Seylan’s Tharjini standing tall and surging towards stardom

Tuesday, 11 September 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Standing tall at six feet 10 inches, and surging towards stardom with Seylan Bank is Sri Lankan netball skipper Tharjini Sivalingam – the world’s tallest netballer, and considered the best player within the Asian Netballing Circuit. Swift in spotting and supporting local sporting talent, the Lankan netball queen is presently employed at Seylan Bank in the capacity of a Banking Assistant, providing much inspiration, vibrancy and pride to the close knit Seylan family.

Picked by Seylan Bank from near obscurity, the genial 30 year old is creating phenomenal waves with her dashing moves on the court. Considered as the backbone of this country’s netball team, by the legendary former Sri Lankan National Coach Thilaka Dhammika Jinadasa – Tharjini’s game, steeped in sheer flamboyance, fierce determination and dazzling flair, coupled with her uncanny height is proving to be unstoppable when in possession of the ball. The gangling goal-attack uses her height and speed with such lethal effect to shoot from the ring, making her a much feared opponent within the Asian netball circuit.

The lanky Lankan netball queen, in a dashing exhibition of much courage, recently led the Lankan netballers to within a whisker of grabbing the much coveted Asian Netball crown, going down by just a solitary goal to the much fancied Singaporeans – eventually chalking up a tally of 48/47 at the final whistle. As could be expected Tharjini’s trophy cupboard is piling up with hard won silver; with Best Asian Shooter award in the years 2005,2009,2012 and the World’s Best Shooter award in the year 2011 – taking up the top shelf of her cabinet.

Hailing from the tiny Northern District farming village of Punnalaikkadduvan, comprising of a population of a mere 200 inhabitants, her family is made up of her parents four brothers and one sister. Besides the exemplary prowess on the court, a little known fact is that Tharjini is a Bachelor Of Arts Degree holder in Economics, picked up from the Eastern University of Batticaloa. Inherrently mild mannered and soft spoken – the national asset is fast proving to be immensely popular among her team mates and opponents alike.

With her fierce ambition to succeed in her beloved game, that the best of Seylan Bank’s Tharjini Sivalingam is yet to come – is the considered view of netball pundits across the netballing fraternity.