The pearl of the Indian Ocean is none other than the beautiful country we live in, Sri Lanka. Sport plays a major role in Sri Lanka’s recognition around the world and it could be said that if not for Sri Lanka’s sporting achievements, many other countries would be oblivious to its existence.
Here are a few historical moments in history that took the flag of Sri Lanka across the world.
Summer Olympics 1948
The year Sri Lanka gained independence from the British was also the year a Sri Lankan shone at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.
Major Deshamanya Duncan White was the first ever Sri Lankan and South-Asian to win a medal at the Olympic Games. He won silver in the 400-meter hurdles, after having trained for only about 3 months before the games. White’s time, 51.8 seconds, was only 0.7 seconds behind Gold Medalist Roy Cochran; both times bettered the existing Olympic record.
Whites’ determination, commitment and love for the sport – bought glory to not only himself but to the whole country and left a legacy none could conquer until Susanthika Jayasinghe won a silver medal in the 200 meters in 2000.
Summer Olympics 1964
Ranatunge Karunananda, a name that should be known by every Sri Lankan but unfortunately isn’t, earned the respect of every spectator at the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 1964. Karunananda was a long-distance runner who participated in the 10,000 meter and 5,000 meter races.
In the 10,000 meter race at the Tokyo games in ‘64, Karunananda was soon overtaken by the leading athletes and was lapped four times when the winner, Billy Mills of the United States, broke the tape to finish the race. But Karunananda continued to run alone even after the others had finished. Spectators first started to jeer at him, but soon the jeers turned to cheers and he finished the race amid applause.
Questioned by the Japanese media, Karunananda told reporters: “The Olympic spirit is not to win, but to take part. So I came here. I took part in the 10,000 meters and completed my rounds.” Karunananda’s Olympic story has been entered into Japanese elementary school national language textbooks as a life lesson for kids.
The 1996 Cricket World Cup
Conquering the world of Cricket in 1996 will perhaps forever be Sri Lanka’s greatest achievement in the sporting arena. Under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka managed to win the tournament, and unite a nation.
Not even considered title contenders on the world stage, Sri Lanka proved all their doubters wrong and showed what the little nation could do.
Summer Olympics 2000
A name every Sri Lankan adult, teenager and kid associates with sprinting – Deshabandu Susanthika Jayasinghe. She is the second Sri Lankan to win an Olympic medal and the first and only Asian to win an Olympic or World Championship medal in a sprint event.
Susanthika worked her way up through difficulty to become one of the world’s best female sprinters. She has proudly held the Sri Lankan flag up high, in many Asian Championships and World Championships in the 100 meter and 200 meter events.
Susanthika’s story proves to the world that passion, dedication and hard work will break barriers.
T20 World Cup 2014
Though the year 2014 saw a lot of controversy surrounding leadership, the team overcame it all and proved to the world their might, winning the T20 world title for the first.
The Lasith Malinga led team bid farewell to Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in T20Is in style, bringing tears to the eyes of cricketing fans not only in Sri Lanka but across the entire globe.
Sri Lankan athletes have shed a lot of blood and sweat on and off the field to bring the nation glory beyond compare.
Tell us your story in the comments below and share the passion.
