Sri Lanka’s biggest Netball star Tharjini Sivalingam, left Sri Lanka to play for City West Falcons in the 2017 Victorian Netball League.
Tharjini will feature for the City West Falcons on a six month contract.
Tharjini comes from a rural area in war torn Jaffna called Eevinai. She had her primary and secondary education in Vayawilaan Central College after which she got selected to continue her tertiary studies at the Eastern University.
She started playing netball at the Eastern University and learnt the nitty gritties of netball techniques soon to become one of the leading players in the team. Her quick rise in the game earned a call-up to the National Netball team.
Tharjini’s service to Sri Lanka has been commendable earning her this glorious opportunity to play in Australia. Tharjini’s team manager Sivarajah Gobinaath revealed the news of Tharijini’s tour of Australia.
Tharijini’s world class performance in the 2011 Netball World Cup earned her ‘The Best Shooter Award’.
Playing for Sri Lanka since 2004 for more than ten years now, her absence in the last couple of years had caused a major dent in the Sri Lanka Netball team when competing with international opponents.
Both Tharjini’s manager Gobinaath and former Sri Lankan coach Thilaka Jinadasa, who is currently coaching Brunei, played a vital role in Tharjini getting this opportunity.
Tharjini will play for Melbourne’s City West Falcon and St. Albans Netball club during these six months. Most importantly she will be playing under the guidance of former Australian star Nichole Richardson.
Talking to ThePapare.com, Tharjini thanked those who made this opportunity a reality;
“I would like to thank my coach Thilaka Jinadasa and my manager Gobinaath as well as other well wishers who helped me. After these six months I will come back to my motherland and will help Sri Lankan Netball in the best possible ways. I would give my hundred percent to bring netball to the next level in Sri Lanka.”
Talking about Tharjini and her opportunity, manager Gobinaath had his own opinion;
“This is the first time that a Sri Lankan is going to play in a major league in Australia. Well wishers played a big part in Tharjini getting this chance. I hope Sri Lanka Netball Association and Sports Ministry give more support by creating these kinds of opportunities to other players.”
“I also hope that Sri Lanka Netball Association gives due recognition Tharjini deserves after she comes back from Australia. They should also think of promoting netball further,” he concluded.
We at ThePapare.com wish Tharjini the very best on the tour and believe she will do her best for the sport of Netball in Sri Lanka.
