Shuttle queen Achini on the throne

Visaka College schoolgirl Achini Ratnasiri underscored the fact that starting early in sport guarantees huge success when she bagged her third national women’s singles open title at the 59th Badminton Nationals which were worked off at Royal Sports Complex recently.

Achini is a gem this country possesses and the badminton fraternity watches with interest what plans the authorities have for this lass who has already put Sri Lanka on the World Map of badminton. Her father, KM Ratnasiri, told Sportstar that her daughter has the potential to win many more medals at international level, but as parents, he and his wife couldn’t support her financially when it comes to funding Achini’s foreign tours, which are costly.

Badminton critics point out that contesting the occasional international tournament, each year, will not take Sri Lankan badminton players anywhere. Achini told this writer the other day that she wished to see her playing at the 2012 Olympic Games. But then, these thoughts will be restricted to one’s dreams if someone doesn’t do the ground work or have a solid programme for the players. Achini’s father Ratnasiri said that he was eager to see whether the Sri Lanka Badminton Federation or the Ministry of Sports will come up with a solid programme to cater to the needs of teenage sensations in sport like her daughter.

There is good news about Achini. Her father says she will continue in the sport despite winning the national singles crown for the third consecutive year. What could be looked upon as bad news is that Achini, according to her father, might not remain for long in badminton after realizing her goals. There is nothing wrong in a sportswomen calling it quits early if her career is dotted with achievements. Most female badminton players, according to renowned coach Chinthaka Fernando, who also coached Achini at the 2009 Asian Juniors, believes it is accepted in the badminton scene that players start young and finish young, which, then enables them, especially women, to concentrate on other things in life.

According to Ratnasiri, his daughter has shown a lot of interest in pursuing her studies which are aimed at sitting for the advanced level examination for which her subjects will be Logic, media and Economics, the latter which she hopes to change to Political Science in the future.

Though Achini has shown a lot of promise in sport from the start, her parents believe badminton in Sri Lanka doesn’t offer the players a promising future. Ratnasiri believes recognition as a national sports star can encourage players, but one needs money to live and badminton doesn’t offer that security to players. Hence Achini doesn’t spend the whole day playing badminton and shares her time between going to the gymnasium, attending school and dabbling in a little tuition.

Achini was greatly influenced by her elder sister to take to badminton. She started playing at the age of eight years and her coach from the inception Shimal Aponsu has been with her to date. Achini also acknowledges the contributions made to her career by the coach at school, Danesh Malliyawadu and her fitness trainer Mothilal Jayatilake. The turning point in her career came when she together with Upuli Samanthika won the girls’ doubles event at the Asian Junior Championships in 2009, which Sri Lanka hosted. Since then, she has performed well alongside her partner (Upuli) in international events, winning the gold medal at the Iran Fajir International and the bronze medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Isle of Man, both these achievements coming this year.

Her achievements in badminton have helped her obtain sponsorships from David Peiris Motor Company and at present from McLarence. Says Ratnasiri, "These kids are young and they value a little appreciation for their achievements. When they are not appreciated, these kids can get a little depressed".

He says he has not put any restrictions on Achini’s life and allows her daughter to have the freedom other girls of her age enjoy. "The only issue is that her tight schedule in badminton and school doesn’t provide her with time for other things," he says. However, Achini has not grumbled about the tight schedule she follows as a 17-year-old girl and her father says, "Achini makes all the sacrifices willingly".

Achini is the leading figure in Sri Lanka badminton and the authorities scheduling her final against Thilini Hendahewa as the last event at the badminton nationals suggests she has the potential to entertain a gathering. Badminton, which was once dominated by males, is now dominated by women. It would not be contested if she is termed the ‘Queen of badminton in Sri Lanka’.

(www.island.lk)