by A Special Sports Correspondent

Rukshika Wijesooriya (23) ended years of frustration by winning the coveted Singles Crown at the recently concluded 107th National Tennis Championships, held at the SLTA courts in Colombo.

The Rukshika we know had the potential to win titles, but her journey in most tournaments, till this big win, ended somewhere in the quarterfinal or semi-final stages of most tournaments; except in 2019 when she went on to win the singles title at the SSC Open. However she worked on her game and a two year stint in the US –for studies between 2020 and 2022- brought the change in her game which she was aiming at. In the US she also completed her Degree in Biology and was always a straight ‘A’ student.

She was born in Oman and resided there till she was 12 years old. By that time she had put in four years at tennis. Afterwards it was a matter of visiting Sri Lanka continuously and playing in tournaments here. “I must say that the SLTA has been very supportive of my tennis and accommodated me for trials aimed at finding the players to represent Sri Lanka and compete at overseas tournaments,” said Rukshika.

She was knocking on the door for national selections and showing potential to win since 2015. But she needed that big win and the guidance to reach that next level of playing. “I improved my tennis while pursuing my education in the US. Before that I almost gave up the sport in frustration. But what’s good in America is that you get the right people for the right job both in sport and education. I started believing in myself and now my head is in the right place. What I also liked in the US was that you play for the team and not for yourself,” she said during an interview done at an academy named ‘Tennis by Guy’ at Nawala where she comes under the guidance of her present coach Guyanga Weerasekara.

Rukshika’s life story is an interesting one given that she is a teacher at Alethea International School Dehiwala when not playing tennis. She has completed her degree in Biology and expects to do a masters and a PHD later in her pet subject. She enjoys the time spent on teaching and has decided for the time being to spend time with her parents and remain in Sri Lanka. This is a time when most academics are leaving the country for better prospects, but Rukshika thinks differently. “Deciding to stay here and find employment given the situation in the country was a difficult decision, but it’s one that I took due to personal reasons. I take it day by day and I am happy that I am able to inspire and guide the next generation to be successful in my roles as an educator and sportswoman,” she said.

Rukshika’s life story is an interesting
one given that she is a teacher at
Alethea International School Dehiwala
when not playing tennis.
(Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)

She beat Anjalika Kurera in a hotly contested singles final and latter teamed up with her close friend to win the women’s doubles event. She and Anjalika have been roommates during many of the foreign tours and they have had much to share in life in the form of chit chats when on tours. But according to Rukshika much of that talk is far removed from tennis. This is largely because Rukshika has a happening life outside tennis. Most individuals in her close circle of friends have no relationship with tennis. She slips into her running shoes and goes for a run or engages in cooking or baking at home when thoughts are overwhelming and takes a toll on her. She agrees that she is a very emotional person.

Her school where she teaches gave her a celebration for winning the nationals and Rukshika said that she was moved by all what they had organised for her. Asked whether she didn’t use social media to put posts of her achievements and gain some mileage she responded in the negative. “I am a very private person and keep my achievements to myself. I don’t mind someone maintaining a page for me on social media and highlighting my sporting achievements, but I wouldn’t do it. Tennis in Sri Lanka comprises a small community and everyone knows how the players are performing and who has won what. The little disadvantage in this small community is that you might end up playing the same person over and over again,” she said.

According to Rukshika tennis is an expensive sport. Playing at her level demands she spends about Rs 150,000 per month which goes basically for food, travelling and the other needs to play at that competitive level. “It’s good to have got some grips or some tennis equipment as gifts for winning the nationals. I like to be encouraged to go further in the sport,” she said.

She is aware that in Sri Lanka players, especially ladies, tend to see a drop in their game after they reach age 18; not because of ageing, but largely because they start focusing on other aspects in life. As for Rukshika she said that she still has the passion for the game and will continue playing tennis.

Interestingly she is a vegetarian and this makes her being choosy about what he eats. She said that she eats healthily and added, “My decision to go off meats was because I love animals. I have four dogs and three cats at home”.

She took this opportunity to thank her parents Mahesha (Mother) and Ruknil (father) for the support extended to her to pursue tennis and also for not pushing her too hard in this competitive world where children have to run the rat race and live up to the expectations of those around them. “My advice to parents who have children is for them to know that it’s important to be supportive and push them to a certain extent, but not to the extent that they lose joy in the sport or education they are pursuing”.