For female bodybuilder and physique athlete Madhushi Erangika Amarasinghe, an Asian silver medal is not the finish line. After years of digging deep and largely funding her own journey, the Sri Lankan bodybuilding and physique athlete is now setting her sights on a world medal when she takes on the sport’s best in Laos come December.
Madhushi Erangika Amarasinghe
The 37-year-old won silver in the Women’s Sports Physique Over-165cm category at the 58th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, another major step in a journey built on sacrifice, discipline and a refusal to throw in the towel.
But success has come at a price. Madhushi said she has largely had to dig into her own pocket to compete internationally, with help coming mainly from her well-wishers rather than established sponsors.
“Up to now, I have taken part in tournaments using my own money, with support from my well-wishers. I have never received recognised sponsorship from a brand or a company,” Madhushi said.
“I cannot go much further depending only on individual help.”
It is a difficult reality for an athlete who has steadily climbed the ladder since taking up the sport seriously in 2014. Born in Kegalle and educated at Ananda National School in Chilaw, Madhushi spent years laying the groundwork before making her international debut at the Asian Championship in 2023, when she finished fourth and returned home with a trophy.
There was no looking back. In 2024, she brought home an Asian bronze medal before finishing fourth at the World Championships later that year. Her Asian silver medal in Bangkok this year showed she had raised the bar again.
“I worked hard from 2014 to reach this level,” she said.
“I took part in my first international tournament in 2023 and finished fourth with a trophy. The upcoming World Championships will be my fifth international tournament.”
Her sights are now firmly set on the 17th World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships 2026 in Vientiane, Laos, in December.
“I expect the good wishes and support of my fans and everyone in the country for the World Championships in December,” she said.
Bodybuilding, however, is not simply about lifting weights. Months of strict diets, training, recovery and mental preparation go into a few minutes under the lights. Madhushi knows those hard yards well. She credits coach Janaka Samarasinghe with playing an important role in building the foundation of her career, although she is currently preparing herself for international competition.
“Under my coach Janaka Samarasinghe’s guidance, I developed into a successful athlete,” she said.
“At present, I train myself for international competitions because I am also a coach and trainer.”
Madhushi, who is based in Colombo and works as a fitness coach, has also kept one eye on education while pursuing sporting success. She is in the final semester of a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science and Fitness at Lincoln University’s Sri Lankan branch, an academic path that has helped her better understand training, conditioning and physical preparation.
Yet perhaps the biggest hurdle remains financial. Women’s bodybuilding and physique sport operate outside the spotlight enjoyed by Sri Lanka’s mainstream sports. Athletes often have to swim against the tide to find the funds required for training, diets, supplements, travel and international competition.
Madhushi hopes her results will eventually open the door to stronger backing. But she is not waiting for someone else to carry the load.
“People sometimes blame the country and ask, ‘What has the country done for us?’ I think of it the other way around,” Madhushi said.
“I ask myself what we can contribute to our country. If we do that, I believe everything else will come our way. That is my belief as a citizen.”
From fourth place in 2023 to Asian bronze in 2024 and silver in 2026, Madhushi has already come a long way. Now another mountain awaits in Laos, and she is resolutely set to climb it.
