Thushen’s silver shines bright over long-suffering pole-vaulters

by Reemus Fernando

When M.A. Akbar won Sri Lanka’s first medal -a silver- in pole vault at the Asian Games in 1951 he cleared 3.69 metres. That remained the country’s only pole vault medal at Asian level until Maris Stella College athlete Thushen Silva won silver at the ongoing Asian Youth Athletics Championships in Uzbekistan on Thursday.

The young prodigy trained by former athlete Sanath Gunaratne went to the regional event without poles after officials failed to facilitate the airfreight of the much-needed equipment. Thushen cleared a height of 4.70 metres for his silver with a borrowed pole from a Kazakhstan rival.

Thushen’s achievement comes just months after Sri Lanka women’s national pole vault record holder Sachini Kaushalya Perera, trained by the same coach, left the sport and the country in disappointment.

Despite improving the national record a couple of times Perera could not get the much-needed break she deserved. She had been waiting in vain for an international competition before finally leaving the country.

Returns for track and field achievements have been unimpressive compared to some sports and many bright prospects have given up the sport before reaching their full potential. In athletics, athletes competing in the disciplines like the pole vault have often raised their concerns regarding the high costs of pole vaults and low quality of competition mattresses.

However thanks to the perseverance of the likes of Gunaratne the sport has unearthed talented athletes like Thushen.

It is incumbent upon authorities to look after emerging athletes and provide necessary facilities when they represent Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Athletics had to rely on benefactors to send the seven-member team to Uzbekistan.It is heartening to note the sportsmanship shown by Thushen’s Kazakhstan counterpart who lent his pole for the Sri Lankan to win a medal.