Thilini ‘Imandi’ Seneviratne was awarded a Tier 2 Scholarship within the 2022 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program, and is the first Karate athlete to be included in the program and is a Kata specialist.
Imandi was born in Sri Lanka in 2002 and came to Australia at the age of 7 after two years in Fiji. She started practicing Karate as a 5-year-old at the China Club in Fiji, and in 2010 was accepted into the Victorian State Team.
In 2012, she represented Australia as a 10-year-old at the Oceania Karate Championships and won bronze, before winning silver in 2014, bronze in 2016 and gold in 2018. Her international debut came in 2013 at the World Karate Federation Youth World Cup in Greece where she collected the first-place trophy.
Further honours followed. In 2014 she received the Victorian School Sports Award for Outstanding Sporting Achievement, and in 2015 won the Commonwealth Karate Championships in India. She then returned to the World Youth Cup in 2016 and won silver.
Imandi has represented Australia at the World Karate Championships twice and is a five-time national champion and seven-time Victorian state champion, and is now ranked Nidan, 2nd Dan Black Belt.
As well as pursuing more international medals in Karate, Imandi has her sights set on becoming a clinical neuropsychologist as well as a Karate coach so she can show young people how sport can help them become physically and mentally stronger and grow into confident adults.
“Being a Scholarship recipient of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame is a great honour which recognises the hard work behind achieving great heights in Australian Karate. I feel privileged to be a part of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame community. With their support and encouragement, I will be able to realise my sporting goals. Receiving this Scholarship during a period of world-wide chaos due to the pandemic, where morale is at an all-time low, has helped boost my spirits, motivation and confidence, for which I am truly grateful.” – Imandi Seneviratne on being selected as a Tier 2 Scholarship Holder
“I don’t count the sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting because they’re the only ones that count. That’s what makes you a champion.” – Muhammad Ali
Awards, Honours & Achievements
Junior Age Groups (U21, Junior, Cadets, Children) – International
- 2020 – 2021: AKF did not participate in international competitions due to COVID19
- 2019: WKF Cadet, Junior & Under 21 World Karate Championships, Chile – 15th
- 2018: Oceania Karate Championships, New Zealand – Champion
- 2017: WKF Cadet, Junior & Under 21 World Karate Championships, Spain – Participation
- 2016: Oceania Karate Championships, New Caledonia – Bronze
- 2016: WFK Youth Cup, Croatia – Silver
- 2015: Commonwealth Karate Championships, India – Champion
- 2014: Oceania Karate Championships, Fiji – Silver
- 2013: WKF Youth World Cup, Greece – Champion
- 2012: Oceania Karate Championships, Australia – Bronze
Junior Age Groups (U21, Junior, Cadets, Children) – Domestic: AKF and State of Victoria
- 2020 – 2021: Australian National Karate Championships – COVID19 cancelled
- 2010 – 2019: Australian National Karate Championships medals– Gold (2019-2017, 2015, 2013), Silver (2016, 2014, 2012), Bronze (2011-2010)
- 2021: Australian Open Karate Championships medal – Silver
- 2020: Australian Open Karate Championships – COVID19 cancelled
- 2010 – 2019: Australian Open Karate Championships medals – Gold (2019-2017, 2014-2012, 2010), Silver (2016-2015, 2011)
- 2010 – 2021: Victorian State Karate Championships medals – Gold (2020-2017, 2013-2011), Silver (2021, 2016), Bronze (2015, 2010)
- 2019: Karate Victoria Top Gun Award for Junior Kata
- 2014: Victorian School Sports Award for Outstanding Sporting Achievements in 2013
- 2013: Karate Victoria High Distinction Award
- 2012: Karate Victoria High Distinction Award and Most Spirited Award for Kata
Senior – Domestic: AKF and State of Victoria
- 2020 – 2021: Australian National Karate Championships – COVID19 cancelled
- 2019: Australian National Karate Championships – 7th
- 2021: Australian Open Karate Championships – Bronze medal
- 2020: Australian Open Karate Championships – COVID19 cancelled
- 2019: Australian Open Karate Championships – 7th
- 2019 – 2021: Victorian State Karate Championships – 5th (2021-2020), Bronze medal (2019)
Image: Mercury Megaloudis/Megagraphics
