Unfolding Wonder Girl Dilshi’s Heroics

20 year old, Dilshi Kumarasinghe, hailing from A. Rathnayaka CC Walala was only set to run in the individual 800m during the South Asian Games (SAG) 2019 and, with one week to go it seemed that the only possible gold medal for her would be in the 4x400m relay.
But, what unfolded during her maiden SAG in Kathmandu, Nepal was just simply breathtaking with the little Kandyan finishing the games with three Gold medals, creating a new sensation throughout the country.
Her pictures were all over the Internet and the Social media was flooded with praises for little Dilshi and millions viewed her races , raising the Sri Lanka flag, high in the Kathmandu skies.
Admirable gesture
Following her heroics, Dilshi proved that her off-the field behavior could earn her further praise, even more than her competition heroics. Following an interview with us, Dilshi described how she wanted to gift her 400m gold medal to Nadeesha Ramanayaka, Sri Lanka’s first choice 400m runner who could not compete, as she lay in hospital stricken with Dengue before the competition even began.
“I didn’t know Nadeesha would be discharged on that day. She could have won this medal if not for Dengue, and I kept the Gold medal, flower bouquet and stuff on her pillow. I was surprised when she came to the hotel. We were both in tears on seeing each other and she said she was very happy for me. Those words meant the world for me “said Dilshi.
400M Gold
Dilshi placed third during the selection trials in August had never run a 400m under 54 seconds, though she had clocked a sub 53 seconds lap during the Asian Championship 4x400m relay. But, with Nadeesha Ramanayaka, Sri Lanka’s first choice 400m runner and favorite to win the 400m gold medal at the SAG, hospitalized with fever before the competition, Dilshi was tasked with the running of the 400m just a day ahead of the competition.
“I did not train for the 400m well enough since I only qualified to run the individual 800m during the Games. As I was running the 800m clocking a good time, my coach told me that I could run a fast 400 as well. I was nervous as Nadeesha was the first choice to win Gold and now I had a big responsibility on my shoulders of winning it and am glad that I was able to do it “said Dilshi.
800M gold
Sri Lanka’s prime Gold medal prospect of the 800 m event was Nimali Liyanarachchi, the 30 year old gold medalist at SAG 2016 and Asian Championship 2017. A motor cycle accident, just a day before the team’s departure, left her hospitalized with a broken hand and sadly, she could not make the games.
With Nimali out of the games, the responsibility of defending Sri Lanka’s 800m gold medal fell on the lap of 20year old Dilshi. To top that the 800m included India’s double Asian Champion P.U. Chithra and 2016 Asian Junior Gold Medalist Lili Das in the lineup.
“I competed with Lili Das in 2016 (where Das won the gold medal) and I thought she will be running even better now. But, the way she looked at me before the start ,I knew she was afraid of me and since then it was my race. Gayanthika Abeyrathne said she will control the first part of the race so I judged her and ran the first 400m before taking it on me in the second part of the race “said Dilshi.
4x400m Gold Medal
An hour later she was tasked with anchoring Sri Lanka’s 4x400m relay to the finish line and with India well ahead in the race, Dilshi managed to chase the gap down and win the gold medal in emphatic fashion. That race was the most watched out of Dilshi’s three races during SAG and helped her to rise up to fame overnight with that mesmerizing last leg.
“I didn’t have much time for the relay after the 800m and I was taken to collect samples for doping too, so I had to wrap that up and come for the relay. Just as Kaushalya approached me from the third leg, I remembered the 2019 Asian Championship relay leg and I felt at ease as I do well in the relays so I ran my race without worrying about India or Pakistan who went ahead of me and chased them down during the last 150m. We did not have the services of either Nimali or Nadeesha, prime members of our Sri Lanka record breaking 4x400m relay team during last April. I believe if we had those two in the race, we could have once again broken the Sri Lanka record.
Staying in hospital after the triple gold
Even though Dilshi won three gold medals, she spent hours in hospital following her last day’s heroics.
“Even though Nadeesha was discharged, she wasn’t in good condition so I went to re-admit Nadeesha to the hospital alongside Doctor Lal Ekanayake and only returned after midnight.

Go Walala Go in Nepal
‘Go Sri Lanka Go’ is the normal term used for cheering most of Sri Lankan athletes during the competition but the team did something special for Dilshi, they began chanting her with familiar cheers of ‘Go Walala Go‘whenever she stepped on the track and it seemed to show that Dilshi was responding better to that instead of the country’s name being used.
During all those emphatic races she won for her school, A. Rathnayaka CC Walala, she was used to getting that loud cheer always from her school mates and she said she got extra energy just by hearing that.
“Firstly I laughed when I heard that, but it gives me some extra boost when I hear that ‘Go Walala Go’ which reminds me of all the races I won, from difficult situations for Walala “said Dilshi.
Hailing from Rajawella junior School, Dilshi got a scholarship for sports school at A. Rathnayaka CC which has a name for itself for producing several top athletes for the country. Dilshi was identified by Walala’s head coach Susantha Fernando who took her under his wings and guided her throughout all those years with Coach Palitha Swarna and rest of the coaching staff at Walala. Former marathon Champion D.A. Inoka looks after her training now, in coordination with Susantha Fernando at the Digana grounds.
“At A. Rathnayaka CC we had only an unsupportive 200m track to train on which even the Peradeniya University reckoned was not suitable for training. But, we had no other option at the time “said Dilshi.
After getting in to A. Rathnayaka CC in 2014 Dilshi earned a name for herself immediately by representing Sri Lanka’s Asian Junior team at the age of just 17. But it was 2018, where she rose to fame wining triple gold medals during the South Asian Junior Athletics Championship (400m, 800m, 4x400M) followed by two silvers and a bronze medal during the Asian Junior Championship in Japan in the same year. She also qualified to run the 800m and 4x400m at the World Junior Championship in 2018.
Following the 2018 heroics there were several private individuals and companies who were willing to sponsor Dilshi and a few other junior athletes but the Sports Ministry dropped a bombshell announcing six year long sponsorships with Rs 75000 per month. Dilshi is not from a well to do family as is the case of many top Sri Lankan Athletes and the sponsorship was seen as a rainbow set for her future.
Surely, the then Sports Minister Faizer Musthapha and the Sports Ministry got much attention and publicity for the grand gesture as they announced it with a full media circus where athletes thought their path to 2024 Olympics was set. But, just after a month their next payment was delayed and after two months they never got any money again.
With the changing of the Sports Minister, the new officials ignored the sponsorships promised earlier and the Director General of Sports, Dammika Muthugala said the previous sponsors were unknown to them and therefore cannot continue with them.
Dilshi and others were left helpless following the event, but, the determined athlete continued to train with the idea of running for the country while the job in the Army was somewhat of a help for her to continue running.
Though those officials including the DG, who shamelessly denied support for athletes including Dilshi, were seen running towards her just after she won gold after gold trying to hug and pose for pictures and hog the limelight and showcase those to be their achievements but many athletes including Dilshi were seen moving away from them as quickly as they could.
Dilshi has already proven that she is a gem of an athlete for the future who should be carefully moulded and guided towards her ultimate goals. Sports enthusiasts are eagerly waiting to see what the authorities would do to protect her and the other crop of athletes to gain further wins although Dilshi has no hope, having already being deceived by the authorities throughout the last few years.