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She competed at the South Asian Games (SAG) using the money her father got by mortgaging their house. Returning with a silver medal in women’s cycling event, she rewarded her supportive father by making Sri Lanka shine at the competitive multi-sport event.
This is how her story will make history.
When Udeshini Niranjani, a student of Mihinthale Maha Vidyalaya in Anuradhapura, was selected to represent Sri Lanka at SAG games she was happy but one major factor stood in her way- she did not have the money to go to India.
Every SAG competitor needs money for their personal expenditure but Niranjani’s family did not have enough to spare for her.
However, knowing that his daughter possess incredible talent Niranjani’s father mortgaged their house to get Rs. 20,000 for her trip. The risk he took paid off well, not only him but Sri Lanka as a whole, as she came second in women’s 40 km cycling event at SAG adding another silver medal to the country’s account.
“It has been 11 years since my mother passed away. I was looked after by my loving father. I first won first place at a cycling event held in Mihinthale on 2014 Sinhala Tamil New Year.
“My sports teacher Ajith Senadeera worked hard to train me in cycling. Later I competed in a number of cycling events and won 21 medals including 13 golds. I also came second at a sports event held in Korea in 2014. Father mortgaged his paddy field for that trip too.
“When I was selected to cycle at SAG this time we did not have money. But my father said he will find the money by mortgaging our house. I competed at SAG with great determination.
“The Indian player’s cycle was worth Rs. 2.7 million and my one was Rs. 75,000. Some of the parts of my cycle were borrowed from others,” Niranjani said to local newspapers.
But this did not keep her from making her mark. Overcoming all hurdles she won big at SAG.
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