There are many instances of women making successful comebacks to sports after motherhood. Bismah Maroof, Serena Williams, Allyson Felix, Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce are just a few of a long list of women who are proving they can do it all.
A Sri Lankan fencing champion Niranjala Weeraratne scored one for the ages when she made a remarkable comeback post-motherhood and Covid-19 pandemic to clinch her fifth national title. The 39-year-old edged out Piyumi Krishanthi of Central Province Fencing Club 15-13 in the women’s Epee individual final at the 9th National Fencing Championship held at the Royal MAS Arena. Her crowning glory came when she was adjudged the Best Fencer (women) for the first time in her career.
The only child from a remote hamlet in Bibile in Moneragala, her hidden sporting talents blossomed after she joined MAS Holdings in 2001. One of the early woman pugilists in the country, she fought her way to glory in the ring in the Light Fly/Fly weight categories (49-52kg) winning Best Boxer awards at the Novices, Intermediates, Clifford Cup and Layton Cup boxing meets from 2005 to 2010 after beginning her sports career at the age of 23.
Although a national boxing title eluded her, she achieved the distinction of representing the country at the Indo-Lanka dual meet in 2010.
It was in fencing that she achieved greater heights becoming one of the pioneers in the sport which was introduced to Sri Lanka in 2010. She made a seamless transition from boxing to fencing learning the techniques of Epee from Sri Lanka’s Indian coach Shah Ganeshan to win her maiden national title in 2012 representing Slimline Fencing Club.
She made her international debut at the 2010 South Asian Fencing Championship in India where Sri Lanka won a bronze in the team event. As the top-ranked fencer, she was an automatic choice for Sri Lanka competing at the 2011 World Fencing Championship in Italy, 2012 South Asian Fencing Championship in Hyderabad, 2014 Singapore Open and 2015 Asian Fencing Championship. She also followed a Coaching Diploma Course in Hungary in 2017.
However, following marriage and motherhood, her career took a backseat for a couple of years giving birth to her son Bovidu Jayashmithe who is now four years old. She could not take part in the Nationals in 2017 and 2018 because of pregnancy and missed out on participation at the 2019 South Asian Games in Kathmandu where Sri Lanka won a raft of medals in fencing.
However, she regained her national title after returning from maternity leave in 2019 to prove her supremacy before the sport went into hibernation because of the pandemic.
An Industrial Engineering Assistant at Unichela where she works on day and night shifts, Niranjala maintained her physical fitness by going to the gym and performing the drills taught by her Indian coach. Representing North Western Province Fencing Club, she kept her focus to participate in the National championships which was revived after two years.
Her reflexes may have dimmed slightly because of age but not her determination and skills as she brought forth her experience to breeze through to the knockout round winning all her matches with ease past pretenders to her crown in the pool stage. It was in the final that she met with some challenge though prevailing over her experienced rival in a thrilling contest.
The icing on the cake was being awarded the title of Best Fencer of the Championship. Buoyed by her success, she is even more determined to continue her career.
“Age is no barrier. I will continue to compete as long as I am fit,” said Niranjala whose main target is bringing glory to Sri Lanka in the international arena.
“I want to win an international gold medal for Sri Lanka,” she said.
To achieve this, athletes like Niranjala need more international exposure to sharpen her skills. (AO)