Hurdler, MAHESH PERERA who won the men's 110 m. hurdles event at the National Games. (Pic. by SRI LAL GOMES).

 Sri Lanka's Mr. Hurculean

To call him Sri Lanka's hurculean man would befit sprinter, SUGATH TILAKARATNE for his record shattering timing of 44.61 seconds in the men's 400 metre sprint at the recent Asian Championships in Japan which superseeded all other records in that event. His effort was described by Asian analysts as unbelievably spectacular and world class in its true sense for the timing which put to shame the normal Asian timing associated with runners outside Asia which is sub-45. MOHAMED AL MALKY of Oman had done it (44.56s) in 1988 at Budapest which still stands as a continental record. Japanese sprinter Su Suma Takano (44.78s) had done it at home. The other sub-45 timing in Asia was by Qatari Ibra-him Ismail. But even Ismail's best of 44.85s paled in comparison to Tilakaratne's fabulous feat.

Here staff cameraman SRI LAL GOMES captures 25-year-old TILAKARATNE by the track at last week's National Sports Festival where he shattered the record of 1996 held by W. Wimaladasa, clocking 45.83 seconds to improve on his own mark of 45.92 seconds. TILAKARATNE was adjudged 'best athlete at the Games'.

 

WILL COMPETE AT C’WEALTH GAMES
SUSANTHIKA CLEARED, SAYS, "I WAS FIXED"
By Shirajiv Sirimane

South Asia’s fastest women, Susanthika Jayasinge, who was suspended for allegedly of taking performance enhancing drugs, was cleared by the Amateur Athletic Association of all charges yesterday.

Susanthika, who was under suspension from last April due to these charges, will now compete in the forth- coming Commonwealth Games from September 10 to 22, in Malaysia.

The International Amateur Athletic Association (IAAF), in a fax dated 20 August, had informed the Sri Lankan AAA President, Ariya Kannangara in this regard. The fax signed by U. Dole the Doping Officer if the IAAF Doping Commission had stated that the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) would be answerable for any future drug related charges against Susanthika or any other Lankan athletes will not be answerable to any future Drug violation by either Susanthika or any other Sri Lankan athlete.

Susanthika Jayasinghe, reacting to this said that the verdict was no surprise to her. " From the beginning I knew I was a pawn of a dirty game, but I knew that the true picture will surface soon." She thanked her two Lawyers Daya Perera (PC) and Kalinga Indratissa and the Press for saving her. "I want to stress the point that no one other than these personal should take credit for this. This, I say to the Sports Ministry as well as the AAA", she said strongly and wanted it printed in bold letters.

"The personal whom I was banking on for help backed out and they should remain in the shadows and not take credit for this," she added.

Asked to comment on her future plans, she said that it is still in the balance. "The people who fixed me up have not stopped yet and they are out for my blood. I am sure they will strike again and a storm is nearby," she feared. "But I want to tell them that I too am ready for them."

Airing her views on the Commonwealth Games, the Greece World Games Silver Medallist said that she was not in a good frame of mind to train. "I was not given permission to even enter the Sugathadasa Stadium for training. When I inquired about this self imposed ban everybody was mum."

The AAA President at a Media briefing last night said that the IAAF has now entrusted the AAA to look after the conduct of Susanthika. "Therefore we have decided to do drug tests on Susanthika every three months since she is the only Sri Lankan athlete ever to be accused of consuming steroids and being suspended on two occasions."

The AAA President also disclosed that plans are underway to conduct random drug tests on all local athletes at major local Athletic meets. "We will have to spend around rupees seventy thousand for this, " he disclosed.

"The IAAF had carefully studied the recommendations and the findings of the three - member Committee appointed by the AAA to probe this matter. This committee, headed by Prof. Ravindra Fernando and two lawyers Wijedasa Liyanaarachchi and Raja Depp, had forwarded a report stating that there is evidence to show that Susanthika had not been officially informed of the testing of the Second ‘B’ sample"

He went on to explain that two members of the Committee had said there was no strong evidence to prove that the Sprint Queen had taken drugs while the Chairman Fernando had stated otherwise. "While forwarding this report we recommended that the IAAF should look at this problem on humanitarian grounds and requested them to guide us", he explained.

DRUG TESTS FOR ALL LANKAN ATHLETES

The IAAF had directed the AAA to conduct an off season drug test on Susanthika way back in October and when the test was performed after about three months on Susanthika and the five other Olympic poolists Susanthika was tested positive of Nandrolone. She immediately said that the tests were not done properly and said that it was a fix. The AAA then suspended her until this happy massage came Sri Lanka way.

Sri Lanka 176 for 2 at tea needing 309 to win
Ranjan Paranavithana reporting from England

Set a victory target of 309 in 82 overs Sri Lanka were 176 for 3 wickets at tea in their second innings on the third and final day of their rain affected three-day match against Hampshire after the county forfeited its second innings here on Monday. Earlier, with both sides agreeing, Sri Lanka closed their first innings at 39 for 4 wickets.

Hampshire had closed the first innings on 347 for 8 wickets. Day two was entirely lost without a ball being bowled due to rain.

When play resumed on the final day Sri Lanka got off to a very inauspicious start losing wickets at random. Russel Arnold went for a blob with just one run on the board Mahela Jayawardena for 03 ,captain Sanath Jayasuriya for 11 and Hashan Tillekeratne for 05 as the tourists were reduced to 4 wickets for 21 runs in the face of some accurate bowling by the duo of Morris and Francis who opened the bowling. The duo exploited the overcast and moist conditions to their advantage.

With Sri Lanka on 39 for 2 wickets and Chandika Hathurusinghe on 7 and Upul Chandana on 8, the Hampshire captain Robin Smith suggested to the Lankan captain that on mutual agreement Sri Lanka close their innings and the county forfeit its second innings. On this basis Sri Lanka were set a target of 309 in 82 overs.

Sri Lanka’s run chase suffered a setback losing opener Russel Arnold once again for a duck. However Sanath Jayasuriya (40) and Mahela Jayawardena steadied the innings. With Jayasuriya’s departure after a 75-minute occupation of the crease, Jayawardene found an able ally in Chandika Hathurusinghe as the fifth wicket pair took the score to 107 for 2 wickets in 30 overs ,one hour into the post lunch session. Jayawardena was unbeaten on 43 and Hathurusinghe on 20.

By tea Jayawardena had taken his score to 89 and Hathurusinghe to 39 as Sri Lanka reached 176 for 2, requiring another 133 for victory and 52 more overs remaining.

SCOREBOARD

HAMPSHIRE First Innings 347 for 8

(G. W. White 156, W. S. Kendall 59, S. Jayasuriya 3/42, P Wickremesinghe 2/53)

HAMPSHIRE Second Innings forfeited

SRI LANKA first innings

S. Jayasuriya c James b Francis 11
R. Arnold c James b Morris 0
M. Jayawardena c Kendall b Francis 3
H. Tilekeratne c Keech b Morris 5
C. Hathurusinghe n.o. 7
U. Chandana n.o. 8

Extras (lb 3) 3
Total (12 overs for 4 wts) 39

Bowling: Morris 6-1-15-2, Francis 6-2-21-2

SRI LANKA Second Innings

S. Jayasuriya c Keech b James 40
R. Arnold lbw b Morris 0
M Jayawardena n.o. 43
C Hathurusinghe n.o. 20

Extras 4
Total (30 overs for 2 wts) 107

Six badminton coaches receive merit certificates
by Dhammika Ratnaweera

Six badminton coaches received merit certificates at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Solidarity Level-II Badminton Course at the Sri Lanka Badminton Association courts last Saturday.

The 7-day course was conducted by veteran coach from Malaysia Venugopalan Mahalingam in association with the SLBA. Twenty coaches including an Indian and two Maldivians attended of whom only six passed out. The only woman to receive such a certificate was Nilanthi Jayasekera the Yasodara MV coach. The others are Pradeep Welagesera, Kamal Gamalath, K. D. Nallathamby, Bimal Kotalawala and Hiroshi Welagesera.

Eraj Wijesinghe, President, SLBA was the chief guest at the closing ceremony at Holiday Inn. Ajith Wijesinghe Secretary and Vice Presidents -- Major S. J. Weerasena, S. H. Kumarasinghe and Dr. A. R. L. Wijesekera, Chairman, Coaching Promotion also graced this occasion.

Hirantha upstages Gihan
by Shirajiv Sirimane

The Commonwealth Games squash team nominee, Gihan Fernando was toppled by 16-year old Hirantha Gunasena at a special selection trial .

Hirantha upstaged Gihan by 3 sets to 2 reading 9-4, 5-9, 9-4, 1-9, 9-7.

Controversy surrounded the selection of Gihan Fernando to represent Sri Lanka at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. Many claimed that there were no trials conducted and that this was on the whims and fancies of the Squash Federation.

The inclusion of Saman Tilakaratne ,the French based player did not draw any opposition since he is the only Lankan with an international ranking.

Talking Point
Rugby Refs. Union tripped with linesman ?

Rugby circles are buzzing as to how a member of CR & FC happened to officiate as a linesman in last week’s President’s Trophy final between the Longden Place club and Kandy Sports Club. CR won 30-26.

Many close observers of the game as well as fans question as to what impartiality there was in this move by the Rugby Referees Union which drew from a club and one of the finalists at that instead of having a linesman from the Union in conformity to the rules.
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