa, who won two silver medals with Sri Lanka records, alongside junior athletes Shehani Christine and Nivendra Silva will miss the Sweden event.
“As you know powerlifting is not a popular sport in the country, so it is difficult to attract sponsors. I have been in this sport for nearly two decades now, so I have always found sponsors, but youngsters who are new to the sport, have to face difficulties. The Ministry of Sports have been very helpful to us over the years, but for this event we failed to obtain their support, which is sad indeed.”
The World Powerlifting Championship will end on June 16 and Jayathilake is optimistic that the four-member Sri Lanka team could return home the following day with pride, after competing amongst the best in the world.