Coming from a well known sporting family Meneka Mendis carried on from where the rest of the family left off. Her father Duleep Mendis the former Sri Lankan Cricket captain played a vital part in uplifting cricket in Sri Lanka while her grandmother was the first ever women’s cricket captain in Ceylon. Her brothers went on to play cricket for S.Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia and the youngest out of the brothers was the vice captain of the Thomian cricket team in the year 2004. She goes on to say that she was the first member in her family who hit the water and took up swimming and water polo.

Colombo Spirit was able to catch up with the former skipper of Ladies College who told us of her adventurous career as a sportswoman.

How did it all start?
How it all started was, mainly because of my father. He just wanted me to know how to swim and pushed me to the deep end and told me to swim somehow. I treaded water and stayed afloat and then he gradually taught me how to swim after my fear of drowning was gone. Talking on a lighter side Meneka also added saying that another reason to start swimming was because she had asthma when she was small and her father wanted her to take up swimming since it helped to control it.

What inspired you to take up water polo?
When I saw an inter house water polo match being played, it really caught my attention. I loved that it was a rough sport and which was quite challenging. I would have chosen rugby if I had the chance but it’s a pity that we didn’t have that sport (ends with a wide smile) It just had a perfect blend of almost everything. For instance, ball handling skills, stamina, swimming skills, and most importantly inelegance during different game situations. And I really like to be in the water..hehe

When asked why water polo as opposed to any other sport, her answer was short and to the point.
“ITS LIKE NO OTHER SPORT” – And she also goes on to say that it has that ‘Oomph’ factor when comparing it with the other sports. Water polo is a combination of swimming and fine ball handling skills. It’s a sport I have a great deal of passion for.

Any other sports you have been part of?
Well, all of the sports I did in school involved me being in water. I also took up water ballet because it was more of a graceful and lady like sport. I was also fortunate to be picked to perform a routine at the 2006 South Asian games. It’s like I’m addicted to the water, kind of attracts me like a moth to a flame.

Greatest achievements as a sportswoman
It was when I won the inaugural LC-VV which was in the year 2005. It was a nail biting game because the game went into extra time and finally penalty shoot outs. I was lucky enough to be able to not the opposition score a goal and one of my team mates sealed the deal with an excellent shot.

In your own words can you explain what needs to be instilled in a water polo player?
Well it’s a combination of a lot of things. Firstly a player has to be determined to face anything that comes his or her way. Most people stress on the size when it comes to water polo but my personal opinion is that size does not matter as long as the player is an intelligent thinker. There were so many of my team mates who were comparatively small in size to the opposition but always overcame their opponents almost all the time simply because they were good thinkers and read the game well. You should not get intimidated no matter what and you should always stand your ground.

When asked what was it like to captain your school Meneka stated
“I was lucky to captain my school”, but went on to say that she enjoyed every bit of it and would not want to change anything about it. It was not at all an easy task but it was a new challenge and I accepted it and made the most of it. When I got the captaincy in 2005 it also meant that I had to live up to the high standards set by the past captains. I was also fortunate enough to have a persevering and cooperative team. They helped me a lot during hard times and made things easier.

How did you feel like to play as a goal keeper?
Well basically all eyes are on the goalie as everyone knows. Even when it comes to football or hockey it’s just one person in front of the goal who has a huge say on the outcome of the game and I just loved having that pressure. This reacted well because it pumped me up more to better myself every time I stepped in to the pool. It was a driving force behind my performances.

Players you looked up to?
My past captains as I mentioned earlier have thought me a lot about captaining and also a lot about water polo. They were pure role models and set an example of themselves each and every time they played a match. They always kept the team motivated and backed the players no matter what and just expected them to perform to the fullest no matter what the result of the match was.

Currently what are you doing?
I just finished my Bachelor of business degree in marketing in Swinburne University in Melbourne Australia and planning to do my masters next year. I played a fair amount of water polo back in Melbourne and represented the Monash Blues during the 2009 season. It was a different experience all together. And I see a definite gap in quality of play when compared to Sri Lanka but we somehow managed to be on the same level as them during the latter part of the season.

Apart from water polo what do you normally do? At home
Well I wasn’t that much in to studies those days, and I used to just laze around watching TV most of the time and basically wait till the next day to jump in to the pool. And I really enjoy living so close to the beach and spend every single chance I get soaking up the sun.

What sort of support did you get from your family?
My parents never nagged me and pressured me. They always appreciated any achievement, big or small. And they always backed me up hundred percent. I’m ever grateful to my father for dumping me in the deep end when I was small. Even during difficult times they always thought me how to cope with the problems and be strong. I have two elder brothers who supported me a lot. They used to always come for my matches and cheer for me. My mother would never miss a match and my biggest fans were none other than my parents.

Anything else you need to mention, like a special person who helped you along the way or a message?
Two people come to mind. Two of my coaches Udara Fernando and Charitha Ratwatte who thought me everything I needed to know about water polo. They molded me in to a well rounded person and water polo player.

Talking about the lighter things in life this is what Meneka had to say.

If you were stuck in an Island what three things would you take with you?
A endless supply of coffee
My bathers
And my Ipod to just chill

How would you describe a perfect day?
Wake up and relish my coffee first before anything else, and then have a long shower and get all pampered up. Do my favorite pastime, ‘shopping’. And spend some time with my friends and come back home to spend time with my family.

What is your favorite meal?
Well I don’t have one particular one in mind but I just love sweets. I can basically live on sweets and nothing else. Just for the record I would say my mother’s backed crab because it’s out of this world.

Future plans for Meneka Mendis?
I will continue to play water polo for as long as I can because the feeling I have when I play water polo can never be compared to anything else. I would have loved to coach my school team if not for the lack of time.