Sri Lanka’s most dedicated and talented shuttler ,the three times Olympian Niluka Karunaratne officially announced his retirement from international competitive badminton yesterday.
I have represented my country very actively, consistently and continuously for 22 years. I have conducted myself with lot of discipline, courage and passion. My passion was to represent my country,” said Niluka who represented Sri Lanka National Team as a 15-year-old in the Asian Badminton Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2000.He is the eldest brother of a Badminton family while his younger brothers Diluka, Dinuka also represented Badminton at National level and even the youngest brother Chamika Karunaratne also a Badminton player apart from Cricket. His father Louis Karunaratne was a former cricketer and Badminton player was first coach of Niluka representing Sri Lanka three times in a row at the Olympics is great achievement for a Sri Lankan with Niroshan Wijekoon being the only shuttlers men’s shuttler to do so.
The highlight of his career was leading Sri Lanka at the 2012 London Olympics, the first Royalist and only badminton player to do so. He beat Japan’s number one and world ranked number eight in the first round to be among the top 16 players. He has won five gold medals in all five continents.
.It heralds the end of an era that began more than two decades ago driven by an insatiable appetite for success at domestic and international level with a never-say-die attitude to attempt what seemed impossible in his quest to bring glory to Sri Lanka.
His first international final was on November 6, 2003 on his father Louis Karunaratne’s birthday. “He has been my coach and inspiration. I started because of him only,” said Niluka of his father Louis who is man behind the success of his Badminton career.
His phenomenal achievements of being a 17-time national champion, three-time Olympian and winning 34 international medals is the legacy of his unwavering determination, dedication and discipline he adhered to like a religion during his magnificent career.
It is difficult for someone who has a passion and temperament for the sport of badminton to hang up his racquet for good. “I have been contemplating this for some time. There are lot of young athletes coming up. Even though I am eager and have the passion to continue, it’s my responsibility and time to hand over to the next generation,” said Niluka.
He had already quit playing local competitions after bagging his 17th national title two years ago. It wa snot because Father time was catching up on the 38-year-old who played his last international tournament in Lisbon, Portugal in February this year. It is his selfless desire to hand over the baton to the next generation of Sri Lankans that made his decision to retire not difficult.
“I will be very much involved in the development of badminton and also all sports in Sri Lanka. Having worked hard before as an athlete for myself to represent my country, I’m motivated and eager to serve my country in a different way to develop the next generation of athletes to represent the country to compete internationally, give them exposure and bring glory to Sri Lanka. That is my utmost aim and ambition,” said Niluka who is full of energy to begin a new journey after waging fierce battles on court.
Niluka had been playing since the age of eight but it was in the year 2000 that a 15-year-old showed great character and courage to become a future legend of the sport.
The defining moment of his career took place when he was undergoing residential training for two weeks at the Maitland Place headquarters of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association for a tournament in the Maldives. “Every day the coach was saying we can beat everyone but not India. I was at Royal and not living in Colombo but coming from Balapitiya. I was shocked because I was brought up in a surrounding where parents taught me nothing is impossible. I never heard the word I can’t. My father was not in the country to get advice,” recalled Niluka.
The girls in the squad chided him when they saw him in tears for several days after practice and brought it to the notice of SLBA officials. “If we can’t win, I’m not going to take part or go on the tour,” an emotionally charged Niluka told them. He was assured by then SLBA president Eraj Wijesinghe who gave him all encouragement while the coach was admonished for demotivating the players instead of training players to win.
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