Athletes Salamuthu, Nethmika deliver strong message with top grades at O/L Exam

All Island Schools Games Athletics Championships

By Reemus Fernando  

Asian Youth Athletics Championship participants, sprinter Salamuthu Jayathilaka and jumper Nethmika Madushani Herath have a strong message to deliver when they vie for honours on day one of the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championships which starts at the Sugathadasa Stadium today.

Thurstan College athlete Jayathilaka and Nannapurava MV, Bibila long jumper Nethmika are the favourites in their respective age group events when the Education Ministry conducted event makes a return after a lapse of two years. The duo who competed at the recently held Asian Youth Athletics Championships in Kuwait have obtained top grades at the GCE O/L exam.

Their ability to match outstanding sports achievements with top grades at the crucial exam sends a strong message to parents who discourage children from taking sports seriously.

While Jayathilaka has obtained nine ‘A’s, Herath has acquired eight ‘A’s and a ‘B’ at the exam. The two youth athletes who are the top ranked in their respective disciplines in the Under 18 age category in Sri Lanka were part of the youth team that returned with a rich haul of medals from Kuwait.

In the boys’ 400 metres, Jayathilaka won the silver medal at the Asian event in a time of 48.56 seconds. Though she could not win a medal Madushani has proven beyond doubt that she is among the best in Asia in her age category. Her 6.09 metres long jump feat in Colombo in September is still the third best performance in Asia this year in her age category.

It requires a great deal of hard work and commitment from the part of the athlete, his or her coach and parents and the support from the school to achieve such outstanding feats.

Speaking to The Island, Nethmika’s coach Krishantha Kumara said that a couple of teachers at her school Nannapura MV, Bibila went out of their way to give her lessons when she missed classes due to training.

“At Nannapurawa she cannot start training early because the earliest bus that she can take from Yakunnawa, Bendiwewa reaches school around 6.45 am. With some training sessions lasting for two to three hours she misses the first few classes in the morning. Some of the teachers went out of their way to help her. She also took private tuition. I am happy that she could obtain high grades at the exam despite following a tough training schedule. She has set an example,” said Kumara.

He said that her outstanding achievement has attracted the interest of a private tuition institute in her area, namely Universence, which has come forward to provide free tuition for her advance level.

Speaking to The Island Asanka Rajakaruna, the current coach of Jayathilaka said that the sprinter’s parents had helped meticulously plan the time table for their son to balance both studies and sports. He thanked both the parents and the school administration for the support extended.Nethmika who established a national junior record in the long jump in September will compete in the Under 18 triple jump final today, while Jayathilaka is set to compete in the Under 18 boys’ 400 metres heats.