Tharjini Sivalingam, a Sri Lankan Netball player has been contracted by Australia’s leading netball club City West Falcon for six months.
She started playing netball at the Eastern University and learnt the netball techniques and soon became one of the leading players in the team. The quick rise in the game earned her a call to the national netball team.
Tharjini’s service to Sri Lanka has been commendable earning her this glorious opportunity to play in Australia.
Tharijini’s world class performance in the 2011 Netball World Cup earned her ‘The Best Shooter Award’, but during last year, she didn’t play in any of Sri Lanka’s matches. Playing for Sri Lanka since 2004, her absence in the last year had caused a major dent in the Sri Lanka Netball team when competing with international opponents.
Both Tharjinis’s manager Gopinath and former Sri Lankan coach Thilakaa Jinadasa (currently coaching Brunei) played a vital role in Tharjini getting this opportunity.
Tharjini will play for Melbourne’s City West Falcon and St. Alban’s Netball club during these six months.
Talking to ThePapare.com, Tharjini thanked those who made this opportunity a reality
“I would like to thank my coach Thilakaa Jinadasa and my manager Gopinath as well as other well wishers who helped me. After these six months I will come back to my motherland and will help Sri Lankan Netball in the best possible ways. I would give my hundred percent to bring netball to the next level in Sri Lanka”
Talking about getting Tharjini the opportunity, manager Gopinath had his own opinion,
“This is the first time that a Sri Lankan is going to play in a major league in Australia. Well wishers played a big part in Tharjini getting this chance. I hope Sri Lanka Netball Association and Sports Ministry give more support by creating these kind of opportunities to other players. I also hope that Sri Lanka Netball Association gives due recognition Tharjini deserves after she comes back from Australia. They should also think of promoting netball further”
Article Source: www.thepapare.com/sri-lankan-netball-star-to-play-in-australia/
