Tharjini Sivalingam, a former star goal shooter for Sri Lanka, expressed her willingness to coach the national netball team if approached by the governing body. Currently participating as both a player and coach in an Australian league, she shared her thoughts during the 13th Asian Senior Netball Championships 2024 in Bengaluru, India. Sri Lanka’s performance at the tournament was disappointing, culminating in an unexpected defeat to Singapore in the final, which went into overtime for the first time in the event’s history.
Tharjini acknowledged her current coaching qualifications, stating, “I have only a Level 1 coaching certificate, which is inadequate for a national role, despite over 20 years of experience.” She plans to pursue Level 2 and Level 3 coaching certifications to prepare for the opportunity.
Having represented Sri Lanka in four Netball World Cups and five Asian Championships, Tharjini stepped down from the national team after the 2023 World Cup in Cape Town. She attended the tournament with her husband, R. Prasad, who supported the team by providing travel bags and water.
Reflecting on the final, Tharjini noted the lack of international exposure for Sri Lankan players compared to Singapore, emphasizing the need for better preparation and experience within the coaching staff.
