Nethmika accomplishes rare feat, breaks national junior record

By Reemus Fernando

Long jumper Nethmika Madushani Herath accomplished a rare achievement at the Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championships which concluded at Diyagama on Friday. The athlete from Nannapurawa MV, Bibile has produced impressive performances at every national level competition since early last year. But what she achieved last week was beyond doubt the most outstanding feat as she shattered the National Junior Long Jump record established in 2017.

Her 6.09 metres jump shattered three records. First it was Ridma Nishadi’s 2016 meet record (6.02 metres). Then it was also the National Junior record (6.08m) which Nishadi had established in 2017. Sri Lanka Athletics has recognized it as both the National Youth and the National Junior record.

What makes her achievement more impressive is her age. Nethmika is 17 years old and is in the youth category (U18). She will enter the junior category next year.

Coached by her school’s Physical Training Instructor Krishantha Kumara, Nethmika has emerged as Sri Lanka’s brightest prospect at next month’s Asian Youth Championships as her performance is set to rank among the top two feats in the Under 18 age category in Asia.

Nethmika commenced the year with a feat of 5.76 metres in February and improved to 5.98 metres when she shattered another meet record at the Junior National Championships in April. That was the best feat in Asia by April this year.

Later several athletes in Asia improved on that feat. Currently there are three other athletes who have cleared the six metres barrier in her age category in Asia. The World Athletics statistics show China’s Huicong Shen and Japanese duo Koto Matsumura and Ion Kondo as having cleared the six metres mark.

Nethmika’s 6.09 is only second to Kondo’s 6.13 metres in Asia this year.

Though she has proven beyond doubt that she is a clear future prospect it is doubtful whether she could get the necessary support from country’s sports authorities. She has received the support of Sri Lanka Athletics but at present even some of country’s top national athletes who are closer to achieving Asian Games qualifying standards remain unaided as Sports Ministry is slow to act and is in fund saving mode.