I consider it an honour bestowed on me to pen a few words on the impeccable service Sarath Gunarathna rendered to the Table Tennis (TT) arena in Sri Lanka, for nearly six decades.
As one of the most shining pioneers and as an important cog in the wheels of operation at the helm of TT hierarchy, to date, it was Sarath who raised the bar of TT to the highest level in an era when TT was not widely known in Sri Lanka. With a far-sighted vision in identifying the potential of schoolchildren, he dedicated all his life to teach TT to them. The fact that he still plays TT in the USA at 80, indicates what a craving Sarath is yet having towards the game. In an era where visionary sports leaders were hard to come by, Sarath stands tall and stands out in the crowd like Gulliver surrounded by Lilliputians.
With his unstinted dedication to bring Sri Lanka to the TT world map, it didn’t take long for his students to rise from the school level to International standard. Many of his students are affiliated to TT clubs as professionals. Upeksha Fernando in the UK, Anubha and Arosha in Germany are some of them. This is yet another feather in Sarath’s hat.
Like a duck taking to water, Sarath took TT in to his body, mind and soul, and made TT his forte as a student at Darmashoka College, Ambalangoda where in both names are synonymous with many sports and other icons shining in the spheres of swimming, badminton, cricket, Army, Navy, Air Force Commanders and IGPs.
Yet decades ago, long before all those icons came to limelight, it was TT spearheaded by Sarath who drew the first road map of sports icons in early 1960s bringing fame to his alma mater, Darmashoka College and his home town, Ambalangoda.
He was also the TT Coach at Dharmasoka, S Thomas’ and Girls’ High School, Mt Lavinia, Devi Balika and International School, Colombo, Mathugama MV and Aluthgama Central College.
Sarath not only trained them on technical aspects of the game, but instilled in many sterling qualities such as sportsmanship, stewardship, discipline of the highest order, ability to face defeat with a smile, rock solid determination, team work and proper mindset.
This built up alone became the spring board towards prosperity for many of his students. His two daughters Thanuja and Chathurangi bear testimony to that since CMS Ladies College hierarchy, upon observing their TT skills welcomed them with open arms where in the two sisters laid a solid platform to enable them to seek greener pastures in the USA at the highest level in their fields.
Signature shot
In no time Sarath was elevated from being a national player with his legendary unbeatable chopper stroke as his signature shot, to a manager portfolio, covering over 12 countries displaying his skills, prowess and dexterity, bringing fame to Sri Lanka, while serving as an administrator and as President of the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL). He also served as the President of the Mercantile TTA.
The way Sarath played the game inspired all spectators. He not only played the game as the school captain and national team captain and had the unquenchable thirst of the dream of bringing the next generation to the highest level.
Fully dedicated to TT even at school days, he was always going that extra mile fortifying his dreams. He had the capacity, though as a school boy, to arrange complex logistics and conduct a training camp for schoolchildren where in Uzbekistan National TT players participated at the Ambalangoda Urban Council Hall.
This was a hitherto unknown great feat to be achieved by a school boy in an outstation taking much fancied leading Colombo schools by surprise, and to their envy. This was around 1962. It was a treat to watch world class players playing mesmerising reverse ball strokes. Upon conclusion of the training camp, the icing on the cake was the impeccable cascading English oration given by Sarath as the vote of thanks to the Tashkent players. He had the entire audience spellbound. That’s the kind of stuff Sarath was made of even as a student of 19 years.
Sarath became the talk of the town overnight. All schoolchildren welcomed him with open arms, wanting to know history, International perspective of the game, latest strokes developed and contribution of gymnastics to a TT player.
Facing many adversities, before becoming famous, Sarath, being a self starter and a go-getter, had the unstinted strength to bring TT to the limelight when it was hardly popular in schools islandwide. In the process, he had to make many sacrifices single handedly and managed to mould his students to the cusp. Before long, his dedication and hard work made Sarath the TT icon in Sri Lanka. Throughout his career, he never had any brickbats thrown at him, but pleasantries.
This was long before Ambalangoda was synonymous with swimming, badminton and cricket.
A teetotaler, not only a trailblazer on TT, Sarath also played the game of life in accordance with the spirit of the playing field. As a sportsman, he observed all the rules, professionalism, ethics and etiquette in his life which he had been taught to observe in games.
Sarath deserves to be called a true sportsman because, as one, who has achieved skills or proficiency at the highest level and then under trying circumstances voluntarily teaching the students and coaches enabling them to reach the peak, as he also had the canny skills and wits, and transferred them to hundreds of schoolchildren making a bunch of them too national stars.
Great achievement
Sarath’s many professional and personality traits bear testimony to the fact that, he had been moulded by principles, honesty, vigour, perseverance and training. Sarath managed all these achievements amid an illustrious career at Ceylon Tobacco spanning over 25 years, captaining its TT team throughout and winning many championships at Mercantile ‘A’ division TTT.
Fair play, respect for discipline, prioritising and recognition of the needs even in the face of defeat were his hallmark. Sarath became a role model conducive to happiness of his students and their professional development. To throw light on to his calibre, generosity and affection to the next generation, once I remember seeing Sarath taking in his van 14 Dharmasoka students to his home in Moratuwa, for an overnight stay, when they attended an all-island TT tournament at S Thomas’s stadium, Mt Lavinia.
Like an Army veteran decorated with a bunch of medals, Sarath too has many medals namely of fairness, justification, honesty, integrity, generosity, pinned on to his jacket by the students, parents and Governing national TT body and other affiliated bodies.
In recognition of his contribution, the world governing body, The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) recognised Sarath as a mentor quoting him in its advanced coaching manual.
In the annals of TT, Sarath was the game changer in Sri Lanka by any metric. His name will be embedded with shining letters, in the hall of fame of TT.
The axiom, “Behind every successful man, there is a woman’’, fits Sarath precisely. Sarath is more than lucky to have Anoma as his charming wife, a gem of a lady with Victorian era values and virtues, and the most adorable trailblazer teacher, at Girls’ High School, Mt Lavinia for decades. It is Anoma, the tower of strength and aura that propelled Sarath forward in his career by not allowing the home front even an iota of a burden to him.
I would like to wish Sarath, the exemplary teetotaller, non-smoker, all the very best of health, wealth, happiness and long life when he turns 80 on November 13.
SIRIMAL RANDENIYA