When it comes to Sri Lankan sports, our first impression is of cricket. Although Sri Lankan athletes have been performing well in other sports recently, it is still a very rare occurrence. Even rarer would be to see someone of Sri Lankan origin representing a different country.
We were able to learn the whereabouts of such a young sportsman, who goes by the name Ridma Yasakith Chandrasekara. A born and bred Sri Lankan who will be representing New Zealand at the upcoming Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships this October. He was able to find some time off his busy training schedule, allowing us to converse and learn a bit more about him.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I was born in Gampaha and I was raised by my parents in Maharagama. I went to President’s College in Maharagama and I studied there until seventh grade. Then my parents and I decided to move to St. Thomas’ College in Bandarawela. So, I was in the hostel until my O/Ls. Then I moved back to Maharagama, studied Sports Management, and worked at a gym called Fitness Connection in Colombo. I’ve been interested in working out, lifting, and working as a fitness instructor. Three years later I moved to New Zealand to continue with my studies. I studied Sports Management, Exercise Prescription, and Human Performance. That took me two years. I successfully finished my studies and found a job at YMCA, Auckland that relates to what I studied and goes with my sport.
When you were younger did you have any interest in sports?
I did, but I didn’t know what sport I would be able to do. But I wanted to be stronger, a bit more popular and I wanted my family to be proud of me. That was the only mindset I had. I had no idea about anything that I would do in the future as a sport. Since I had been moving around schools, I did Basketball and Rugby, but I didn’t stick to a sport. But I always wanted to represent something, Sri Lanka or any other country.
Why did you choose Powerlifting as a sport?
I think I had so much physical strength when it came to Basketball and Rugby. Since I went to the gym, I realised that I was a bit stronger in most of the exercises. I tried different sports, but with work-life balance and everything I found it hard to do a sport like Rugby or Basketball. Especially when it comes to recovery from injuries, you need to spend so much time outside. But I always had time for workouts and going to the gym. Since I started going to the gym in 2015, I’ve never stopped. That led me to meet some people who are interested in Powerlifting in New Zealand. I just gave it a try. I realised that I was getting stronger, and I could get better. There can be times that you feel that you’re done with gym and feel like, ‘I don’t want to go to the gym today’. Likewise, I had that fear that I would stop going to the gym. So, I thought what if I find a sport that’s related to going to the gym? I’m very hungry to achieve more and be like others who are better in New Zealand Powerlifting. I think that drove me to keep going and be consistent. I think that Powerlifting keeps me stay fit and healthy and have a good life.
Can you tell us about the upcoming Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships?
This is my first international competition. It will be held in South Africa in a resort called Sun City at the beginning of October. I have done around 10 domestic competitions in New Zealand. I have done provincial competitions. I have done Nationals twice. I missed the chance of Commonwealths in 2022. But I kept competing. I recently did North Island Powerlifting Championships, where I placed first and became the best overall Men’s athlete in the competition. Then I applied for Commonwealths, and they selected me to represent New Zealand considering my performance throughout this year.
As someone born and raised in Sri Lanka what was the reaction from Sri Lankans when they learned that you are representing New Zealand?
My mother is a teacher. She has lots of friends and students on Facebook. So, when she posted the official letter I got, everyone started commenting. There were around 600 comments on it. Everyone was surprised, happy, very proud. I was reading through those comments and it made me feel like I made it. It feels very great to hear it from a Sri Lankan than from here. Everyone here was proud as well, but hearing from your own people makes it even better. I’m representing another country, but I felt like I’m still accepted, and they were proud of me. Sri Lankans are always proud of anything achieved by any Sri Lankan no matter where they represent.
What was the reaction from the New Zealanders?
They were very stoked. I told my workmates and people whom I train and compete with that I will be applying for Commonwealths. Every day someone would walk up to me and ask, ‘Did you get into the Commonwealth?’ That was the most asked question. When I got it, there were around three to four posters at work made by my staff congratulating me. There’ll be random people who walk into the gym in YMCA and congratulate me. I think I got the same greetings and wishes from both countries. They even asked to support me with funding. But I didn’t think that was necessary. But they were always willing to help, everyone around me.
Powerlifting is not a government funded sport in New Zealand. When it comes to funding, how challenging was it?
Very challenging, since this is fully self-funded. Only the uniform with the New Zealand fern will be provided to us free. Currently, my girlfriend and I are both saving money. I work six days, more than 10 hours a day, saving every penny we get, trying to cut down expenses. My parents try to help as much as possible. They help me with the tickets to South Africa as well. It’s a good thing that New Zealand’s currency is a bit higher than South Africa’s. So, it’s a relief for us, because we don’t have to spend too much. It’s going well. I think the more I do better in this sport and win, I will be able to find more sponsors. Right now, it’s a bit of a struggle, but I think there will be better days in the future.
Do you think Powerlifting deserves more global recognition? What are the New Zealand and the World Powerlifting communities doing about it?
It’s a very popular sport among lots of younger people. Whoever goes to a gym will understand the basics of Powerlifting. It’s very easy to get into. I think anyone can do Powerlifting. We have 60+ year-olds who still do Powerlifting. For most of the competitions, you don’t have to buy tickets to watch them. Anyone can walk in and come and see a competition. When it comes to other sports, they earn money from selling tickets. But we are a non-profit sport. Anyone can watch, learn, and compete. Even most of the other athletes performing in contact sports like Rugby and sports that involve strength do a lot of Powerlifting exercises that support them. I believe that it will be more popular in the future around the world.
We’ve all seen and heard of Weightlifting. What is the main difference between Weightlifting and Powerlifting?
Weightlifting only has two movements called snatch and a clean and jerk, which are very complicated lifts. But when it comes to Powerlifting it’s very straightforward. It will be a squat, a bench press, and a deadlift. Those are the three lifts that are well known by people who go to a gym and have a bit of understanding around the gym. It’s a matter of how many steps and how those steps are taken.
How supportive is your family and your partner throughout this journey?
It’s like my mom doesn’t sleep. She is always ready to help. She’s behind the process of trying to save money and trying to get the visas. If she doesn’t hear from me, she will call me, she will text me. These days her whole life revolves around my Commonwealths. And my dad is helpful as well. Anything I need they will give as much as possible. And my girlfriend helps me in every way. With my food and everything. She’s representing New Zealand at the Commonwealths as well. We help each other, we understand the sport, we train together. Me and my girlfriend live the same life, have the same hobbies, everything we like is pretty much the same. I am very well supported.
What are your future plans? Do you have plans to move to a more globally recognised sport like Weightlifting?
My plan is to be better at Powerlifting, get to the top, and win world championships. I have no idea on getting into weightlifting since these are two separate sports. Even if it’s more recognised or more funded, I won’t really enjoy weightlifting. It’ll be all Powerlifting, which I am very good at.
What is your message to our viewers, especially the youth who are keen on taking any sport for that matter?
Be consistent, stay hungry, stay locked in. As Sri Lankans be proud of yourselves. Don’t give up. Find what you are good at. Keep doing what you are good at. Don’t just do anything that people tell you. Find your passion in any sport that you are good at or anything in life. Just enjoy it to the fullest. Do it for yourself and your family and be proud of yourself.
By Thulitha Abayawardana – Auckland