Imran Bisthamin was a superb number eight-by Hafiz Marikar
Source:Dailynews
Imran Bisthamin was forced to retire from rugby after an injury, he was a brilliant rugby player produced by St. Anthony’s College and after his school career played for Kandy Sports Club and was aiming to hit the top and be the best in the game. From 2004 onwards, Imran successfully transferred his skills to the Kandy Sports Club team and on to the national level both in the ‘Sevens’ and 15’a side However, a career that promised to rise to even greater heights was cut off.
On November 22, 2008, at the age of 23 Imran Bisthamin suffered career-threatening injuries to the head and spinal cord when he fell from an upper floor of a restaurant “Night Kade” at the George E de Silva Shopping Complex at Dalada Veediya Kandy. He was unconscious and rushed to the Kandy General Hospital and treated in the intensive-care unit for brain haemorrhage. He regained consciousness only after three weeks.
He learnt his rugby at St. Anthony’s College where he captained the college rugby team, playing at Number 8. He captained his school in his final year in 2004. Same year he turned out for the Kandy Sports Club and played till his accident in 2008 as a flanker and played a major role in the club winning many championship titles. He also played for the Sri Lanka youth team. He was a hard working forward and a good carrier of the ball in addition to his aggressive play. He also excelled in the line outs using his height and build to the maximum.
His dropping from the Sri Lanka side added to the controversy which hit Sri Lanka’s rugby, as many felt he should have been in the Sri Lanka team purely on his excellent performance for Kandy SC. He played for Kandy Sports Club from 2004 to 2008 and Sri Lanka at the Asian Rugby tournament in 2007 and in the year 2008 played for the sevens side.
He was a hard working third row forward and a good carrier of the ball in addition to his aggressive play.
He also excelled in the line outs using his height and build to the maximum. An outstanding forward, Imran’s pet position was Number Eight. He was regarded as the best in that position. He also functioned as a flanker and a lock. Imran was a good medium pace bowler in the under 17 cricket team, but faced with a choice he threw in his lot with the oval ball game.
