- First Sri Lankan to win Commonwealth Weightlifting medal
Hansani Gomes is the first female weightlifter to win a Commonwealth medal for Sri Lanka. Having won the Commonwealth bronze in the year 2018, she is now eyeing to participate in the Asian Weightlifting Games set to begin soon. Hansani, who had also clinched Asian and South Asian medals for Mother Lanka is a proud sportswoman serving in the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Hansani also broke two new national records and won a gold medal at the Grand Prix Weightlifting Tournament held in Qatar recently. She was competing in the 49 kg weight class. There she managed to set two new national records by lifting 75 kg in snatch and 164 kg in total.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Hansani broke barriers and norms to become one of the most highest achieving athletes in Sri Lanka’s sporting history. Unlike mainstream sports which grabs all the pomp and pageantry with much fanfare, Gomes is a clear-cut example on how disparity in the treatment of our sporting heroes affect our global image as a nation. She is a sportswoman who deserves to be celebrated for her sacrifices to bring glory to the island nation after tremendous hardships.
Today our protagonist and iron lady shares with us the ups and downs, joy and pain of her sporting life from humble beginnings from day one at school to date. Let’s have a look at the life and times of Hansani, a sportsperson par excellence.
Hansani, tell us about the latest news and happenings in your sports journey?
These days I am completely focused by dedicating my time, energy and also mentally preparing by training for the upcoming Asian Weightlifting Championship which is a huge challenge because it is held as an Olympic qualifying tournament. Personally for me and my country, It is a crucial tournament in terms of seriousness. So yes, right now I’m not thinking about anything else, my focus, my eyes are on clinching the pinnacle in the Asian Championships.
Can you recall how you got into sports?
It all started at Wadduwa Balika Vidyalaya, my alma mater. It was there I had my first baby steps in weightlifting almost two decades ago in 2005. At that time, I was studying in grade 8 at school, I was just another curious child who wanted to explore the vast range of sporting principles on offer.
Out of all the sports, why did you choose weightlifting, any special reason?
Ever since I was a child, I liked to do different and unique things. While many children in my school as well as my peers from neighbouring schools were opting to play volleyball, netball, and athletics, I wanted to play a different sport, something special with a rarity in it. It was with that thought I took up the sport of weightlifting. I wanted to show that girls have the ability to do great things in life and sports.
At that time, it was not easy for a girl to take such a radical decision.
I.P. Nandasena was my first coach at my school in Wadduwa during this period. I was a very small child at that time. Especially my stature was not the most ideal one for a strenuous and enduring sport like weightlifting.
At first, to be honest even the coach didn’t pay attention to me. But it all changed when I became the last person standing without giving up at a time where all the other children who came to try out the sport of weightlifting quitted day-by-day and said that they could not continue this sport which requires more than physical strength and body mass. In the end, I was the only one left. Since then, the coach’s full attention was on me. I stuck with the game because of my energy and passion to never ever give up. Later on because of my dedication at times of struggle, I went on to win competitions in the national levels during my schooling days.
When you first took up the sport, did you ever imagine that you’d be here one day winning a Commonwealth medal and so many accolades under your belt?
Interestingly, during my school days, it was not very difficult for me to win up to the national level. But at that time I did not have much of an understanding about how international tournaments run and the high-level of intensity and competition there. I have skipped many international championship tourneys at the junior level because of my unawareness on the global arena.
After many missed busses, what struck me was my maiden foreign tour. It was after that first overseas competition experience, that I felt the need to go out and win the world. But on a slightly sad note, now I think that if I had not missed those junior level foreign tournaments at that time, I would be in a much better place now. Well anyways that’s fate, that is destiny, you can’t rewind back in time to change the past. What matters is how you rectify the past mistakes, lessons learnt and strive towards glory.
Do you have a family sporting background?
No one in my family is involved in sports. But my father’s younger sister (my aunt) was involved in many sporting activities. She also did weightlifting. But she is best known for her achievements in martials arts as she is an international medalist in taekwondo. She is the first Sri Lankan to win a Commonwealth medal in taekwondo. I believe my aunt was the inspiration for me to take up sports and be a unique character in a society breaking barriers and taboos.
What is the most valuable achievement of your sporting life?
In the year 2018, I competed in the 49 kg weight category and won the Commonwealth bronze medal. That is the first Commonwealth medal won by a Sri Lankan woman in weightlifting. That is the greatest feat in my life and definitely there’s more to come .
Winning a Commonwealth medal is not an easy task. What are the sacrifices and struggles you went through?
Weightlifting is a little different from other sports. We must control our body weight, we cannot eat or drink whatever we want, discipline is key. You have to control your mind. There are times when we participate by just drinking some water and skipping meals. At all times, the mind is what influences the victory. So it was with such great sacrifice that I went all out for a Commonwealth medal.
What’s the most unforgettable moment in your sporting life ?
In 2019, I participated in a qualifying tournament for the South Asian Championship in the 45 kg weight class. About three weeks before the tournament, I had to lose seven kilograms,with a day left for the tournament, I still had 800 grams to lose. It was impossible. Later I fainted in the ‘sauna’, dehydrated without a single drop of water. However, my mind game was strong. In the morning of the tournament, I broke all three national records, out of which the snatch record is yet to be broken. Even today, it is the most memorable event in my sports life.
Who’s your role model?
Nadini Gunasekara is the best answer. It was she who won Sri Lanka’s first international medal in weightlifting. I cannot reach her level of energy, she is such a master of the art. Nadini still takes care of my nutrition and mentally prepares me before tournaments. Like her own sister she takes good care and guides me towards success.
How many national records do you currently have?
45 kg weight class snatch record, 49 kg snatch, clean and jerk and total weight records.
Were there times you wanted to quit?
I have never felt that way. Although there were times when I was injured and had to stop competing, I never thought of putting an abrupt end to my journey. I became stronger every time I fell and rose from the ashes. I always wanted to fly our Sri Lankan flag in the global arena and leave an indelible name. I still do everything to achieve my goals and that’s why I never ever quit the sport even after the toughest battles of all.
How do you manage the financial burden of the sport?
I am currently serving at the Sri Lanka Air Force. Since the day I joined SLAF to date, they look after me in all departments and support me in all possible ways. Engaging in sports during these dire conditions in our country is a huge struggle, especially when it comes to individual sports, the burden is much higher.
At times of joy and agony, my biggest strength was the Air Force and my current coach, R. B. Wickramasinghe. Also, the Ministry of Sports, the National Olympic Committee, and the Sports Medicine Unit are also giving me great support. So, it is with the support of all of them and many others as the list goes on, I manage to continue this arduous sporting journey.
How’s the reaction and reception from home on the sport?
During school days, I had the fullest blessings from my parents and everyone at home. We come from very humble roots. My father is a mason. It was very difficult to spend on my sporting expenses with a meagre salary, apart from the household expenses. But my father sacrificed a lot for me to see me where I am today. I cared less about luxury because I had a dream of chasing after victory and today I take care of my mom and dad. Even to date, tears of joy pour down from their eyes after I win any championship. So I am happy today that I am able to successfully benefit and reward my parents back for all their inimitable sacrifices that cannot be matched by money or championships.
Looking back, what do you think about the journey, the life of Hansani Gomes?
There is an indescribable happiness. I cannot put those into words, it will take days and days to talk about all the great times. Only one person can be bestowed upon the honour of clinching a first medal for Sri Lanka.
And on top of that to clinch the first medal for weightlifting won by a Sri Lankan woman in the Commonwealth Games is an out of the world feeling. That is enough to turn back and wander in the best memories of my life, in my sporting journey and cherish the moments, the moments of greatness!
The Daily Morning Sports wish Hansani nothing but the best of the best at the upcoming championships to bring glory to the motherland and go for Olympic glory.