WPS Priyangika Kumari misses flight to Nepal…
Priyangika Kumari
Priyangika Kumari, a talented athlete hailing from Yakkalamulla, Galle representing Police was one among several participants who did Sri Lanka proud at the 21st Asia Masters Athletics Championships held in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia from December 2 to 6.
She brought glory to Sri Lanka by winning a gold medal in the Putt Shot clearing a distance of 11.72 metres and a silver medal in the Discus throwing a distance of 32.46m competing in the 40 to 44 age category.
Spurred by this ‘double’ medal feat, Priyangika has now set her sights on conquering the summit at the World Masters Athletic Championships to be held in Toronto, Canada next year.
She made her international debut at the World Masters held in Malaga, Spain in 2018 where she claimed a bronze medal with a mark of 12.38m in her pet event. In fact, she was the only medallist from among 70 athletes who represented Sri Lanka. She was placed in the putt at the Asian Masters held in China in 2017.
Although a ‘veteran’ athlete, she missed out on representing Sri Lanka at the South Asian Games (SAG) held in Kathmandu, Nepal despite winning a silver medal in the Discus Throw (12.08) at the 45th National Sports Festival held in Badulla in October. “I fell short by a few centimetres at the SAG selection trials held in August winning a bronze medal with a throw of 12.24m at the National Championships held in August,” she said.
Priyangika shrugged off the disappointment of missing the flight to Nepal by pursuing her athletic career in the Masters event in Malaysia.
Standing tall at 5 feet 8 inches and tipping the scales at 90kgs, the 40-year-old Woman Police Sergeant attached to the Prime Minister’s Security Division resembles more like a heavyweight boxer than an athlete. In fact she has been a national karate champion (+68kg) in kumite class for the past three years and has represented Sri Lanka in kabaddi at the World Cup Circle in Punjab, India in 2016.
The third child in a family of six, Peduruarachige Priyangika Kumari is a natural athlete with her talent for the putt and discus being discovered by the Physical Education teacher at Dharmapala MV, Polpagoda Inoka Priyadarshani who was her first coach. “I have been taking part in running and jumping events in athletic events from a small age but when I turned 15 my coach told me to focus on field events maybe because of my big physique,” said Priyangika who received her early education at Minuwandeniya Junior School and competed in the Javelin Throw in the All Island School Games.
Her athletic blossomed after she joined Police in 2003 when she broke a 13-year-old record in the putt shot and another record in the discus in 2012. The undisputed Police champion in the putt and discus where she came under the wing of IP Harsha Prasad and coach Joy Danushka Perera, she is also the reigning Sri Lanka Masters champion in the putt winning with a mark of 11.82m in 2017. Her personal best in the putt is 12.54 and 36.40 in the discus achieved at Police meets.
“I wish to thank my superiors in the Police department, especially the Director of PMSD, and all my coaches for all their support and encouragement in helping me pursuing my athletic dreams and bringing glory to Sri Lanka,” said Priyangika humbly acknowledging her family and friends for her success.