Last Update: February 02, 2023, 17:39 IST
Susantika Jayasinghe (AFP Image)
Susantika, a silver medalist in the 200 m at the 2000 Sydney Games, became the first Asian woman to win an Olympic or World Championship medal in a sprint event.
Legendary track athlete and Olympic silver medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe has been appointed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to promote women’s cricket in the country.
Susantika, a silver medalist in the 200 m at the 2000 Sydney Games, became the first Asian woman to win an Olympic or World Championship medal in a sprint event.
According to SLC, Susanthika, 47, has received the designation of “Consultant – Mentoring and Development of Women’s Cricket” and will “use her story of grit and determination to inspire current and future generations of women cricketers in Sri Lanka”. “.
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Susantika said, “I am extremely happy with this new challenge, as it gives me an opportunity to help young female athletes take up the sport, face challenges and become the stars they deserve.” Thursday.
“Sri Lanka Cricket would like to extend a warm welcome to her and is confident that she will be a valuable asset to the game of women’s cricket in Sri Lanka. His appointment is effective from February 1, 2023,” the SLC said in a statement.
Coming from a poor family living in a village on the outskirts of Colombo, Susanthika did not have access to proper sports equipment.
Susantika rose to international prominence when she won gold at the Asian Championships in Jakarta in 1995. World Championships in Athens in 1997 and also won 100m gold in 2002 Asian Games in Busan.
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However, her crowning glory came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where she won bronze to become Sri Lanka’s first Olympic medalist since 1948 behind Marion Jones and Pauline Davis-Thompson.
But after admitting to taking performance-enhancing drugs ahead of the Sydney Games in 2007, Susantika was awarded a silver medal.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)