Let her fly like Shelly-Ann
In a country obsessed with cricket, sprinter Jithma Wijetunga is one of many track and field athletes who aspire to make a mark and seek glory for their country. She made that statement with her performances at the 93rd Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletic Championship, dominating the Under-20 category in the 200m, 400m, 4x100m and 4x200m relay events. She was eventually crowned the best athlete in the girls’ category.
Jithma Wijetunga
However, her journey has been nothing short of remarkable, considering the drawbacks Jithma has endured during her initial years as a budding athlete. Even though she had the desire to take up athletics at an early age, she faced numerous challenges, as she hailed from a modest family. Despite her family’s financial circumstances, Jithma’s commitment and the support rendered by her parents kept her going, helping her overcome all obstacles on her way to becoming one of Sri Lanka’s most aspiring female sprinters.
“I had to face numerous challenges during my early years. When I started, I didn’t even have the basics that an athlete should have. When I trained for my maiden event, I ran barefoot as I couldn’t afford to buy a pair of spikes. Until 2016, I did not have a coach. I merely trained on my own, and there was a time when I almost gave up,” she recalled.
Jithma has attended three schools. She initially joined St Sebastian’s Girls’ School in Kandana and in 2019 moved to Ave Maria Convent, Negombo. As she gradually improved as an athlete, she earned a scholarship at Lyceum International School, Wattala in 2023. Despite athletics being her primary focus, Jithma has always given equal importance to her academic studies.
“Education plays a vital role in any athlete’s development. My parents always encouraged me to balance sports and academics simultaneously. It is challenging, but not impossible,” she noted.
Her parents have been a pillar of strength, motivating her through challenging periods. It was during this time that she met her first coach, Jayantha Lal, who recognised her potential. Since 2016, she had trained under him for six years. Jithma showed steady progress under her first coach, though she sometimes struggled to live up to her potential at school and provincial levels. Eventually, she decided to part ways with him in 2022.
“Even though I tasted success under my previous coach, at times I didn’t have the motivation to succeed. My life took a turn when I met my present coach, Anuradha Nanayakkara. He was instrumental in enabling me to understand my potential. It turned out to be a timely decision. It felt as if I was stepping into a new dawn,” Jithma recalled.
With methodical training programmes and strict work ethics under her new coach, Jithma’s career began to flourish. She was constantly motivated, and it was during this time that she gradually realised she had the potential to represent Sri Lanka at the highest level.
She continued to improve and went on to shine at the Sir John Tarbat Senior Championship in 2022, where she was placed second in the 200m, and later at the All-Island Athletic Championship in 2023, securing a podium finish. These timings were considered when athletes were drafted into the junior national pool in 2024 to represent Sri Lanka at the 21st Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships in Dubai.
“We were well prepared for the event. One of the main challenges we had was to acclimatise to the weather conditions within a short period. Somehow, we managed to clinch two bronze medals in the mixed and girls’ relay events. It was my maiden overseas competition and a career-defining experience,” she reminisced.
Today, Jithma enjoys her journey as an athlete. She has gone on to represent Sri Lanka at junior level and showcased her capabilities at international competitions with high confidence. Her commendable efforts at the World Junior Athletic Championship in Peru and the Under-18 South Asian Games in India are testament to her development as a complete athlete.
After returning home from India, she continued her success at the Sir John Tarbat Senior Championship, winning the girls’ 200m and 400m events in 2024. She carried that momentum into the All-Island Athletic Championship, making 2025 a fruitful year for the promising athlete. Following her dominant performances in 2024, Jithma was drafted into the senior national pool.
“Entering the senior pool within such a short time was a reward for my dedication and sacrifices, I suppose,” said the 19-year-old sprinter who idolises three-time Jamaican Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
“Winning locally at the Sir John Tarbat and All-Island Championships was icing on the cake. This is just the beginning. Every competition has its unique challenges and my journey proves that I have the will to overcome those challenges successfully. My long-term dream is to be on the podium as an Olympic medallist,” said the aspiring sprinter, not willing to take her foot off the pedal until she reaches her objective.
| JITHMa’S RESURGENCE (2022-2025) | |
Year 2022
400m (third place) Year 2023
200m (first place), 400m (first place) Year 2024
Year 2025
|