Susanthika's success story

SUSANTHIKA JAYASINGHE grabbing a bronze medal for Sri Lanka in the women's 200 metres final at the Sydney Olympics turns out to be a great success story for all Sri Lankans. Not only did she bring Sri Lanka its first Olympic medal since Duncan White struck silver at the London Olympics in 1948, but her's is a story of courage and the will to prevail against all odds. Pauline Davis took the silver away from her by a fraction, at the post. The winner, Marion Jones' victory too is a tribute to the great girl's spirit, coming through with ease at a time when her husband was under a cloud. She was focused and was not in any way inhibited by the events over which she had no control and kept her mind on her quest to create history.

When Susanthika stood on the victory podium and the lion flag was raised it was a moment of pride for all Sri Lankans and the Lankan lass received a rousing ovation from the packed stadium of over one hundred thousand spectators. The Sydney crowd that has in the past been used to cheering the flamboyant performances of the Sri Lankan cricketers got their first opportunity of appreciating a brilliant athlete, whose performance to my mind even overshadows the best the cricketers have so far done.

The truth of the matter is that there's nothing you can't accomplish if you clearly decide what it is that you are committed to achieve. The glorious achievement will turn out to be a tremendous example and motivating factor for all Sri Lankan kids. It is a story, which proves that your beginnings do not count and whatever obstacles are placed in your way however major they may be, could be overcome by hard work and a will to win.

Her story will be an ideal one for all those performance motivating specialists who look for examples like this. I admire her attitude. Some might say that it borders on arrogance. I totally disagree. She speaks her mind and comes out unsophisticated and above all, very much herself in whatever surroundings she is in. Without such an attitude one cannot succeed in this tremendously competitive world of International sport. Her attitude should not only be an example to the young athletes in the country but to all aspiring sportsmen and women who have dreams of making it the big league.

Sri Lanka has seen cricket spread far and wide into the most remote parts of the country, where all budding cricketers should make up their minds that if Susanthika could achieve what she did in the field of athletics, they too could attain their goals in cricket. In order to achieve something you must have a long-term focus and the short-term hurdles must be cleared. Susanthika had her sights set on the Olympics from the time she came second in the World Championships at Athens. She said it then. The problems that she encountered after that have been enormous and a person with lesser character and will power, with purely short-term goals would have thrown in the towel. Often what seems impossible in the short term is possible in the long term and this is an excellent lesson that one could take from the success of Susanthika Jayasinghe.Sri Lanka's sport in the International scenario has been centered entirely on cricket and this performance by an athlete would be a motivating factor for the cricketers too, to better their performances. The ICC tournament in Nairobi comes at the right time. It is indeed a Mini World Cup where all the major teams in International cricket are participating. Success there would be looked forward to by all.

RANJIT FERNANDO

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Section  : Sport
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