Champion weightlifter Sudesh Peiris announces retirement

The champion weightlifter Sudesh Peiris  (4th from left) with the NOCSL officials, coach Ranjith Perera, his family members and former Athlete Sriyani Kulawansha

By Althaf Nawaz

Champion weightlifter Kurakulasuriyage Anton Sudesh Peiris on Wednesday announced his retirement after a successful career spanning 25 years.

The 38-year-old Sudesh  brought honour to the country by winning many awards. «It was not an easy decision for me to take at this juncture, but was compelled to do it after mingling in the sport for 25 years, which I assume is a tremendous achievement,” said Sudesh.

Hailing from Gonawila in the outskirts of Negombo, Sudesh completed his educational career at St. Mary›s College, Negombo. From his young days, he had been very enthusiastic in engaging in sports, but living under trying circumstances, it had been a tough ask for him. Nevertheless, W.B. Ranjith Perera, a renowned coach in the weight lifting arena whom he rates as his mentor, motivated him to take up lifting and coached him with the limited resources available. Ranjith had identified the 11-year-old Sudesh as a bright future prospect even though he weighed a mere 33 kg.

His first achievement in the sport was by winning the inter schools’ under-15 event where he went on to establish a new record. This set the tone of his career and strived hard to improve his skills. He had to travel from his home town Negombo to Katunayake where his coach Ranjith Perera conducted training. He was very thankful to his primary coach and said: «I can never forget Ranjith Sir, who not only trained us but also took care of us under difficult circumstances. After training he used to give us a cup of tea and whatever food available. I convey my sincere gratitude to him,» he further added.

As a senior player, Sudesh participated in the schools’ arena in his own District, where he was adjudged the best Lifter, establishing a National Schools record. This was the stepping stone in his life as he changed gears to achieve his long standing dream of donning the National jersey.

In 2006, he was selected to compete in the South Asian Games (SAG) where he clinched the Bronze medal in the 69Kg weight class. Subsequently, while maturing as a top sportsman, in 2010 he represented the country at the Commonwealth Games (CM) in Delhi where once again he ‘snatched’ a Bronze medal in the 62 kg Weight class.

One year later at the Commonwealth Games Weightlifting Championship in South Africa he won the maiden Gold Medal of his career in the 69kg weight class for the country, which was a unique achievement. Thus, the pendulum swung in his favor as he became the cynosure of all eyes with the support of his senior coach W.B. Wickremasinghe, and went on to win a Silver medal at the CM Games in Glasgow. At the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, he was appointed captain of the Sri Lanka team. The year 2016 was a monumental one in his career where he engaged in two more events in Malaysia and India where he won a Silver and Gold Medal respectively. In between, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016 he got an opportunity to train in Japan, and with more exposure he won several medals in the competitions held there. His last assignment was in 2022 at the Commonwealth Games in Singapore where won a Silver Medal.

He also lamented his career had ups and downs and he had to overcome many obstacles, which he says gave him the strength to reach the pinnacle in the sport. «Well, at times I passed through some tough passages in my life, but I never gave up. With the support of my coaches (local and international), the NOCSL officials and other stakeholders, I reached the top in the sport. I feel the time has come to say goodbye, but I will somehow try to enhance my knowledge with the support of NOCSL and give my best to the sport and the country to get more and more medals,» concluded Sudesh.