Tharjini Sivalingam
{{short description| Former Sri Lankan netball player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox netball biography|name=Tharjini Sivalingam|birth_date={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1978|12|30}}|birth_place=Punnalaikadduvan, Jaffna District, Sri Lanka|height={{height|m=2.10}}|positions=GS|occupation=netball player, banking assistant|university=Eastern University of Batticaloa|medaltemplates={{MedalCountry|{{SRI}}}}
{{MedalGold|2009 Malaysia|Netball}}
{{MedalGold|2018 Singapore|Netball}}
{{MedalGold|2022 Singapore|Netball}}
{{MedalSilver|2012 Sri Lanka|Netball}}
{{MedalSilver|2014 Singapore|Netball}}}}
Tharjini Sivalingam (born 30 December 1978) is a former Sri Lankan veteran netball player and former skipper of the Sri Lankan national netball team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwc2019.co.uk/people/tharjini-sivalingam/|title=Tharjini Sivalingam|last=|first=|date=|website=Netball World Cup|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-16}} With her staggering height of 210 cm or 6 ft 10.5in,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/netball/49005326|title = Watch a 'masterclass' in how to defend against a 6ft 11in shooter|work = BBC Sport}} she has been recognized as one of the most successful shooters of all time and often regarded as the tallest netball player ever. She is the most capped international netball player to represent Sri Lanka.{{Cite web|title=Height a huge factor in netball|url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/height-a-huge-factor-in-netball/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=The Chronicle|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=2019-07-15|title=Tharjini Sivalingam: The 40-year-old tallest netballer in the world who almost never misses|url=https://newsin.asia/tharjini-sivalingam-the-40-year-old-tallest-netballer-in-the-world-who-almost-never-misses/|access-date=2021-07-05|website=NewsIn.Asia|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Sri Lanka Out for Asian Glory - Sports {{!}} Daily Mirror|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/sports/Sri-Lanka-Out-for-Asian-Glory/323-154623|access-date=2021-07-05|website=www.dailymirror.lk|language=English}}{{Cite news|last=Liverpool|first=Rebecca Myers and Sophie Reynolds|title=Netball World Cup: shortest player runs rings round tallest, but Australia triumphs|newspaper=The Times|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/australasia/article/netball-world-cup-tallest-player-versus-the-shortest-9g3pj5hvm|access-date=2021-07-11|issn=0140-0460}} She was a regular member of the Sri Lanka national team in international netball tournaments since making her debut in 2009. She is well known for her unusually tall height and considered one of the marquee players in Sri Lankan netball history.{{Cite web|url=http://dailysports.lk/a-look-back-at-the-career-of-asias-tallest-netballer/|title=A Look Back at the career of Asia's Tallest Netballer - Daily Sports|website=dailysports.lk|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-01}} She also faced many hardships in her childhood as she grew up in a warzone.
She has represented Sri Lanka at the INF Netball World Cup in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023.{{Cite web|title=Netball: Head and shoulders above the rest|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/netball-head-and-shoulders-above-the-rest/Y75YWMFL3ITGDVWP5WDM36ZVHA/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}} She has represented Sri Lanka at Asian Netball Championships five times in 2009, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2022. She became the oldest player to play in the history of the Netball World Cup at the age of 40 when she appeared at the 2019 Netball World Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://netball.draftcentral.com.au/player/tharjini-sivalingam/|title=Tharjini Sivalingam|website=Netball Draft Central|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-16}} She subsequently broke her own record of being the oldest ever netball player to appear in World Cup when she competed during the 2023 Netball World Cup at the age of 44.
Biography
Tharjini was the fifth of the six children to a family in Evinai, Punnalaikadduvan, Jaffna District.{{Cite web|last=Senthilselvan|first=Ushanth|date=2018-12-25|title=Photos: Felicitation of Tharjini Sivalingam by her village society|url=https://www.thepapare.com/photos-felicitation-tharjini-sivalingam-village-society/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=ThePapare.com|language=en-US}} Her father was a chili farmer.{{Cite web|date=2018-09-13|title=Being a Tamil never bothered me as player – Tharjini Sivalingam|url=http://www.themorning.lk/being-a-tamil-never-bothered-me-as-player-tharjini-sivalingam/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=The Morning - Sri Lanka News|language=en-US}} While young, she faced discrimination as a result of her height and was also nicknamed as "Genie" due to her height.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090712/Plus/sundaytimesplus_08.html|title=A player with many highs in her life|website=www.sundaytimes.lk|access-date=2017-11-01}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.english.gossiplankanews.com/2012/09/tharjini-with-many-highs-in-her-life.html?m=1|title=THARJINI WITH MANY HIGHS IN HER LIFE|last=gossiplanka|website=www.english.gossiplankanews.com|access-date=2017-11-05}} She pursued her primary education at the Visalam Central College.{{Cite web|title=Sri Lanka Sports News {{!}} Online edition of Daily News - Lakehouse Newspapers|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2010/07/30/spo20.asp|access-date=2021-07-11|website=archives.dailynews.lk}}
She and her family were also affected during the Sri Lankan Civil War with their house being damaged at that time. She and her family moved to Batticaloa at the age of 20.{{Cite web|date=2019-01-26|title=Sri Lanka's Genie towers above the competition, but she hasn't had an easy ride|url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2019/01/27/news-features/sri-lanka%E2%80%99s-genie-towers-above-competition-she-hasn%E2%80%99t-had-easy-ride|access-date=2021-07-11|website=Sunday Observer|language=en}} Tharjini Sivalingam is a Bachelor of Arts graduate as she holds a degree in Economics from the Eastern University in Batticaloa.{{Cite news|title="බයේ එදා හැංගිලා හිටිය නම්, අද මම මේ තත්ත්වයේ නැහැ"|language=si|work=BBC News සිංහල|url=https://www.bbc.com/sinhala/sri-lanka-49166156|access-date=2021-07-11}}
Career
She was recognized by the former Sri Lankan netball team coach, Thilaka Jinadasa, in 2004 because of her shooting skills at the university level netball championships.{{Cite web|url=https://eyeofthecylone.wordpress.com/2014/10/26/acing-it-for-sri-lanka/|title=Acing it for Sri Lanka|date=26 October 2014}}{{Cite news|last=Srinivasan|first=Meera|date=2018-09-29|title=Two world cups, different hopes|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/two-world-cups-different-hopes/article25082879.ece|access-date=2021-07-11|issn=0971-751X}} Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the wife of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa who attended as a chief guest to watch a domestic netball match in Vavuniya in 2004 had firmly suggested Tharjini to join the national team after being impressed with her performance during the match. However, Tharjini initially turned down the offer due to her language related issues.
She was selected for the Sri Lankan national netball team in 2009 and since then she has been a regular member. Tharjini was part of the Sri Lankan team which won the 2009 Asian Netball Championships and was also the part of the national team which emerged as runners-up in the 2012 Asian Netball Championships and in the 2014 Asian Netball Championships.{{Cite news|url=https://www.worldpulse.com/fr/node/22075|title=Sri Lanka's 207 Centimetres Tall Tamil Netball Champion {{!}} World Pulse|date=2012-09-16|work=World Pulse|access-date=2017-11-01|language=fr}}
She continued her dream run as she was awarded the title of Best Shooter in the 2011 World Netball Championships for scoring 290 goals in the tournament despite Sri Lanka's first round exit. In 2017, she was sacked from the national side due to the political issues and was replaced by Chathurangi Jayasooriya as the national team captain.{{Cite news|url=http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/46358|title=Lanka's Ace Netball Shooter Tharjini Sivalingam Out of National Side Due to Problems with Current Netball Administrators and Coach.Now Tharjini has joined with the national squad with the return of the coach Thilaka Jinadasa. |date=2016-04-25|work=dbsjeyaraj.com|access-date=2017-11-01|language=en-US}} She made her way back to the national squad in 2018 with the return of Thilaka Jinadasa as the national coach.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepapare.com/sri-lanka-netball-squad-30-asian-netball-championship-2018/|title=National Netball pool of 30 selected|first=Estelle|last=Vasudevan|date=29 January 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepapare.com/thilaka-jinadasa-new-sri-lanka-netball-coach-2017/|title=Thilaka Jinadasa new National Netball coach|first=Navod|last=Wijewickrama|date=21 December 2017}}
She also serves as a banking assistant at Seylan Bank and represents Seylan Bank in the mercantile netball association tournament as well.{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesstoday.lk/article.php?article=7484|title=BUSINESS TODAY -Seylan's Tharjini Sivalingam|last=Today|first=Business|website=www.businesstoday.lk|access-date=2017-11-01}}{{Cite web|date=2018-09-19|title=Tharjini Sivalingam of Seylan Bank dazzles at Asian Netball Championship 2018|url=http://bizenglish.adaderana.lk/tharjini-sivalingam-of-seylan-bank-dazzles-at-asian-netball-championship-2018/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=Adaderana Biz English {{!}} Sri Lanka Business News|language=en-US}} She joined Seylan Bank in 2005 and works at the Liability Products Management Department of Seylan Bank.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2017/11/15/sports/134524/tharjini-shines-australian-netball-league|title=Tharjini shines at Australian Netball League}}{{Cite web|date=2018-09-29|title=Tharjini thanks employer Seylan Bank|url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2018/09/30/sports/tharjini-thanks-employer-seylan-bank|access-date=2021-07-11|website=Sunday Observer|language=en}}
In 2017, she received a scholarship from the Australian City West Falcons netball club and went on to play for the City West Falcons club, becoming the only Sri Lankan to play for a foreign netball club.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/sinhalese/en/audiotrack/world-tallest-netball-player-sri-lankan-tharjini-sivalingam-flying-high-australian|title=World tallest netball player Sri Lankan Tharjini Sivalingam flying high in Australian netball arena|work=SBS Your Language|access-date=2017-11-01|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/local-sport/gfnl-2017-worlds-tallest-netballer-tharjini-sivalingam-opens-up-on-her-height-netball-and-the-australian-sense-of-humour/news-story/c4b9c02bac41389520f3d909beb3bc92|title=Geelong Advertiser|website=www.geelongadvertiser.com.au|access-date=2017-11-01}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/local-sport/worlds-tallest-netballer-sivalingam-takes-supersaints-to-new-heights/news-story/1fcae75338107c4db5aba44244943f96|title=Geelong Advertiser|website=www.geelongadvertiser.com.au|access-date=2017-11-01}}{{Cite web|url=http://dailysports.lk/tharjini-sivalingam-play-netball-australia/|title=Tharjini Sivalingam to play netball in Australia - Daily Sports|website=dailysports.lk|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-01}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tharjini-an-najwa-blaze-trail-for-asian-players|title=Netball: Tharjini, An Najwa blaze trail for Asian players|last=hermes|date=2018-09-08|work=The Straits Times|access-date=2018-09-14|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Admin|date=2017-05-03|title=Tharjini ready to make an impact|url=https://www.thepapare.com/ready-to-make-an-impact/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=ThePapare.com|language=en-US}} She also received Best Shooter of the Year Award as well as Fairest Player of City Falcon Award 2017 for her impressive performances for the club in her debut season.
After returning to Sri Lankan national netball team for the first time since 2015, she played a key role in winning the 2018 Asian Netball Championships being the unbeaten team in the tournament defeating Singapore 69-50 in the final to make it a fifth Asian Championship title for Sri Lanka and their first title since 2009.{{Cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/netball-sri-lanka-prove-too-strong-for-singapore-as-they-triumph-69-50-in-asian-championship|title=Netball: Sri Lanka prove too strong for Singapore as they triumph 69-50 in Asian Championship final|last=hermesauto|date=2018-09-09|work=The Straits Times|access-date=2018-09-14|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/180909/sports/tharjinis-army-on-the-rampage-in-singapore-310891.html|title=Tharjini's army on the rampage in Singapore|work=The Sunday Times Sri Lanka|access-date=2018-09-14}}{{Cite web|title=Netball: Sri Lanka defeat Singapore 74-61 at M1 Asian Championship|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/sports/7819/netball-sri-lanka-defeat-singapore-74-61-at-m1-asian-championship|access-date=2021-07-11|website=www.adaderana.lk|language=en}} During the 2018 Asian Championships, Tharjini received the Player of the tournament award for her outstanding aggressive skills.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Art-of-winning-outside-netball-court-155465.html|title=Art of winning outside netball court|access-date=2018-09-14|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Let's play like a girl? {{!}} Daily FT|url=https://www.ft.lk/sports/Let-s-play-like-a-girl-/23-672336|access-date=2021-07-11|website=www.ft.lk|language=English}}
In July 2019, during the 2019 Netball World Cup Sivalingam made her 100th international appearance for Sri Lanka, becoming the first Sri Lankan to do so.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190728/magazine/tharjini-sivalingam-100-caps-for-the-sri-lankan-netball-team-359712.html|title=Tharjini Sivalingam: 100 Caps for the Sri Lankan Netball Team|website=The Sunday Times Sri Lanka|access-date=2019-08-29}} She was the tournament's top-scorer with 348 goals in 375 attempts (scored in seven matches), 44 clear of Jamaica's Jhaniele Fowler and also recorded the most points (77) by a player in a single match at the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepapare.com/tharjini-renews-record-sri-lanka-register-thumping-win/|title=Tharjini renews record; Sri Lanka register thumping win|last=Vasudevan|first=Estelle|date=2019-07-19|website=ThePapare.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-29}}{{Cite news|title=வலைப்பந்தாட்ட உலகக்கோப்பையில் ஈழத் தமிழ் பெண் சாதனை - யார் இந்த தர்ஜினி சிவலிங்கம்?|language=ta|work=BBC News தமிழ்|url=https://www.bbc.com/tamil/sri-lanka-49071787|access-date=2021-07-11}} In December 2019, she received the Most Popular Sports Personality of the Year Award at the fifth annual SLT SILK Sports Awards.{{Cite web|date=2019-12-28|title=Tharjini, Matthew Abeysinghe bag top prizes at Silk Awards|url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2019/12/29/sports/tharjini-matthew-abeysinghe-bag-top-prizes-silk-awards|access-date=2021-07-11|website=Sunday Observer|language=en}}
She made a comeback return to the Sri Lankan national team for the 2022 Asian Netball Championships as she previously retired post the 2019 World Cup. She was granted permission to participate at the 2022 Asian Netball Championships which was held in Singapore and Sri Lanka was able to defend the title defeating Singapore in the final 63-53.{{Cite web |title=Gayanjali to lead Sri Lanka at Asian Netball Tournament |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/sports/Gayanjali-to-lead-Sri-Lanka-at-Asian-Netball-Tournament/244-243776 |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=www.dailymirror.lk |language=English}}{{Cite web |last=Ratnaweera |first=Dhammika |title=Sri Lankan Netballers in glorious win to retain Asian title |url=https://archives1.dailynews.lk/2022/09/12/sports/287029/sri-lankan-netballers-glorious-win-retain-asian-title |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Daily News |language=en}}
She was named in the Sri Lankan squad at the 2023 Netball World Cup where she made her fourth and final World Cup appearance. She subsequently announced her official international retirement after the 2023 World Cup which was held in South Africa.{{Cite web |title=Tharjini Sivalingam retires from international netball - Breaking News {{!}} Daily Mirror |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Tharjini-Sivalingam-retires-from-international-netball/108-264706 |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=www.dailymirror.lk |language=English}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-05 |title=Netball tower Tharjini takes a bow |url=https://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2023/08/06/sports/netball-tower-tharjini-takes-bow |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Sunday Observer |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-07 |title=Sri Lanka Netball star Tharjini Sivalingam retires |url=https://www.newswire.lk/2023/08/08/sri-lanka-netball-star-tharjini-sivalingam-retires/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=NewsWire |language=en-US}}
Awards
- World's Best Shooter Award - 2011
- Best Asia Shooter Awards - 2009, 2012
- Best Shooter of the Year Award, Fairest Player of City Falcon Award - 2017
- Asian Championship Player of the Tournament - 2018
- SLT Most Popular Sports Personality of the Year Award - 2019
- Sports Icon Award - Maldives Sports Awards 2022{{Cite web |date=2022-03-18 |title=Sanath & Tharjini win prestigious 'Sports Icon' award at Maldives Sports Awards |url=https://www.newswire.lk/2022/03/18/sanath-tharjini-win-prestigious-sports-icon-award-at-maldives-sports-awards/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=NewsWire |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sivalingam, Tharjini}}
Category:Alumni of the Eastern University, Sri Lanka
Category:People from Jaffna District
Category:Sri Lankan netball players
Category:2019 Netball World Cup players
Category:Victorian Netball League players
Category:Sri Lankan expatriate sportspeople in Australia
Category:Sri Lankan Tamil people
Category:2011 World Netball Championships players