Eigtheen-year-old Setavya Mudalige of Vidura College - Colombo is a promising sprinter Sri Lanka could depend on in the future. Sethavya emerges as a promising athlete to come out from Vidura College in recent years as she completes seven years in track events.
She began her running career at the age of 12, in 2006 after developing a huge love towards sprinting when others at her age sought different lifestyles to keep them busy. For her luck she found a good and dedicated coach in Ananda Athukorale who is also a national level trainer.
"I had this interest for sports as a youngster. Badminton was the first sport I really got involved in but as the years passed I developed a strong liking for sprint events. I focused on them later," Setavya said.
So far she has participated at over 50 major events at zonal, provincial and all-island level but as Sports Coordinator of Vidura College, Upali de Silva relates Sethavya gave signs of being a promising athlete at a very young age.
"I have been watching Setavya since the day she started and it was at an invitational event conducted by the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) that she first recorded a win. Since then under the guidance of an able coach she has been excelling at a steady pace" de Silva stated.
Setavya developed her fame as a promising athlete at school. She emerged the champion athlete in the girl's category at under 13, 15, 17 and 19 age groups continuously since 2007. Adding up to her phenomenal record she was named the champion athlete at the Nugegoda Circuit Athletics Championships for five successive years since 2007. In addition she has been constantly winning the champion athlete's award at the Zonal Athletics Championships since 2007.
"I did long jump earlier in addition to my usual events, the 100 and 200 meters. But I ran without being placed in he first year and this disappointment compelled me to give up long jump in order to focus more on the sprints. Today I think I have made the perfect choice," Setavya who has been approached by many clubs added.
In an individual capacity, Setavya was placed 3rd in the under-18 100 meters event at the Junior National Championships in 2009. The same year she was placed 2nd at the similar event at Senior Public Schools Athletic Championships. At the same meet she was placed in the 200 meters event.
In 2009 Setavya was placed second at 100 and 200 meters sprints in the under-17 age group at the All-Island Schools Games which eventually gave her the chance to earn national colours. Not abiding by her talents, she went on to develop her skills and was named as the best athlete at the Sri Jayawardenepura Zonal Schools Sports Championship in the years 2009 and 2010. Her best effort came recently at the National Women's Athletics Championships at Diyagama when she clocked 13.1 seconds to place as 2nd in 100 meters sprint in the under-20 category.
Setavya has been experiencing injuries during her short career which is quite usual for an athlete. An ankle injury she experienced last year prevented her from performing at her usual best but minor setbacks have never been hindrances for her.
"During such time I only focus on s single event and it has been proven productive for me. I also watch a lot of videos of famous sprinters and try to learn new techniques in addition to guidance given by my coach. My aim is to get picked into the national pool and represent Sri Lanka," said a gritty Setavya. |
