Journey of NILMA DOLE-WILLIAMS

Nilma Dole-Williams is a cricket coach, humanitarian, and the wife of the British Ambassador to Cambodia, Mr. Dominic Williams. Her journey in sports and service has taken her across the globe, from playing for the Peruvian women's cricket team to becoming the first female coach of color at Brighton and Hove Cricket Club, and now developing cricket programs and supporting communities in Cambodia. Her story is one of passion, determination, and the drive to empower young women through sports. Let's hear a few questions she answered, sharing her experiences, challenges, and advice for aspiring sportswomen.

- By Yashmitha Sritheran

Nilma, can you take us back to your childhood, how did sports, particularly cricket, shape your early life, and what role did your family play in encouraging or discouraging your interest?

Growing up, I was told that cricket was not a sport for a young lady. I always had a passion for cricket, but I was never really encouraged because I come from a mixed Sri Lanka Malay family in Kandy. My mother's father is originally Bengali and I also have mixed Sinhala and Tamil genes. So as a girl in a conservative society, I was conditioned to believe that a good marriage was the only way for me to succeed in life. I did accept my fate but yet in my heart, I was passionate about doing something more with my life.

You mentioned being inspired by Sri Lanka's 1996 Cricket World Cup victory. What about that moment resonated with you so strongly, even though you weren't actively playing at the time?

Seeing Sri Lanka win the Cricket World Cup in 1996 was etched in my memory as a young girl. I couldn't believe that a country with a young team from humble backgrounds could achieve such greatness, especially when it happened during the time of the ethnic conflict. Unlike countries such as Australia and England, which have world-renowned facilities, and India, which has a wealth of talent to choose from, Sri Lanka used negativity as a catalyst to succeed. They turned the negativity into positivity, and they succeeded on an international stage. It was absolutely amazing to see the then captain Arjuna Ranatunge lift the golden trophy handed to him by the Late Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. In that moment, I believed that cricket is the sport of peace and has the impact to change a country for the better. In that moment, people set aside their differences and came together to join hands in good spirit.