Lanka Lions Athletic C'ships
Ratnayake best performer
By Shrajiv Sirimane

Hurdler Harijan Ratnayake and sprinter B. G. Chandralatha stole the limelight at the two day Lanka Lions' inaugural athletic championships which concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

Harijan who clocked 51.2 seconds for the 400 metre hurdles event won both the N. Ediriweerasingham Challenge Trophy for the most outstanding performer and the Lt. Col. M. Wimaladasa Trophy for best athlete. He is the national record holder for this event (50.98 sec.). Employed at the Sri Lanka Army Harijan is coached by S. M. G. Bandara. He won a gold at the Singapore Open last month and bagged a silver at the last SAF Championships in India last year.

Chandralatha from Kandy bagged the Nirmala Dissanayake Challenge Trophy for best performer in women's events and also won the S. S. A. Dissanayake Challenge Trophy for Most Outstanding performers (women's).

The 24 year old Chandralatha coached by I. M. Ranasinghe is an Asian Games poolist. A SAF bronze medallist, Chandralatha was placed second in the Delhi Championships.

Suminda Mendis too came up with a noteworthy performance when he finished the 200 m. in 21.5 seconds. The Sri Lanka record held by Chinthaka Soyza is 21.19 seconds and rain deprived him of a national record. Ravindra Kumara, (22.0 seconds) and K. A. D. S. Katulanda (22.0 seconds) was second and third.

Shantha Mendis another soldier impressed in the 3000 m. Steeple Chase event clocking a fine 8:52.7 seconds run under wet conditions. Rohitha Sampath, (9:29.5) and T. M. S. S. Bandara (9:38.4) won the Silver and Bronze medals respectively.

The 19 year old Shamila Ranasinghe too had a great jump in the under 20 long jump by leaping 3.90 metres.

Over 1500 participants took part in this well conducted athletic event.

Brdg. Noel Fernando President Lanka Lions Sports Club was the chief guest and gave away the awards.

Challenge Trophies

Duncan White Memorial Challenge Trophy for the Champion District - Colombo (109)

Nirmala Dissanayake Challenge Trophy for the most outstanding performance of the meet (Women) - B. G. Chandralatha (Kandy) 400 m - 56.7 sec.

Nagalingam Ediriweerasingham Challenge Trophy for the most outstanding performance of the meet (Men) Harijan Ratnayake (Badulla) - 400 m. Hurdles 51.2 sec.

E. K. W. Gunawardena Memorial Challenge Trophy for the best performance (Boys Under 16) S. R. de Silva (Colombo) Putt Stot 14.98 m.

Ramani Mangalika Challenge Trophy for the best performance (Girls Under 16) - P. A. S. Lakmini (Hambantota) 200 m. - 27.2 sec.

S. L. B. Rosa Challenge trophy for the best performance - (Boys under 18) - P. K. Gunawardane (Kegalle) Long Jump - 6.71 m.

Linus Dias Memorial Challenge Trophy for the best performance (Girls Under 18) - H. P. Bhuddika (Hambantota) 200 m. 27.0 sec.

P. Don Victor Challenge Trophy for the best performance (Girls Under 20) K. S. Hewage (Kegalle) Long Jump 5.70 m.

Brig Neville Fernando Challenge Trophy for the best performance - (Boya Under 20) J. L. Kumarasinghe (Galle) 400m. Hurdles 55.7 sec.

Lt. Col W. Wimaladass Challenge Trophy for the best performance - (Men events) - Harijan Ratnayke (Badulla) 400 m. Hurdles 51.2 sec.

S. S. A. Dissanayake Challenge Trophy for the best performance - (Women's events) B. G. Chandralatha (Kandy) 400 m. 56.7 sec.

Thai Kabaddi team to play 3 tests
by Shirajiv Sirimane

The National Kabaddi team from Thailand arrived in Sri Lanka last Saturday to play three 'Tests' against the local national side.

The visitors who are ranked among the top six in Asia will play their tour opener, today at Marapola MMV Gampaha. The Thailand team take on the National side on Tuesday at 4.30 p.m. at the Kabadi Federation ground at Reid Avenue.

The third and final test will be played on 14 Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium with the former Kabaddi Federation Manilai Fernando as the chief guest.

A press conference in this regard was held in Colombo last week. M. T. Fernando, Secretary Kabaddi Federation said that Prasad Rao, former Indian national coach will be in charge of the local team. "He will be assisted by the national coach Daya Prathapasinghe" ,he said.

DIG Jayantha Wickramasinghe Vice President SLKF said that today's fixture will be hosted by the Gampaha District Kabaddi Association. "A good number of 127 referees who were graded will receive their certificates on Tuesday from Sports Minister", he said. The vice president said that the passing out of referees is a major plus point for the sport."

SSP D. W. Prathapasinghe Vice President SLHF said that the national pool was in training for the past two weeks and they should do well against the Thais. "We must thank the Sports Minister for helping this sport wholeheartedly.'

Prasad Rao said that Sri Lanka has great potential to produce a medal from Kabaddi at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games. "The teams defence line is very good and there are a few shortcomings in other areas", he said.

India won the Gold while Pakistan and Bangladesh won the silver and bronze at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games. The SLAKF hopes to field a team for this year's games and they bank on the Ministry to include Prasad Rao to the contingent as an official for the Asian Games.

Novices Wrestling C’ship
Saman Kumara best wrestler

The Novices Wrestling Championships concluded recently at the Sports Ministry Gymnasium at Torrington Avenue which was conducted by Wrestling Federation of Sri Lanka.

H. P. P. Saman Kumara (Prisons Dept.) who wrestled in the 54 kgs category was adjudged the Best Wrestler. Saman Kumara defeated a wrestler attached to the Army in the final.

Prisons Department had the biggest contingent of 22 contestants. Four prisoners too participated at this event under Rangers Wrestling Club which is formed under Prisoners Rehabilitation Scheme. These from Prisoners underwent training from S. H. Illeperuma attached to Prisoners Rehabilitation Scheme, while the Prisons Dept. team was coached by Oliver Madurapperuma.

The Championship was contested by 300 wrestlers. The four prison inmate wrestlers reached the semi-final stage.

Mali & Pushpamali set new records
Women shooters for Asian Games

The National Rifle Association of Sri Lanka, conducted the Final Trail to select Shooters for Asian Games recently. At the Final Trail, Mali Wickramasinghe and Pushpamali Ramanayake established two new Sri Lanka records.

Mali Wickramasinghe established a new Sri Lanka record with excellent accurate shooting in the 40 Shots Air Rifle Match with a score of 394 points out of a maximum score of 400 points. Mali and Pushpamali were the joint holders of the earlier Sri Lankan Record with a score of 393 points established by them in 1996.

Pushpamali Ramanayake established the other new Sri Lanka record in the 60 Shots Prone Match with a score of 587 points. Pushpamali and Vijitha Samarakoon were the joint holders of the earlier Sri Lanka Record with a score of 585 points.

Both Mali and Pushpamali thus, have showed that, loosing at Commonwealth Games is not a criteria and that they are our best Shooters, by going over their own Sri Lanka records. This shows the determination and courage they have shown in defeat to come out better than what they were.

Chandrika Wickramaarachchi and P. K. A. Leelani (both SAF Games Gold Medal winners) are too shooting well at present and they could support Mali and Pushpamali well in the team competition match.

At the concluded Three Trials, the following Shooters achieved the qualification standards set by the National Rifle Association for the Asian Games.

a. 60 Shots Prone Match — qualifying score — 583 points.

Pushpamali Ramanayake — 587 points (New Sri Lanka Record) Mali Wickramasinghe — 583 points.

b. 40 Shots Air Rifle Match — qualifying score — 388 points.

Mali Wickramasinghe — 394 points (New Sri Lanka Record). Pushpamali Ramanayake — 388 points. P. K. A. Leelani — 382 points (Qualified for the Team Event).

c. 3x20 Sports Rifle Match — qualifying score — 560 points. Pushpamali Ramanayake — 566 points (Aggregate of best two Trails — 1126 points). Chandrika Wickramaarachchi — 560 points (Aggregate of best two Trails — 1117 points). Mali Wickramasinghe — 560 points (Aggregate of best two Trails — 1116 points). Indunil Pussella — 566 points (Aggregate of best two Trails — 1115 points).
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