• Lakshika Suganthi, Sri Lanka’s Heptathlon and 100 m Hurdles National Champion opens up on her journey

The decathlon (men) and heptathlon (women) are sporting events fought with a combination of running, jumping, and throwing events. The winners are crowned with the titles of the King of Athletes and the Queen of Athletes, respectively. Heptathlon is a seven-event athletic contest. A composite contest for female athletes that consists of the 100-metre hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-metre dash, long jump, the javelin throw, and the 800-metre run. The name derives from the Greek language. A competitor in a heptathlon is referred to as a heptathlete.

Lakshika Sugandhi is the first Sri Lankan athlete to cross the 5000-point mark in a heptathlon event. She won two gold medals and a bronze medal at the 2019 South Asian Games. Lakshika is also known for her prowess in many areas and became the seven-time national champion in the 100 m hurdles event. She has been the national champion of the heptathlon event since 2014 and is currently preparing for the South Asian Games to be held this year. She is currently serving at the Sri Lanka Army and continuing her sporting life. Lakshika Sugandhi shared with us on the journey about her unexpected entry into the sport from the beginnings to present day.

Following are excerpts from the interview:

What are the latest developments in your career?

Life has been going forward with many ups, downs, and challenges, that is the nature of the life of an athlete, which is always filled with a hectic schedule. Next March, the first national selection tournament of the year will be held. Also, the Sri Lanka Army athletic championships are being held these days. I am engaged in training aiming at all these competitions.

Did you take up athletics due to any inspiration or did somebody push you to take up the sport?

Absolutely not. I got into athletics by accident. I have participated in inter-house sports competitions during my schooling days. Afterwards, I joined the Sri Lanka Army. I started participating in the amateur athletics tournament as part of my duties in the Army. I was asked to participate in the long jump event and triple jump event as there was no one else to compete from my division there. So I thought why not and got into the competition. I participated in both events and won third place in those two events. After that, it was the Sri Lanka Army Second Women's Corps where I was serving which guided me and led me to the world of athletics.

Could you recall some of your highest achievements in athletics?

It has been a long and winding journey with many sweet memories and unforgettable moments in life. If I were to pick, winning the gold medal in 100 m hurdles at the South Asian Athletics Championships in 2019 would be the one. That is the biggest international victory I have achieved in my life so far. Also, becoming the first female athlete from Sri Lanka to cross the 5000 point mark in heptathlon is also a great momentous occasion. 

You were also the national champion in the 100 m hurdles event, right?

Yes it has been an event where I was able to excel par expectations. I have been lucky to be able to set plenty of records in this event as well. I have become the national champion in 100 m hurdles seven years in a row. Also, since 2013, I have been Sri Lanka’s national champion in heptathlon.

Your journey was never a bed of roses, it was filled with so many challenges. Could you tell us about some of the challenges that came across?

Challenges are something etched with our sport and life. I am not a person who gets shocked or overwhelmed by those challenges. I am a strong person in face of challenges and someone who will readily face the challenges ahead. Even at these tough times we have been well looked after and a lot of support is being given by the Sri Lanka Army for their cadres to engage in sporting activities. As a member of the army, I have to fulfil all the necessary requirements while engaging in sports with the salary received from the army. Even if we add the money received for being part of the national athletics squad and the salary received from the army, there is a situation where we cannot completely fulfil the requirements for the game. By now, with the current socio-economic backdrop where prices are soaring day by day, the price of a pair of shoes that we have to use has skyrocketed in unimaginable ways.

What are the most unforgettable moments/events in your sporting journey?

I remember in the 2019 national championships at heptathlon the first event I participated was the hurdles. I clinched first place. But unfortunately a re-race had to be held. The reason for that was that the organisers of this event had placed only nine hurdles instead of the required ten. So I had to run again about twenty minutes after running the previous attempt. Anyway, I competed in that event again and won again. Also, I will remember this race forever because it was during that heptathlon event that I got to go past the 5000-point milestone. Also due to that, I was able to break the heptathlon national record. So yes that is unarguably the most memorable event of my sports life.

Meanwhile on the same day I participated in the 100 m hurdles event and became the National Champion, clinching the second fastest time after the legendary Sriani Kulawansa. 

Looking back, are you satisfied with your journey?

Yes. I am not someone who ever dreamt of running in life. But today I am an athlete who has brought glory to Sri Lanka after being with the sport for 14 years. So I am very happy with where I am today.

Were there days that you thought that you couldn't continue the game?

No. There weren't really days when it felt like that. Since the day I started the sport, I have been training every day with passion. Every time I fell, I got stronger. Always pursued my goals.

How are the reactions of your family on your achievements?

My mother and father are still happy to see my previous achievements. They are the only ones who have welcomed me with the same reaction whether I win or lose. Also my sister and brother, they never miss my tournaments. Family’s support and guidance is a great strength for my journey.

My heroes are my mother and father. I am here today because of the way they raised me and taught me from my childhood. They are everything to me. And even now, those two are my greatest strength.

Who has been your support system throughout the past few years?

First of all, I want to acknowledge my family. They helped me get this far in this game. Also, my trainer Wasantha Kumara and my physiotherapist Kasthuri. They look after my training and nutrition. And finally, the Sri Lanka Army who looked after me from day one I entered athletics.

What is your next target?

I always go step by step, like they say, match-by-match in team sports, I go race by race or event by event. My next biggest target is to participate in the South Asian and Asian Games to be held this year and bring glory to our island by clinching medals in all my events.