Nadeeka Lakmali hops to retire after National Sports Festival 2023
Sri Lanka Olympian Nadeeka Lakmali the javelin thrower is expected to retire after National Sports Festival which will commence today and will continue till August 26 at Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.
The 43 year old Lakmali will make her final appearance at Javelin throw event which is scheduled to be held tomorrow (25), commencing at 8.10a.m.
Actually last 23 years I am seriously involved with athletics and think now time has come to end my athletic career, said Nadeeka Lakmali in an exclusive interview with the Daily News yesterday. I am going to retire from Javelin throw event from this important National Sports Festival which is conducted by the Sports Ministry and Sports Development Department. I am an Olympian and I had the honour to represent Sri Lanka in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. It is my great pleasure to retire from ‘mini Olympics Games’ (National Sports Festival) here in Colombo.
I have 23 years of good memories in athletics. I was the National record holder in women’s javelin throw event and two weeks before Dilhani Lekamge erased my record.
I was able to protect my National record during last 17 years and that was great a achievement, added Nadeeka who is presently working as a Warrant Officer in Sri Lanka Army.
Earlier 56m was the javelin throw record. Finally I ended with 60.64m and that was a huge development. Now Dilhani Lekamge had 60.93m new record as a 36 year old athlete. Lekamge yesterday represented world athletic championship in Hungary and ended with 55.89m per below of her best achievement.
Representing Olympics and World Athletic Championship was a great honour. Not only that I was the athlete who entered the final round of World Athletic Championship in 2013 (60.39m and placed 12th). After Susanthika Jayasinghe I was the next Sri Lankan athlete to reach a World Athletic Championship final.
I am very sure I had good opportunity to get my best distance and win the gold medal to end my career on a high. Actually I had a leg injury and had an operation in 2017. However after that I couldn’t get my early rhythm to get good distance.
I never forget my school life. I hail from Elpitiya and attended to Kahaduwa MV and my athletic career started from school. From junior level I used to do javelin throw event up to date. We had good facilities those days but when I left the school and joined SL Army that was the turning point in my life. I will never forget my parents and coaches who have been a great strength in my career.
I like to finish my athletic career at National Sports Festival and I am grateful for the support i received from Sri Lanka Athletics, Sport Ministry and National Olympic Committee. Army Commander and my senior officials always pushed me to go forward. If I could not face injury I would have a good chance to represent more Olympics and World Championships, said Nadeeka.
In 2006 I won South Asian Games gold medal in Colombo. Wirajini Manjula Mohotti my first school coach, S M.G Bandara, Late A.J Rodrigo and present coach P.D Ranathunga all encouraged me to get success. Getting all Island meet first and then at Army meets and then reached to National championship gold medal. From their South Asian Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympics and World Championship I had a long journey. I think my athletic career is very successful and hope to do my best at this National Sports Festival.
When I went to Olympics in 2008 I was 24 years and as a 32-year old athlete I was able to represent World Championship. I think those days we had very tough competition while my father and mother always gave their blessings to my career, concluded Nadeeka.
Dhammika Ratnaweera