Nadeeka Lakmali who brought joy to the Sri Lankan party at the first leg of the Asian Grand Prix expressed her sincere gratitude to everyone who helped her but at the same time recalled bitter memories and the hard times she faced last season when her allowance for nutrition was cut off by the Sports Ministry.
“I am very happy about the win. Actually I wasn’t at my best for the past two years and came here hoping to achieve my seasonal best and since I won the gold it’s over the moon for me,” said Lakmali.
Lakmali achieved her personal best throw in the Javelin with 58.48 metres at the 2008 Olympics but said she had a hard time in the past two years as everyone expected her to do better each time she steps.
“Everybody expects me to do better all the time which is very difficult. Even though I wasn’t at my best, I threw around 55 metres and even that was among world recognition. It was very unfair to cut off my nutrition allowance after last year’s National Sports Festival as I was not able to participate in a local championship. They told me they did not know who took the decision to stop the allowance,” said Lakmali.
Lakmali was receiving an allowance of just Rs. 5000 and that too had been cut off from November last year.
“Considering this win I am able to prove to a lot of people that I can improve,” added Lakmali.
On the other hand men’s javelin thrower Sachith Maduranga proved himself with the Sri Lanka record at the Senior trials last month and is facing the same situation like Lakmali since last November.
However, Maduranga failed to make a mark in the first leg of the meet and hopes to get back in the second and third legs.
“I don’t think much about the first leg. I believe that I can go for the gold in the next two legs,” said Maduranga.
Javelin throw has been identified by the Athletic Association as an event where Sri Lanka has a good chance of winning medals in the future.
Both javelin throwers are fine products of veteran throwing coach A.J. Rodrigo.
