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Richard de Zoysa launches formula-I prokarting track

Local motor racing champion,Richard de Zoysa will break new ground in his field with the setting up of a scaled down Formula I track with all facilities at the Millennium Park at T.B.Jayah Mawatha,Colombo - 10.There will be a grand stand,health food bar,pool table,motor sports on giant screen where a newcomer to the sport will have top prokart instructors to put them through the paces.

For the local star,this will be a dream closer to his big crusade of starting an international racing track in Sri Lanka."Even world champion Michael Schumacher started his career with pro karting which is the cradle of rallying where the driver first gets into the rhythm of this scintilating sport,learns his racing line and steps into the intermediate stage of driving go-karts.All top formula drivers launch their careers this way."De Zoysa says that it was his disappointment with the lack of unity amongst clubs and motor sports administrators that led him to forming the Motor Racing Association of Sri Lanka with well known racing stalwarts such as Bri Ponnambalam,Pradip Jayawardene,Suren Cooke andDallas Martenstyn.

De Zoysa,who is the undisputed Sri Lankan rally king having also competed in several leading international rally events, said that this was a first step to his starting an international track shortly.He said that phase I of pro karting will start on february 25.The first race will be for the corporate sector will be the ‘ Airlines Prokart Challenge 2000 Rally’ sponsored by Sri Lankan Airlines.This leisure track will be open daily from 10 a.m to 12 midnight except on Saturday while leisure karting will resume after each segment of business has participated in their annual Prokart Challenge Race Meet. "Leisure karting will be highly affordable for all.The race track will have electronic lap timing and display and state of the art grandstand.There will be an air conditioned pool under phase-II",he added.

The operators have introduced a novel grading system for prokart drivers in the following divisions- (1). Master Driver - within a second of the fastest timing- a gold medal and plaque, (2).1st Class Prokarter- within 1.5 seconds of best timing- a silver medal and plaque,(3)2nd Class Prokarter -within 2,0 seconds of best timing - a bronze medal and plaque.

Operator races will be held every other Sunday with an annual All-Island Championship.

Kehel named manager for Pakistan tour

T. B. Kehelgamuwa has been appointed manager of the Sri Lanka squad for the tour of Pakistan. The tour, which includes three tests and a one-day series, commences February 6 and ends March 15.

Meanwhile, the BCCSL, in a press release, states that the ICC has appointed Brian Hastings of New Zealand as the match referee for the test series. The National Grid umpires for the first test will be David Orchard (South Africa), John Hampshire of England for the second test and Russell Tiffin of Zimbabwe for the third.

Thomians crush Wesley, win M. Sathasivam trophy

St. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia won the M. Sathasivam trophy easily beating Wesley College, by an innings and 85 runs at Campbell Park, yesterday.

Thomian deputy skipper, paceman Lakmal Fernando had match figures of 9 for 37. In Wesley’s first innings on Friday, he bagged 8 for 16.

Wesley, who managed a paltry 67 all out in their first innings, fared little better in the second, being bowled out for 91. The chief destroyers of the Wesley second innings were, Lahiru Wickrama 4 for 7 and Jeevan Mendis 4 for 16.

Earlier, St. Thomas’ made 243, before being bowled out. (VN)

Chief Scores:

St. Thomas’ first innings 243 all out.
Wesley first innings 67 all out.
Wesley second innings 91 all out. (D. Medaghadara 28, R. Wijayathunga 17, Lahiru Wickrama 4/7, Jeevan Mendis 4/16, Lakmal Fernando 1/21).

Odds in our favour — Suresh Subramaniam

"We are confident of being promorted to Group 2 of the Davis Cup, on the 14th of February," said Suresh Subramaniam, the non playing captain of the Sri Lanka Davis Cup team.

"Considering the fact that we will be playing all matches on our home courts and at a temperatures our players are accustomed to, the odds are in our favour. My only concern is that injuries do not take a toll on us. One or two of our players may each have to play 10 matches on five successive days."

"We are working hard under Sudantha Soysa, the Davis Cup coach, towards strengthening our doubles combinations." When queried as to whether former Davis Cup captain Arjun Fernando will strengthen the team, he stated that Arjun Fernando may be enlisted to play doubles if the need arises.

Rain plays spoil sport

By Reggie Goonewardene — Moratuwa Corr.
The inter-school cricket encounter between Prince of Wales and St. Peter’s College for the Lemonade Trophy which commenced around 12.30 p.m. ended at 4.30 p.m. due to a heavy shower.

The Cambrians deciding to bat were 208/8 at the close with Pubudu Ranaweera making a half century (67), while Rashan Peiris put up 37 along with Sahan Wijeratne 25, Manjula Bandara 25 not out. Ishan Patrayan took 3/24 while Crishantha Perera had figures of 2/45.

The match is scheduled to continue at 9 a.m. today (30), if weather permitting at Moratuwa.

Chief Scores: Prince of Wales 1st Innings 208/8 at close (Rashan Peiris 37, Pubudu Ranaweera 67, Sahan Wijeratne 25, Manjula Bandara 25 not out, Chulaindrajith Rodrigo 13, Ishan Patrayan 3/24 and Crishantha Perera 2/45).

The finals of the district snooker championship will take place on February 6 and the last 16 will qualify to play the all-island tournament which is expected to commence immediately thereafter.

Seeded players B. de Silva, Sunil de Silva, Shiras Mihular, B. Siriwardana, M. K. M. Hazeer, A. Jayaratna, Sajad Mawzoor, M. M. M. Mashook, P. J. M. Ameen, Sarath J. de Alwis, O. H. Sulaiman, P. Pushpakumara, M. Setupathy and Romy Razak are expected to fight out for the honours of this tournament.

Negombo CC made a formidable 268 all out versus Army in their Sara Trophy Division I match, which commenced at the FTZ Grounds, Katunayake yesterday.

Canaric Croos top scored with 67 not out. Other significant contributors were Mevan Fernando 45 and Anuradha Ratnasiri 40. M. Pathmal and H. M. S. Bandara took two wickets each.

Army were yet to score when bad light stopped play. The match continues today.

COMMENT
A victory for Indian cricket

by Srian Obeyesekere
The grind of nearly one month’s cricket with the world teenage cricketing extravaganza which decided the kings of the game must surely have served the ICC countries as a yardstick in feeding the main.From it no doubt, champions India and runners-up Sri Lanka must have benefitted most.For both countries displayed the type of stuff that augurs well for their cricket. Moreover,it is a shot in the arm for cricket in the sub-continent.

Ofcourse, India underlined it was a class above the rest from the very beginning.A side rich with allround talent which Sri Lanka could not come to terms with in the deciding final.Their batting made all the difference with four frontline batsmen in Manish Sharma, Ravneet Ricky,Yuvaraj Singh and Rijender Sodhi adding so much muscle which took their side to the summit at that level.Of them, Ricky and Sodhi weighed in strongly in tilting the scales decisively in favour of India when it mattered.

Sri Lanka, while having a well knit allround side,however,lacked match temperament to beat India. Notably, having lost to India in two outings.What proved costly was their indisciplined running between the wickets.A retarding factor which nearly resulted in defeat in the semi final to Pakistan in the semi final with as many as five run outs including four frontline batsmen. In the final too, there were four run outs. All needless throwing away of wickets. Losing the hard hitting Anandian batsman Tilina Kandambi, who went for a needless run which was never there,when Sri Lanka needed him most was a big setback in setting India a challenging victory target. Of course,a team whether at the highest or lowest level needs to click as an unit. As it is the Lankans could not sort out their weaknesses.It was more the job of the coach and manager to instill in the batsmen the need to phase out an innings instead of indecision in running between the wickets.

LANKA U-19 SHOULD CONTINUE

It would not be a bad idea if the cricket board, in the interest of Lankan cricket, continues to have this under-19 team which could engage local club teams in gaining rhythm.The selectors should give this their attention in grooming future hopefuls.

Next to India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan also did have an allround team while Australia and the West Indies could draw satisfaction from what was individual talent. Of course, South Africa could consider itself a mite unlucky to have been beaten by the weather gods which was a retarding factor in reaching the finals.

India’s victory should augur well for its cricket as a whole, at a time when the main team is taking a beating and badly needing new talent.

Sri Lanka youth fail to achieve unique hat-trick

by Mahinda Wijesinghe
In 1979, Sri Lanka whose appointed captain was Anura Tennekon, won the inaugural ICC Trophy conducted amongst the Associate Members, held in England. Though, the final game, against Canada was captained by Bandula Warnapura, That victory enabled Sri Lanka to compete in the big league, and must have influenced in some small measure at least when we were admitted as Full Members of the ICC in 1981. Finally, in 1996, under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka won the World Cup. In other words, first we won the title when the competition was conducted amongst the Associate Members of the ICC and, 17 years later, on the 17th of March, 1996, clinched the title when conducted amongst the Full Members as well. A ‘double’ no other country, has achieved.

Dropping the lime on the line

So, when the Sri Lankan Under-19ers reached the finals of the youth World Cup, expectations were - naturally - high. Could we achieve a hat-trick: After the ‘double’ the seniors had achieved, would our youth oblige? Sadly, our boys dropped the lime almost on the line. Only consolation is that Sri Lanka not only lost to a side that played better on the day but also India was the better side.

It was also quaint that Ranjan Madugalle, who was the Match Referee in the 1999 World Cup final was also the Match Referee in the Youth World Cup final when Sri Lanka met India. Another ‘double’,

India made less mistakes

That India was unbeaten in the tournament was a true reflection of their skills and all-round professional attitude. They simply made less mistakes than their opponents. And the manner in which they simply annihilated the Australians in the semi-final must have been some consolation for the humiliation their seniors were being currently subjected to at the hands of Steve Waugh and his men. India were deserwedly crowned the champions. Well played India! Also, it was refreshing to see that, overall, the youth cricketers displayed better sense of sportsmanship than their seniors.

Ian Daniel stood out

Sri Lanka’s opening batsman Ian Daniel stood out like a beacon where Sri Lanka’s batting was concerned. It was eventually a case of the Sri Lankans being over-dependent on Daniel. However, our batting was in the main, brittle. No wonder, when Daniel was dismissed first ball in the finals, that took the wind out of the sails of our batting. Mubarak, the left-hander, is capable of hitting the ball hard, but, except in the finals, only flattered to eventually fail. A No. 3 batsman is the pivot of the side. He is the playmaker. He must fashion the innings. There is not much purpose for the No. 3 batsman to crack 30 runs in 30 balls and languish in the shade of the pavilion after that.

Poor running between wickets

Another serious defect which cost Sri Lanka a plenty was the poor running between wickets. When a team loses nine batsmen in successive games due to faulty running between wickets, how far can that side progress? Losing 5 wickets due to faulty running, against Pakistan in the semi-final? and yet winning the game by 10 runs, probably led our boys to a false sense of security. The final saw four men going out the same way, and 178 runs was not a defendable total. Not on that pitch and not against the Indian batting side.

A word of warning to Pieris

Rashan Pieris the wicket-keeper, who incidentally was adjudged the best-fielder in the tournament, is a real ‘find’ for Sri Lankan cricket. He is a ‘natural’ wicket-keeper. His movements are economical, makes very few errors and there is rhythm in his glove-work. Pieris is a worthy understudy for the senior side. Additionally he is a capable batsman. If handled right, Pieris is destined to be a fixture in the national side before too long. However, there is one thing he must guard against. Pieris must restrict his encouraging remarks to his teammates. For one thing it can affect his own concentration and for another it is both unbecoming and not forgetting the fact that constant shouting can have the opposite on his own team members.

Our stars of the future

Pushpakumara, the off-spinner, who has won his national ‘cap’ appears a capable all-rounder. He is an intelligent bowler, and being the understudy to Muralitharan will benefit him greatly. Ranil Dhammika, the left-arm spinner, is another bowler who needs watching and could well make the grade soon. Kandambi and Gajanayake are talented batsmen while legspinner Lokuarachchi and pacemen Ganegama and Nissanka could well be the stars of the future.

Overall the Sri Lankan cricket larder is well-stocked. It is a matter of picking the right players and giving them a long enough stint to prove themselves. In recent times, very few youngsters were given a break. Even when they do get a break, it is for a short time. So, the pressure gets into them and they fade before they can flower. The number of casualties who fell by the wayside on account of such selectoral faux pas are too numerous to mention. Give youth a proper break does not mean that experienced men are jettisoned. But, if the experienced men cannot perform basic functions due to any sort of impairment whether due to age or the potential for injury, then they become excess ballast.

Have your say
A puritan menace within cricket?

Most people are aware that the no-ball rule on throwing the ball is defective. It is one of the few laws where mere suspicion deems one guilty. The role is under review now - but, alas, at ICC pace. So what does one do in the interim."

Where a rule is seriously flawed it is imperative for umpires and those in powerful positions to administer it leniently and with common sense. But what do we see? We see a body of puritans who wish to clean the Augean stables using the new slow-mo technology to cleanse the world of chuckers. One of these voices was displayed quite adamantly on the ABC’s 7.30 report on Tuesday, 4th January. As effectively, a radio commentator called Bharadwaj’s action into question.

These voices think they are doing the game of cricket a service. Their intentions are good. But their effects are as disastrous as the work of the witch-hunters at Salem way back in time. As Jeff Thomson has stated publicly, if one was to focus on the occasional odd-action among bowlers in this manner, a significant number of bowlers would be called.

One of the problems is that these actions are being pursued by a body of persons who remain mostly faceless and unaccountable. Justice must be public, egalitarian and standardised. But who has collected the video evidence in the cases sent to the ICC thus far? And as it happens who are the accused? To build up defences by referring to "persecution-mania" in the Indian subcontinent misses the point. What is the "evidence" provided by the answers to may two questions.

It is about time that the ICC set up an accredited body to collect evidence against alleged chuckers and rendered the procedure open. And where the ICC Committee reaches decisions by telephone meetings, such procedures call for ‘’due process." Where individual careers are threatened in such a traumatic manner, it is not only incumbent upon the ‘court of justice’ to meet expeditiously (and that was not the case with Shoaib Akthar), but it is also vital that the decision should not be taken in "one sitting." A second "sitting" is required after members have had time to reflect on their initial leanings and to review the video evidence again in the light of their first ‘conference.’ Hasty decisions must be avoided in circumstances where the adjudicators are not meeting face-to-face with the evidence displayed in front of them so to speak. After all, we are talking here of frame-by frame analysis.

Michael Roberts Rugby Sevens
Champions eliminated

by Hafiz Marikar
Defending Champions Sports Club were eliminated from the main cup championship on the opening day of the SLRFU inter-club ‘A’ division seven-a-side rugby tournament at Longden Place yesterday.

Kandy SC’s dreams of retaining the rugby sevens title was shattered after CR & FC ‘B’ sprang a surprise 12 points to 5 win over the Nittawela club. The other major upset in yesterday’s qualifying round matches was CH & FC ‘C’s 15-10 victory against Police SC ‘A’.

All three teams fielded by CH have entered the quarter-final of the main cup championship.

In the quarter-finals of the cup championship, scheduled for today. CR & FC ‘B’ will play CH & FC ‘B’, while the fancied CR & FC ‘A’ will meet CH ‘C’.

All four finals will be played this evening, followed by the awards presentation. The tournament serves as the final trial to pick the Sri Lanka team for the Malaysian and Hong Kong International Rugby Sevens, scheduled for next month and March respectively.

The final round line-up after opening day’s matches:

Cup championship quarter finals:- CR ‘B’ v CH ‘B’, Havelocks ‘A’ v Army ‘A’, CR & FC ‘A’ v CH ‘C’, CH & FC ‘A’ v Havelocks ‘B’.

Plate championship quarter finals:- Kandy SC ‘A’ v Tristar, Army Diyatalawa v Police ‘B’, Galle v Police ‘A’, Army ‘B’ v Navy ‘A’.

Bowl championship quarter finals:- Old Zahirians have entered the semi-finals on a bye Navy ‘B’ v Sabaragamuwa’A’, Moratuwa University v Uva, Navy Trincomalee v Sabaragamuwa ‘B’.

Women’s tournament semi-finals:- Sabaraganmuwa ‘A’ v Sabaragamuwa ‘B’, Navy v Army ‘A’.

Bradman and his uneasy relationship with the media

By Mahinda Wijesinghe
Probably Dr. W. G. Grace would have been the most talked of and written about cricketer until the advent of Donald Bradman who stormed the media - radio and print, and much later the electronic - from 1928-29 onwards. About no other single sportsman has so many books and articles written. Seven decades later, despite his avowed dislike for publicity, The Don is news even when his birthday was recently publicly celebrated by others! His own son changed his name, from Bradman, to avoid the publicity. His opportunity for privacy was as rare as the possibility for an Eskimo to pluck a few apples from his back-garden.

Naturally, Bradman became a recluse shunning the media who tended to make a mountain of a molehill whenever they had a chance of making any comment about him. And the Australian media then and now was not different. In fact, when post-War Tests were to restart in 1946, Bradman’s health had deteriorated and it was a difficult decision whether he should play. The doctors warned him not to play as he would be risking permanent injury. Yet, Bradman having discussed the matter with his wife and played against Hammond’s England touring party, scoring 76 and 3. As Bradman wrote about these innings:

"It was a very subdued effort... I was a shadow of myself, physically, mentally and in cricket form one journalist wrote of my play: "I have seen today the ghost of a great cricketer and ghosts seldom come back to life." Such comments were scarcely helpful. I knew the pitfalls ahead than any journalist and I was the one taking the risk. Encouragement was what I needed, not doubts."

The sensation-hungry media once announced his ‘death’ and Bradman remains one of the rare beings who has read his own obituary! Today, aged 91 years, he is still batting.

Bradman was featured by some as a hard-hearted, no-nonsense player who played the game hard, asking no quarter and giving none and being unsociable. Bradman answers those charges in his autobiography - Farewell to Cricket, Hodder and Stoughton 1950 - as follows:

"I was often accused of being unsociable, though I fear the charge was applied in a loose sense. In substance, it boiled down to my dislike for artificiality and publicity. There were to those who thought I was unsociable because at the end of the day I did not think it my duty to breast the bar and engage in a beer-drinking contest. At least I made no attempt to interfere with the habit of others, and if I thought my most important need was a meal and a cup of tea, I had as much a right to complain of their late entry into the dining room as they had to complain of my absence from the bar... any exceptional performance makes great demands upon the physical and nervous resources of the performer. Some people try to overcome the resultant fatigue by the use of stimulants - others by seeking counter excitement. I always obtained best results by seeking quietness. Music is a tonic to jaded nerves. It may not be to a musician but it is to me."

He disliked what the average Australian, or for that matter most others of any nationality, craved for - publicity and being lionised in public. As he so succinctly wrote: "It is not much use trying to explain to people who crave publicity and can’t get it, that one’s greatest need may be quietness and privacy."

It must have been indeed difficult for man to be .recognised "even in the shops at Port Said." Every word, gesture and movement is analysed publicly. And, some of the journalists who wanted sensational copy - and who usually did not get the chance - would always try to create a storm in a tea-cup, after all, the Bradman was magic. Bradman had many friends in the media such as Sir Neville Cardus, Jim Swanton, Johnnie Moyes, Arthur Mailey, Jack Hobbs, Arthur Gilligan, Alan McGilvary et al. Their constructive comments "developed in me a greater appreciation of their qualities."

Bradman deplored journalists who lived by sensationalism and condemned articles which by innuendoes and half-truths misled the public. As he finally concluded: "I believe in treating all journalists as trustworthy men until I found out anything to the contrary, but if I ever formed the opinion that a confidence had been betrayed I seldom risked a second opportunity."

Who could fault him for pursuing such rational thinking?

Fang Qing Niang - first woman to evolve martial arts

Martial artist, H.Douglas Peiris, a member of the International Martial Arts Federation, International Federation of Wado-Ryu Karate Do-Organisation and founder member of the Asian Martial arts research centre of Sri Lanka in conversation with Srian Obeyesekere

YONGCHUN HE QUAN — (IN CHINESE) — WHITE CRANE GONGFA

This art is believed to have been evolved between 1600 to 1700 A.D. It is not second to any. The Yong-Chun-He-Quan and Ludhan Quan are considered two priceless arts that have served in further enriching fighting techniques and styles which were evolved after 1600-1700 A.D. The fighting customs of these two arts are so embedded in the world martial arts so much so that when talking of it the two cannot be left out.

Whit Crane Gongfa was created by a young woman called Fang Qing Niang by studying the form of the crane and can be considered the first time a fighting technique was evolved by a woman based on the forms of nature.

Both according to medical science and physical science. Significantly, five forms of combat have since been evolved using Niang’s art. The spiritual development through Niang’s works are such that western experts have hailed her as a saint.

OKINAWA-TE/TOUDI-JUTSU

This fighting technique or custom is identified as Toudi-Justsu thus carries

Having originated in Okinawa it has that identity too. Founded in 1800 by the famous martial artist, Sakugawa who was born in 1733, Okinawe-Te or Toudi-Jutsu was to become one of the most foremost of arts of combat in the globe. Stil more significantly, it is the art practised by most with the most number of styles known as karate today. It became an integral part of the world martial arts with the intergration of traditional Japanese fighting techniques. After 1933, several Japanese intellectuals incorporated several techniques based on science and technology such as systematic fist attacks, finger nail spear attacks, formal defensive techniques and other forms of attacks which has made it not second to any other forms of combat. It also became a spiritual way of life by inculcating discipline and other human values.

(To be continued)

Bowling over the school children

The Y2K Bowling Center will venture to ‘bowl over’ school children in this novel sport.

Accordingly, its management will be breaking new ground by staging the first ever schools Bowling Cha-mpionships in Sri Lanka at its headquarters at Mellennium Park, T. B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 from February 7-27.

As an incentive, Coca-Cola has tied up with Y2K Bowling Center in offering an attractive ‘Coco-Cola Trophy’ to the highest scorer.

Announcing it all were Joe Serasinghe, the Chief Executive Officer of Y2K Bowling Center its Manager, Athula Nana-yakkara, Operations Manager, Harpo Goon-eratne,Manager,Business Development,Y2 K Bowling Center,Kala Dharshanie Varuna, Deputy Manager Joe Geeganage and Coca Cola’s Planning and Co-ordinating Man-ager, Migara Dunu-wille, Channel and Key Customer Manager, Nalinda Jayamanne, Key Accounts Manager (Educational) Ram Pathiravithana and Key Accounts Mana-ger (Hospitality), John Perera.

The Champion-ships will envisage the Under-19 Bowling Championship, Under -14 Bowling Champ-ionship (10 and above) and the Under-19 Team Bowling Cham-pionship. Each school will be entitled to send a maximum of three teams consisting of four players with the preliminary rounds commencing daily at 3 p.m. from February 7 with an entry fee of Rs. 100 per participant.

For further details contact Y2K Bowling Center on Tel. 075-556802.

Women cricketers excel in India

The Lanka Women’s XI displayed their superiority and playing skills when they bashed the Indian States of Lucknow, Karnataka, Delhi, Andra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra during their gruelling two weeks tour of India when they competed in the Inter-states Tournament for the Lady Bishop Cup. Winning all the six one-day internationals, they lost to Andra Pradesh in the Finals after having them beatfen earlier. The Lankan girls lost by a mere 28 runs and have only themselves to blame for their over-confidence and careless bowling that conceded 46 extras.

The girls who had to travel from state to state allover India and playing against the cream of women’s cricket in India, surprised everyone with their fine display. They won the Runner-up Trophy, cash prizes and many singles titles. Ramani Perera had the AP team on their toes with a spell of tight bowling, capturing 3 wickets for 29 in 8 overs.

The tour annually organised in India, invited the Lanka team as warm-up matches for both countries before the World Cup 2000 in New Zealand. The invitation was sent to the President, Gwen Herat of the Women’s Cricket Association of Sri Lanka.

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