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National Schools Athletic Championships A record, number of 10 new meet records were lowered bringing the total number of new marks to 14, after the second day of the National School Athletic Championships at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. The most encouraging facts in these records was the fact that 9 of these records came from field events. This is at a time when Sri Lanka’s field events standard is at a low ebb. M. N. D. Muthunayake of Holy Cross College, Gampaha became the cynosure of all eyes when she re-wrote L. R. Siribaddana’s 1993 Put shot record of 10.89 metres. Muthunayake, an athlete of Track Master Sports Club broke a 14-year-old National School Games record. Galle’s long jumper, Anoma Suriyarachchi too stole the limelight when she equalled Nayanthi Kumari’s 1993 Long Jump mark leaping 5.83 metres. Anuradhapura Central, coached by Chinthaka Bandara excelled in the relay’s winning 5 out of the eight on offer on day two. Meanwhile S. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia and Mahamaya, Kandy dominated the school games swimming events by winning the boys and girls title. St. Joseph’s, Colombo and Trinity, Kandy were first and second runner up in the boys events while St. Bridgets and Vishaka were second and third. Eight new records were established at the swimming contest worked off at the Sugathadasa Stadium complex. The meet will conclude tomorrow with Education Minister Richard Pathirana as the chief guest. New athletic records: Mini Marathon (Under 19 girls) — W. M. Nishanthi Costa (Sri Ratnapala MV, Sandalankawa — 1.27.40 sec.) High Jump (Under 21 boys) — W. M. P. G. Wijekoon (Poramadulla MV — 2.00m.), S. J. V. Rajapaksha (Ibbagamuwa Central — 2.00 m.) High Jump (Under 21 girls) — P. Ruwani Hettiarachchi (Thakshila MV, Horana — 1.56 m.) 5000 m. (Under 21 boys) — M. Anuradha Cooray (Divulapitiya MV — 14:36.8 sec.) High Jump (Under 17 boys) — A. A. R. Pigera (Nalanda Colombo — 1.91 m.) Pole Vault (Under 15 boys) — J. A. Nishan G. Jayakody (Henagama MV — 3.75 m.) High Jump (Under 15 boys) — W. P. Manjula Kumara (Vijitha MV, Dickwella — 1.78 m.) Javelin Throw (Under 19 girls) — Chamini R. Fernando (St. Sebestians, Kandana — 39.25 m.) 100X4 Relay (Under 15 girls) — Weeraketiya Rajapaksha MV, 52.8 sec. 100X4 Relay (Under 21 girls) — St. Joseph BMV, Kegalle, 52.4 sec. Long Jump (Under 19 girls) — Anoma Suriyarachchi (Southlands Galle, 5.83 m. equalled). Javelin Throw (Under 15 girls) — D. M. Deepika S. Dissanayake (Royal MV, Polonnaruwa — 31.06 m.). Putt Shot (Under 19 girls) — M. N. D. Muthunayake (Holy Cross, Gampaha — 11.49 m.) Q-Finalists
found Quarter-finalists were found in the Cologne Squash Tournament now in progress at the Otter Aqualtic Club yesterday. National champion Gihan Fernando received a walk over from K. P. S. Fernando will meet Karinda Cooray on Wednesday. Cooray defeated W. D. Nimal to enter the Q-final. E. Ravindran in a thrilling four setter beat Eranjan Kempitiya 9-4, 6-9, 9-2, 9-1. Anura Hewage facing stiff opposition from young Navin Samarasinghe managed to qualify with a 10-8, 9-7, 9-4, 9-6 victory. Others to enter quarters are N. S. Jayashantha, L. K. Manjula and Hirantha Gunasena. All Q-finals will be concluded on Wednesday. Finals will be played on October 4 at Intercontinental Hotel Courts. Hemmeliya Vidyalaya Road Race on Oct. 15 Hemmeliya Kanishta Vidyalaya, Baddegama will hold its annual Road Race on October 15. This will be the seventh successive year that the school is ha ving this race. This race was inaugurated as an alternative to the usual inter-house athletics meet which is held in many schools. School authorities turned to this uncanny method of introducing the spirit of sports to the children, as there was no way to hold a sports meet due to the lack of a playground for this school. Lack of a playground has been a great hindrance to the sports activities of the budding youth of this underprivileged school situated in a rural area of Galle district. But in the last four years, energetic school authorities headed by principal Janes Samarasinghe laid out a 200 metre track in the paddy field adjoining the school, to have their inter-house athletic meet there. Despite the sports meet being held, the school continued with the tradition of the Road race. Nestle Lanka Limited, a keen sponsor of the race from the beginning, will support the Race this year as well. Organisers have extended invitations this time all schools in the Baddegama area and also to schools in the Galle division while Nestle Lanka Limited has graciously increased their sponsorship to accommodate that. The whole village of Hemmeliya will take a carnival atmosphere on the day of the Race. The race will be held in six categories for Under 10 boys and girls, Under 15 boys and girls and Over 15 boys and girls. The upper age group race will be held over a distance of 20 kilometres while the under 15 age group will race for a distance of 10 kilometres. The under 10 runners will compete over a distance of 6 kilometres. Bicycles, Wall clocks and Boxes of instruments will be awarded as prizes. Entries for the Race close on October 2 with the principal of Hemmeliya Vidyalaya. National Schools Athletic C’ships National Schools Athletic Championships which commenced at Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday outstation schools’ domination in most of the finals worked off on day one. The first day saw finals of sixteen events worked off. Thirteen of these events were won by outstation schools while only two girls and one Boys events went to Colombo. The events Colombo schools won are Discus Throw for Girls U-15 — B. K. Himali (Musaeus College), U-17 Girls Long Jump event — Shehani de Silva (Holy Family Convent, Colombo) and the Putt Shot event for Boys U-15 — H. J. Hettiarachchi (Royal College). The School Athletic Championship concludes on Wednesday Sept. 30 Results: Javelin (U-17) — A. V. Fernando (Joseph Vaz, Wennappuwa), K. Anil Kithsiri (Prince of Wales Moratuwa), I. G. Amal Shiroman (Sabaragamuwa). High Jump (U-21) — 1. W. M. T. G. Wijekoon (Poramadulla Central), 2. S. J. Rajapaksa. Javelin — K. A. G. S. Tillekeratne (Balangoda MV), T. C. Nishantha (A’pura MV), K. Gayan Upendra (Giriulla MV). Putt Shot (U-15) — H. J. Hettiarachchi (Royal College, Colombo), M. J. Rishan (Kinniya MMV, Ampara), G. G. Gunawansa (St. Anthony’s, Kandy). Long Jump (U-19) — Suminda P. de Silva (Bandaranayake MV, Veyangoda), Raddhika Jayakody (St. Joseph’s, Col.), W. J. Fernando (St. Mary’s, Negombo). Discuss (U-17) — M. H. Ajith Ranpothwila (N/E), K. Gayan Sameera (St. Mary’s, Negombo), W. A. R. S. Fernando (St. Mary’s MV, Henegama). High Jump (U-19) — Janitha Chaturi (Yasodara BMV, Kandy), Imali Jayasinghe (Rambukkana MV), P. K. Sandamali (N/E). 200 m. (Girls) — Sujani Buddhika (Ambalangoda), Anushka A. Perera (St. Bridget’s, Col.), I. Chandrika Navaratne (A’pura MMV). Discuss (U-15) — B. K. Himali (Museaus Colombo), K. Edirisinghe (Kuliyapitiya MV), N. L. Jayasena (Ibbagamuwa Central). NWP’s cricket tourney for girls Kurunegala District Softball Cricket Association will conduct a limited over (15 overs per said) for girls schools in North Western Province in the early part of October. The matches will be played at Kurunegala. The tournament conducted according to BCCSL rules is open to all schools of the Kurunegala District. Players should be below 21 years of age. Any number of teams can be entered from one school. Entry forms obtained from K. M. S. Kasturi, Tournament Secretary Nagahagedera, Narammala and should be sent on or before Sept. 30 to Sudharma Ehelepola, Secretary, Kurunegala District Softball Cricket Association, Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala. Thushara
to hang up boots Havelocks second row forward and Sri Lanka ruggerite, Thushara Jayalath, has decided to call it quits following his omission from the national team which is to tour Australia shortly. The thoroughly disgusted Jayalath said yesterday that the reason given to him regarding his exclusion was due to having had an unimpressive domestic (League) season. National coach, Ana Saranapala, to whom he had spoken however had declared that Jayalath’s performance in the knock out was good. Saranapala had also added that selections were done entirely on the players performances in the 1998 League Tournament and past tours were not considered. "I asked him whether there was any problems regarding my playing and fitness and he answered in the negative," reflected the former Peterite while speaking to "The Island". Jayalath had attended every practice session with the final pool which was pruned down to thirty five players. And according to Thushara not a single game had been organised even though there were several training sessions. "I will never again attend practices with the national team," quipped Jayalath. Hilton and Trans Asia joint champs At MCA grounds on Friday the 5th annual encounter for the Coca-Cola Five Star City Hotels 30 over cricket tournament was washed out and the two teams. Hilton Colombo and Trans Asia were declared joint champ of the Coca-Cola Trophy for the year 1998. Trans Asia having won the toss elected to bat and ended up with a respectable total of 168 off their allotted 30 overs. Mevan Abeysekera chipped in with a classy 71 attacking Hilton bowlers all over the outfield. Yet, with a challenging total to chase, Hilton who have averaged 170 in the tournament were about to take the crease when a heavy downpour prevented an exciting finish. The umpires therefore had to declare the match abandoned. Rufus Pereira, General Manager of Trans Asia, the host hotel, was the Chief Guest and distributed the awards with Jagath Pattiarachchi, Business Development Manager of Pure Beverages as the Guest of Honour. An unsporting Trans Asia team walked out after the match and were not present to receive the Trophy and the replicas. President of the Hotel Sports Club deputised for the team and accepted them. It was learnt that they were unhappy of the decision taken to abandon the game and left the grounds on the orders of a senior administrator of the hotel. Hilton’s skipper Jayalath Fernando made a fine gesture when he gave away all 14 winners’ replicas and the winners Trophy to Trans Asia soon after the they were awarded when he realised his opposing side had left the premises. Last years Brazil cup winners St. Benedict’s College defeated their archrvals St. Joseph’s College 2-0 in their All Island ‘Milo’ Under 18 (Div. I) tournament match played at Kotahena amidst an enthusiastic crowd. Sri Lankan school players Dilan Roy and Roshan Menaka scored a goal each for Benedictines. In another game Bens also defeated St. Peter’s College 4-2 played at Bambalapitiya. Dilan Roy, Roshan Menaka, Thilanka Nandasiri and J. Vijayakumar scored a goal each for Bens while S. Mohamed scored both goals for losers, Peterites. ‘Sri Lankan Sports in disarray at the 16th. Comm. Games!!! ’It’s a true story in 1998 - on an over-all evaluation it’s a tragedy in a way considering standards of most of the S.L. sports irrespective of the performances of the athletes, the great triers from villages, Sugath from Maskeliya and Kulawansa from Kurunegala who won medals and also Darsha, born and bred in Ampara, for her great effort although placed 4th and also in the doings of the cricket ‘A’ team in entering the semi-finals after beating Zimbabwe of ICC world class and nearly beating S. Africa, who won the gold. It is very true, tragic in evaluating the fall-off in S.L. placement by the Commonwealth Heads in comparison to the position in 1994 wherein a team of only 20 took part in Canada and a gold and silver were won, whereas in 1998 about 80 were sent from S.L. with a huge shout prior to the games yet on the whole performed poorly and were placed low down at 27th from among 34 nations - 18 of these who did better were from the 3rd world like S.L. - for example India won 25 medals, Malaysia 36, Zimbabwe 5, Kenya 16, Ghana 5. True, most of us who are keen on S.L. sport are a disappointed lot - it is worse confounded when we see the full-length 32x9 cms. photograph with 18 VIPs, men and women seated and outstanding along with the 58 players standing in splendour — there was also the picture of the 8 very big men and women, the decision makers, organisers and tour chiefs whereby it is stated that the Hon. Minister with the Chiefs in the Ministry, Sports Councillor, the Leaders in the various Sports was giving a pep talk to the participants. The motivation at the head tables was fine — but the desired productivity on the field at the end was minimal. Let us draw a few lessons for the future to rationalise and look ahead of how the preparation should be done. Let us see how the sports developed countries got prepared — for example Australia with an average population won 198 medals, England 136, Canada 99 medals etc. But what happened on the whole to the Sri Lankan participants? Let those who did a lot of high talk on say in Rugby, Netball, Shooting, Squash, Weightlifting...explain to us why they went wrong in their estimates of Commonwealth standards of sport. For example — the very experienced shooters who had won golds and silvers in Canada were bad failures (although Rajasinghe the Captain has said that the team can repeat the doings in Canada and may win 3 individual medals and also 3 team medals... why all this empty talk to mislead the simple patrons of sport!!!), take Rugby, getting beaten by the best world class teams from New Zealand, Australia etc. is acceptable but it is not cricket to allow cricket scores like 80 vs ‘O’ — even Malaysia, equal in status to S.L. outbeat S.L. by 9 points — the selectors and the VIP Officials had said that our Sevens were very fit to give a match even in defeat — please explain to us commoners because we do not want the name of Sri Lanka to suffer as just ‘also rans’ or mere passengers in the international field. Take Netball, there was a lot of talk, probably from a tourist point of view, resting on the laurels as Asian Champions not estimating the prowess of the Commonwealth competitors – the losses at the matches even to ordinary nations like Cooks Island and Malavi show us that our big chiefs in Netball had been talking out of tune and giving us commoners false hopes. In Suqash what was said did not happen. True! — I am repeating the story of what happened to Sri Lankan World sport in the eyes and ears of the Commonwealth sports lovers — let those responsible for (i) drawing up international level standards (ii) approving the team (iii) organising the tours for the actual participants on the field and coaches as different from the managers and officials (tourists) ensure that the country and sponsors like Dialog GSM meeting the heavy expenses are not at a loss. Let us find answers and then learn a few lessons for future action on the international field:- For the Supervisors/Trainers: * Were the competitors selected based on the Current Commonwealth standards? * Did the Coaches/Trainers estimate the suitability and mostly the aptitude to compete with world class players? * Was fitness physical and emotional looked into, to face odds among various competitors and officials? * As competition is very severe was the situation, the climate, the ground environment anticipated? * Did the Mangers and Coaches keep abreast with the changes to motivate our players on foreign soil? (True I am too much of a Teacher — let me be excused — I say these having seen these systems happening on my sojourns on education and training in Australia, Canada, China, Japan etc. wherein potential athletes are prepared years ahead — True, I once planned all sports/physical education programs in the education service.) For the Decision-Markers and others responsible for naming/approving representatives of the country:- * Let us know the comments of the selectors how and why the majority failed at the contests with foreigners. * Is approval of the Sports Ministry given as a mere formality or is responsibility taken to check very impartially, the expected standards and the suitability of each individual to match foreign competitors and be worthy representatives of the country? Those who approve, say ‘yes’/’no’ are finally accountable to the country at large. Let me finally - recommend that we plan/look ahead and prepare the teams for a good length of time and search talent from the outstations also from among Susanthikas, Sugaths, Kulawansa, and Aravindas/Sanaths. We can appreciate the statement made by our world class athlete, Susanthika, who cried out of the Commonwealth Games as she felt that she ‘... would not be able to reach the required speed although the endurance standard was alright...’. Very honourable on her part to keep out of a foreign journey. However she gives the country hopes...’...will win at the Asian Games...’ Lets hope she keeps to her promise - We wish her well and advice her as a National Personality to talk less and concentrate on her training only. Geroge Mendis |
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