Sarangi Silva is the national long jump title holder in Sri Lanka. She achieved this feat several times. The Youth Observer met her to discuss how she achieved this.
Q: Sarangi, I know about you personally, our readers would like to know about you. To begin the interview could you recall your beginnings in athletics?
A: I am Lakshini Sarangi Silva. That is my full name. I am 26-years-old. My father is an army officer and mother is a housewife. I have one brother. He is a quantity surveyor.
Q: At which age did you get involved in this sport?
A: At age ten. I selected long jump in school. In the early days I did the 75 metres sprint. In the early days I did the 75 meters sprint event. Speed is useful for long jumps. It also helped me. Like other athletes the school is the place I first began.
Q: There are more popular events than field events in athletics. Why did you select the long jump event?
A: First, I think we must think about our strength. I have better skills in jumping events than other events. So, I decided to select this event. My father and mother were also good jumpers in their time. This fact encouraged me to select the long jump.
Q: Surangi, where did you study?
A: I went to Sumangala Balika Vidyalaya, Panadura where I began my sports activities.
Q: Could you recall your success in sports in school?
A: Like other sportsmen and women, I too got into athletes by taking part in school sports meets. When I started winning it encouraged me to continue the sport.
I won medals for long jump in zonal, divisional, district and provincial meets. Finally, I won the all the island meet too. At that time, I did not have a coach. I developed my abilities on my own. At the age of 11, I set a new long jump record without shoes in the under-12 age group. Sometimes I think that all of these achievements are miracles.
Q: Could you tell me something about your success in national and International meets?
A: In 2012, for the first time, I participated at the Asian Junior Athletics meet and I came fifth. At that time, I was 16 years old.
Then in the following year I participated in this event in Malaysia and won third place in the long jump event and second in the 100 metres event. In the same year at a meet in India, I won third place in the long jump event and won first place in the 100-metre relay event.
But, in 2014 I was injured. However, I participated in the Asian Junior Championship in Chinese Taipei and won seventh place. Then in the following year I had to temporarily stop my sports activities to concentrate on my Advanced Level examination. I recommenced my sports activities after the examination.
In 2016, I participated in the South Asian Games In India. At that meet I won a bronze medal in the long jump event.
The year 2017, was a milestone in my sports career and I won bronze at the Brunei Open Athletics Meet and won gold in the 100-metre race in that meet.
Then I went to the Thailand Open Meet and won bronze in the long jump event. In the same year, I came fourth at the World Military Games.
However, I won two gold medals for long jump and the 4x100 relay event at the South Asian Games in Kathmandu in 2019. That is my success path as an athlete.
Q: Do you think you will be selected to take part in the Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham this year?
A: I think I have a chance to participate in that event. At present I am the national title holder in long jump. So, I think it will help me to participate in that major event.
Q: What do you think about that event? Do you think you can win a medal if you take part in it?
A: Everyone hopes to win an international medal for their country. I too am determined to win medals for my country. The Commonwealth Games is a very competitive event. But I hope to do my best.
Q: In your school days you did not have a coach. What is the situation today? Who is the coach behind your success?
A: Today, I have a good coach, Y.K. Kularathna, a senior national athletics coach.
He is like a father to us and guides us. He advises us to keep our strength well and train well.
He also told us that education is the key to finding success in life. So, while doing sports young people should not neglect their studies and strive to get a degree. I too followed his advice and have now completed my degree program.
Q: Where do you work?
A: After passing the Advanced Level examination I joined the Sri Lanka Army as a Volunteer. I have been with the Army for seven years.
Q: How about your training schedule? Where and at what time of the day do you train?
A: I train every day other than Sundays either at Torrington or the Sugathadasa Stadium in the mornings.
Q: Does your family support your sports activities?
A: Of course they do. Without them I could not have achieved this much. They are always behind me like a shadow. My success is entirely due to their support.
Q: Could you say something about your future in sports?
A: I dream of participating in the Olympics one day. I know it is not an easy task. Only a very few athletes the world over get the chance to participate in the Olympics. But I am determined to achieve it. It is one of the important goals in my life.
