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Teeing with an 'insurance cover'..... It’s no doubt an incredible feat when a golfer scores a hole in one. You tee off and then suddenly the ball is found in the hole like it was put there by some mysterious person. It is indeed the most entertaining feat when it happens in the golf links. As for the golfer it is something which can occur in a lifetime. "It is the biggest thing a golfer looks forward to," said Rishi Narain from India who was here during the Johnnie Walker Classic Golf Tournament. "They even preserve that ball and treasure it all their life," reflected Narain. But with that moment of glory comes along yet another unforgettable event — the celebrations — which at times can leave the "golfing hero" out of pocket. However, the good news which was disclosed by Narain is that there are insurance policies which cover the cost of such socials. "An insurance policy will cost something in the range of Rs. 3000 per annum. And in the event of a golfer scoring a hole in one the "claim" one can expect is around twenty five thousand rupees in Sri Lankan currency," added Narain. Scoring a hole in one can be only a dream for many golfers. But an insurance policy can come in handy on a day that the dream becomes a reality. Record 2,300 competitors to shuttle it out A record number of 2,300 entries have been received for the Junior National Badminton Championships commencing today at the S. Thomas’ College gymnasium This will be the biggest local tournament in the badminton calendar, according to the President, Sri Lanka Badminton Association, Eraj Wijesinghe. The event is being sponsored by the Commercial Bank. Wijesinghe said that he expected to develop the sport at Junior level because young shuttlers from which the cream of talent is built. The tournament will see singles and doubles events worked out in the under 13, 15,, 17 and 19 age groups while the under - 11 will envisage only the singles. The Ananda Alahakoon Memorial Challenge Shield will be on offerin in the boys and girls under 19 event which is sponsored by former national champion Niroshan Wijekoon, the current national coach. Several other awards are also lined up. Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, the Deputy General Manager, Commercial Bank, Ravi Dias said that this sponsorship, started last year was for a worthy sport. The opening ceremony today will be graced by Chief Guest, Amitha Gunaratne, Managing Director, Commercial Bank. The tournament will commence each day at 8 a.m. The Zonal matches were concluded in June. Ajith Wijesinghe, Secretary of the SLBA, K. D. H. Ranaweera, Secretary SLSBA and S. H. Kumarasinghe were also present at the press briefing held at Hotel Galaxy. "Nidahas Trophy" Insurance fiasco comes up for discussion At the Ex-Co Meeting of the Cricket Board to be held on Friday 16th, the much talked about "Nidahas Trophy" Insurance matter is bound to come up for discussion. This said tournament comprising ten matches was insured for Rs. 32 million against loss of revenue due to bad weather. Three of the ten matches got fully washed out, consequent to which the expected claim on the Insurance was to be about Rs. 10 million. We are reliably made to understand that Union Assurance Ltd. with whom this Insurance was placed has offered the Cricket Board a sum of Rs. 108,000/00 in settlement of the claim. After several appeals made by the Board to pay an enhanced amount, the underwriters has now offered only Rs. 250,000/00 as ex-gratia payment. The Cricket Board is now being placed in an embarrassing situation because the partner of the Insurance Broker who had undertaken this Insurance is a senior cricketer in the present Sri Lanka Team. The talk of the town is why the services of this broker has not been terminated so far for lack of professional advice. Clean sweep by Lankan kabaddi team Sri Lankan National Kabaddi team trounced the visiting Thailand team in all their test matches played last week. The Lankan team bound for the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games beat Thailand 38-27, 64-39 and 69-43 in their three fixturs played in Gampaha and Colombo. The Lankan team with Daya Prathapasinghe as the head coach and India’s Prasad Rao as the consultant fielded their second string in the second half of the three matches. The matches had a good spectator turnout but had a notable absentee. The absentee being the President of the Kabaddi Federation and Minister of Industries and Industrial Development C. V. Gooneratne. The three matches had Deputy Rehabilitation Minister Reggie Ranatunge and Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayake as the chief guest. The annual Old Boys vs Present Boys rugby fixture of St. Peter’s College will be worked off on October 17 (Saturday) at St. Peter’s College Grounds, Bambalapitiya. The kick-off is scheduled for 4.30 p.m. Hadji Omar will grace the occasion as the chief guest. Asela de Silva, a leading referee, is assigned. (RN) |
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