Dubai: Dubai-based former Sri Lanka national badminton champion Sriyani Deepika has vouched that she will not stop short of a gold after returning with a silver medal from the World Masters Games held in New Zealand earlier this week.
Deepika lost 16-21, 21-23 in a closely contested final in the Women’s Singles 45+ ‘A’ category to Delwin Cooper of New Zealand in her maiden appearance at the Masters held in Auckland from April 21-30.
“I was competing at this event for the very first time and the conditions were alien to me. A silver medal on debut makes me very happy, but it has to be a gold medal when I go to Japan in four years’ time,” Deepika told Gulf News after landing in Dubai following a 17-hour flight earlier on Wednesday.
“It was a close match and I could have won the title, if it was not for a long-standing knee injury that I have been carrying,” she added.
Struggling with a bad knee that had been operated ten years back, Deepika even debated a walkover over the home nation opponent in the final. “I struggled with the knee. It was sore and painful. And I had it massaged before the final. My opponent realised this and kept on moving me around. If it was not for the knee I could have won the gold medal,” Deepika said.
Since making the UAE her home five years ago, Deepika has been active not only as a coach but also competing in local tournaments to lead by example. A regular member of the Sri Lanka team for 15 years during her hey days, Deepika never officially retired as a player, competing in the World Seniors badminton tournaments in Canada, Turkey and Sweden in the past.
Deepika, who has been running her own ‘Deepika’s Badminton Academy’ in the UAE for the past three years, decided to make her first appearance at the World Masters Games that are held once every four years. A five-time former national champion in Sri Lanka, Deepika was sponsored by Yonex UAE. “I am grateful to all my friends and fans in the UAE and Sri Lanka for supporting and encouraging me to participate in these Games,” she said.
Governed by the International Masters Games Association, the World Masters Games is open to sportspersons of all abilities with some former Olympians showing a preference in competing. The tenth edition of the Games will be held in Kansai, Japan in 2021. “It has been a good first appearance for me this time. From now on, I know what needs to be done so that I can return with the gold medal in four years’ time,” she said.
