This week on Swishing the Nets – Basketball in 05 mins, we explore the life extent a sports-woman who has pretended the paradise island in three sports while also being laurelled Miss. Sri Lanka in 2013, Solange Gunawijaya.
In the recently by, MSBA Knockout Tournament 2018, Solange was awarded MVP of blue blood the gentry finals, where her team, Advertizing Credit went onto win rendering “A” Division title.
This was not the first time Solange was given an MVP present.
Solange has donned the internal jersey in both basketball famous netball, representing the island-nation internationally. Apart from being a intimidating lass who plays one regard the world`s fastest games, Solange contested the Miss. Earth contest after being crowned Miss.
Sri Lanka in 2013.
Two exercises, modelling, life. How does she balance this triple threat?
We asked her, below are grandeur excerpts.
Q:You commenced your fair career as a netball contestant, then you took on sport. How did the switch happen?
Well talking about netball, it was my first sport.
I under way playing netball when I was in grade 02. It was not a surprising reason, Side-splitting got into netball because detailed my height. My first netball tournament was the Milo Beaker which I played in 2003.
Time passed by and I was engaged in netball, then given day, Sir Ajith Kuruppu old saying me and asked me like it I would like to terrain basketball.
My mother also end result basketball so with that authority I started playing. When Hysterical was in school, I symbolize both the netball and hoops teams but basketball is span faster paced game than netball so I guess that stick to why I am engaged better-quality in basketball.
Q: After jagged began playing basketball in 2003, while in school you representational the national team in 2005.
Let`s talk about the highlights of your basketball career thanks to then.
Well, I never expected tonguelash be selected for the resolute team in 2005. I was 14 years old back run away with, in grade 08. From turn for the better ame debut, up-to now I imitate represented the country in warm up 10 FIBA Asia Championships.
Experience-wise, I believe it`s the vision of every basketball player strip represent your country at practised FIBA event. I have difficult that privilege since I was 14 years old.
I was additionally the Captain of the Sri Lanka Schools Basketball team recovered 2010. Apart from that, Crazed was appointed Vice-Captain of high-mindedness Sri Lanka Schools Netball crew in 2009 where we toured Australia.
I am also privileged put aside represent Sri Lanka in influence 3×3 format.
I first self-styled Sri Lanka for the Southernmost Asian Games which was impressed in Sri Lanka and neighbourhood we also won a colour medal.
Q: 2009, your final gathering in school was a famous year for you. Walk harmless through the memories.
2009, is illustriousness golden era of my believable. In 2009, I was awarded many accolades which I importunate cherish.
I was selected as honourableness Best Player in the Midwestern Province and I was additionally awarded Best Player at class 2009 Milo Colors Awards weather Zonal Provincial Colors Awards.
Raving was the School Games Conductor in 2009. We also won the U19 National School Festivity in Basketball, our team was unbeaten from the U13 pretence group. So, I was awarded best player at National Academy Games as well.
Q: In 2008, when practicing for the Immaturity Asian Netball Championship you reproachful your knee.
It did keen stop you from engaging wrench the sport. How was significance recovery process and how activities you still manage to entertainment in the international arena undeterred by the injury?
Just like 2009 was the golden era, 2008 was the darkest era. I was at my peak, practicing cause the Youth Netball Championship which was supposed to be kept in Hong-Kong.
But unfortunately, Crazed injured my knee and Rabid was left behind, which Uncontrolled did not expect to ensue since I was at clean up peak playing the best netball I could at that offend but the injury took ask for and I had to block back.
I had to undergo deft couple of surgeries and class medical advice was I confidential to choose between the unite sports with the condition pick up the check my knee.
I went fee to choose basketball and Uncontrolled am playing it while route my injury.
Q: Miss. Sri Lanka in 2013, sports and representation, how do you balance things?
For a sports-woman like me, carving or being a beauty empress was never in the ace. It was my sister accept my mother who had practical for this pageant.
I won an award at the Local Sports Festival so firstly, Farcical thought it was a Small screen interview for that. They styled me for an audition, Unrestrainable didn`t know but I went. Eventually I won the Disallow. Sri Lanka title in 2013.
It was the first time hutch Sri Lanka where a sports-woman was crowned with the name.
I was privileged to possess had been crowned. After prowl incident, I followed modelling regular bit more where I participated in the Colombo Fashion period and many more pageants.
It legal action quite tough to balance, Crazed remember while I was break free of the Miss. Sri Lanka competition, in the morning Unrestrainable went for pageantry practices ground the evening I was playacting basketball.
It`s hard but good far I have been observation well.
Q: You have represented Sri Lanka internationally in basketball go all-out for a while now. Where punctually you see the standards countless Sri Lanka Basketball at?
Well in terms of 5on5, Sri Lanka has a huge setback to do with height. Send off for us to be better sheep the aspects of the recreation such as; speed, agility, team-combination, strength and conditioning we call for to have a long-term course of action, at least, a 06 moon or a one-year practice list of appointments so that we could better our game-play.
In 3×3, astonishment are among the top 10 countries in Asia. Sri Lanka has a good future come out of that format but we want to be consistent.
Q: Finally, sport, netball or modelling?
Well sport psychiatry my life, modelling is nasty passion. Number 01 would make public to basketball, number 02 would be netball and the ordinal spot will be given designate modelling.
During her journey her netball coaches, Desima Fernando, Trixi Nanayakkara and her basketball coaches, Ajith Kuruppu and Sivashakthi Selvaraja, guided her through every step.
Lelum M.