Susanthika speaks for Yupun

Short-distance runner Susanthika Jayasinghe has issued a special statement commenting on Yupun Abeykoon's decision to retire from sports. This is what she said:

"Hello everyone!

Actually, with the turmoil in sports these days, especially regarding athlete Yupun Abeykoon's retirement, many people are talking.

"Why did that happen? What kind of injustice occurred?"

Many people are giving various reasons for these things.

So, at that time, especially yesterday, coach Sunil Gunawardena made a statement regarding this. At that moment, I truly felt a strong emotion. Because Mr. Sunil Gunawardena made that statement involving all of us – myself, Darsha, Sriyani, and Sugath.

So, with this story, I truly felt a great deal of pain, sadness, and anger, and the feeling that I must now fearlessly declare the truth about sports. The reason is that I have now retired from sports. I am not involved in anything related to athletics. I am working with our national cricket institution. So, because of that, I felt I should clarify what the truth and falsehood are, what is right and wrong. The past actions and reality of the administrators

So, personally, I have no anger about what Mr. Sunil Gunawardena said. However, during their administrative period, when they held high positions, they spoke with great pride and gave great value to how they administered sports. Is that truly the reality?

I am very sad. I am still only 50 years old. I don't have dementia (memory loss disease)! I have good judgment. I have a good memory.

I am someone who won the world four times! Not once, not twice, not by accident!

2 World Championship medals

1 World Cup

Olympic medal

On top of that, many Asian medals.

So, with these facts, Mr. Sunil Gunawardena said, "Before Susanthika, Sugath, Sriyani, and Darsha won, they were given houses and vehicles." So, did you give them? Did you give them? Is this true?

I will tell you, I never received anything before winning. Not just me, other fellow athletes didn't either. But yes, Darsha is your student! That's true. Darsha received more things even before winning, and after winning.

This must be said. We truly haven't come to speak like this for so long. They asked, "Is there hatred, malice, or jealousy among us?" No! During your administrative period, you created divisions. You destroyed athletes. The truth and falsehood of achievements and recognition received

So, I was never given houses before winning. Sriyani Kulawansa wasn't given any either. But during this time, I don't know if he's speaking unconsciously!

It was only after I won the 1997 Athens World Championship that I received a house in Colombo and a vehicle. Those complete things, worth ten million, were included only after winning globally. However, Damayanthi Darsha only won in Asia. How many people in our country have won an 'Asian Games Gold Medal'? But she was even given a 'Sports car'!

I didn't receive anything like that. At that time, I leased a vehicle with the sponsorship money given by Elephant House.

So, have you forgotten the injustice you did to sports, the injustice you did to athletes? Therefore, please, at least now, shut up and stay quietly aside! Because you destroyed sports; you destroyed athletes.

Do you remember the mental stress you gave to athletes? How many athletes did you cut? No need for more, my entire sports career was stopped because of the injustices you committed!

Not only that, even today, although Sriyani Kulawansa has joined the administration and talks with you, and maintains connections, I think you were the person Sriyani disliked the most in those days. Because so much injustice was done.

And how much injustice have you done to female athletes? How many female athletes have retired from sports because of you? The parents will speak and tell in the future about the things you did by personally causing mental stress and sending them to jail! Things happened in the past to such an extent that female athletes would not go to you for training. People are not dead yet. So please, talk about the truth of sports, don't lie! Current situation and about Yupun Abeykoon

However, Yupun Abeykoon is an athlete who ran 100 meters in less than 10 seconds, the only one from South Asia. That's true. But even if he ran like that, I don't know if he's even among the top 100 in the world, having gone to world competitions and reached a qualifying standard.

So, even within the statement, "that athlete was wronged, he wasn't given anything, no houses, no money," I have a question. Because, even in our time, we only received such places and opportunities when we won medals at a world level.

So, it's very painful when these people talk like this. Even though they say, "we did this, we did that," no! Sports were destroyed because of what you did.

However, I am someone who faces any problem. The challenges you gave me became my strength. The problems you gave me became my strength. You tried to destroy me with your harassment. When I had a problem, you were the ones who set officials against me. By doing such things, you committed injustice to the entire sport. Today, sitting as if you did nothing for sports, you poisoned the athletes. That same ideology is what these people are now carrying forward. Current administration and past memories

Therefore, I say that the current Minister of Sports is truly very fair. Because I am watching, I feel, I see, I hear that he is helping sports in an amazing way. I feel that people who cannot bear to see that are criticizing it in various ways.

Now Mr. Sunil Gunawardena says, "Yupun is an athlete who can win an Olympic medal, an athlete we can have hopes for."

When I went to the 2000 Olympic Games, you were in charge of the team, weren't you? Did you even casually say in meetings in front of me, "Susanthika has now qualified for the final, she is going to win a medal, we all need to help her"? Did you say that? Now you say Yupun can win a medal. Back then, when I was about to run, could you have said, "Everyone bless her, be a strength to Susanthika, Susanthika is going to win"?

No! So remember; even if you are 75 years old, I am still 50. I have good judgment. You did all possible mischief to sports, all injustices, all unwholesome deeds.

At such a time, I proudly remember everyone at the Cricket Board, including Mr. Shammi Silva, who gave me a suitable place in Sri Lanka after achieving such a victory.

Not just for me, to live proudly as an Olympic and World medalist with my two children, how many of our athletes who won in sports received millions? I don't know if anyone even remembers to say thank you. I am an athlete who remembers gratitude! Not only that, Yupun also received a hundred thousand dollars. Yes, have you forgotten that?

So, when there are people who provided such help, don't you destroy sports and boast! I am very pained. Because we are still alive. That's why I am raising my voice about this. Finally

So, the current position of sports is truly high. Today, one can truly humbly, calmly, and happily watch what is happening in the Olympic Committee and athletics.

You, who gave wrong examples, wrong attitudes, and committed injustices against athletes, now sitting at home drinking a cup of tea, don't talk to people like that without thinking, "Oh, at least now we should do some good deeds" about the wrongs and evils you committed!

Remember what you did, your mistakes. It pains me greatly when people try to make lies reign. I don't need character certificates; criticize me! Just as I won, I speak the truth. The truth will be bitter; that's not a problem. I don't need to score points from anyone, nor do I need anyone to put me on a pedestal.

For the supreme future of sports, the help and actions received from the present are more than sufficient.

However, I believe in how this current generation handles social media. How many Open Championships, Asian Games, Asian Championships did we go to, and how many medals did we bring! We never posted those on social media or went around talking about them. People learned about them from television and newspapers.

So, therefore, please, we should proudly be a strength to Romesh, who is currently our only athlete in the world rankings. We should bless him to win a gold medal at the upcoming Commonwealth Games! I also wish that other athletes can achieve some victories and bring honor to the country.

Wishing for that fortune, strength, and courage, and praying that these athletes understand the future, value, and all worth of sports! I wish all of you victory upon victory.

– I, Susanthika Jayasinghe (In the name of sports)