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| 13th
Asian Games Part of Sri Lankan contingent touches down in Bangkok By Shirajiv Sirimane reporting from Thailand BANGKOK, Dec. 3 - A section of the Sri Lankan contingent bound for the 13th Asian Games arrived here last afternoon, some carrying possible medal hopes and others to gain experience to fight another day. The swimming team, rifle shooters and three boys for the Asian Games Youth Camp were led by Maiya Gunasekera, Chef de Mission of the contingent. This team also included two individuals who were bound to be non-entities of the squad. They were national Yatching coach Jeremy Bolling and cueist Susantha Boteju. To start with Jeremy brother of former famed SAF Swimming Champ, Julian was clad in a blue denim and a T-shirt while Susantha was sporting an off colour kit. Bolling said that he was not given an official blazer nor a tie and therefore decided to wear something comfortable. "There is a misunderstanding and I do not want to talk about it", he said. He also disclosed that though he is the National Yachting Coach for the Asian Games his entire trip was sponsored by well-wishers. Susantha was more free in his speech and said that he was informed of his flight at the eleventh hour. I do not know why these things keep on happening to me all the time", he said. "The Federation officials must look after the welfare of their players more seriously and in a more organised manner. When one of the billiards and snooker officials go overseas everything is well-planned. "I do not know where to stay and where to train, because there is no Federation Manager or a coach for me", he lamented. "This is why brother Indika Boteju does not represent Sri Lanka any more", he added. The Sri Lankan contingent's second batch is expected to leave on Saturday and one hopes there would be no unpleasent incidents of this nature. A record number of 25 athletes and their officials, 3 gymnasts, kabaddi team, ruggerites, squash players, two Taicondos players and two coaches will be arriving. The third and final batch will depart on 10th Dec. The Bangkok airport was buzzing with activity as liaison officials and supporting staff were busy ushering the teams and their delegates. Huge banners and posters were seen in Thailand which has a population of 60 million, 80% of which is still agrarian. The three Asian Youth Camp participants selected by the Sri Lankan NOC (Lasitha Gurusinghe, Pushpika Maganarachchi and Sahan Dameera of Royal, Wesley and S. Thomas) said they would be following the Lankan badminton players after their camp on 13th Dec. The first Sri Lankans to be seen in action at the games will be the shooters, snooker players and the ruggerites (sevens). NCC score 7 wkt win win over Antonians SC NCC scored a seven wicket win over Anthonians SC in their Premier Division I Limited Overs cricket match which concluded at Maitland Place yesterday. Chief scores: Anthonians 115 all out in 43.4 overs (I Kodikara 34, B. Ekanayake 16, P. Peries 12, M. Fernando 15, S. Disanayake 13, J. Segera 2/20, R. Kalpage 2/24) NCC 117/3 in 29 overs. (Naveen Nawaz 48 n.o, Hashan Tilakarathna 26) Premier Division 1 Limited Overs Tourney An unbroken 27 run eight wicket partnership between Hemantha Wickramarathne (20 n.o.), and Sri Lanka cap Suresh Perera (11 n.o.) steered SSC to an exciting three wicket win over Bloomfield in their Premier Division 1 limited overs cricket tournament match, which ended at Maitland Place yesterday. These two batsmen who came together with the SSC score at 7 for 142 chasing Bloomfield's modest total of 167 batted in a rather sensible manner without any undue alarms, as the home side eventually romped home with two overs to spare. However, the real platform for SSC's victory was laid by Sri Lanka Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga (38), and Mahela Jayawardene (31), who associated themselves in a fifth wicket stand of 66 runs after they were at one time reduced to a score of four for 56 with star bat Marvan Atapattu being dismissed rather cheaply. With the dismissal of captain Ranatunga, SSC stuttered somewhat with three quick wickets falling cheaply before Wickramarathne and Perera guided them home. Earlier Bloomfield, who were sent in to bat by SSC, failed to post a good score on the board before being shot out for only 167 in 46.5 overs. Their skipper and Sri Lanka opener, Sanath Jayasuriya, top-scores for the Reid Avenue club with a hard hit 48 which came off 54 balls with seven fours. Besides Jayasuriya, Sri Lankan/Australian tour discard, Kumara Dharmasena, also chipped in with a useful 41 while the rest including Roshan Mahanama came a cropper to SSC's fast and spin combination of Pramodaya Wickramasinghe (3/25) and Sanjeewa Ranatunga (3/22) to be bundled out for a dismal total. Chief scores Bloomfield 167 all out in 46.5 overs. (Sanath Jayasuriya 48, Kumara Dharmasena 41, Shanuka Disanayake 25, Pramodya Wickramasinghe 3/25, Sanjeewa Ranatunga 3/22, Ruchira Perera 2/43, Suresh Perera 2/34). SSC 169/7 in 47.1 overs (Avishka Gunawardena 33, Arjuna Ranatunga 38, Mahela Jayawardena 31, Hemantha Wickramarathna 20 n.o., Suresh Perera 11 n.o. Batheesha de Silva 2/28, Taraka Gunaratna 2/17). (J.K.) When ever I return to Sri Lanka for the winter months I am constantly being asked by many people, as to why the standard of Tennis has declined. I think the biggest problem we have is that as soon as our top Juniors reach a reasonable standard they fly off to the U.S.A. on partial Tennis scholarships provided by division three colleges. Once they get to the States they seem to stay on and never return. At a time when they should blossom in to good players we loose them. A fine example was Umesh WalloopiIlai who was the best under 18 in Asia he of course went on a academic scholarship and is now in the U S A. If Umesh continued with his Tennis he could have been world class and a great asset to Sri Lanka. The second major factor for our decline is the lack of a Sri Lanka Tennis circuit, whereby we have a continuous series of tournaments following the nationals. This would encourage overseas players to play three to four tournaments in a row thereby making it worth while coming aII the way to play in our national championships. It would also give the local players a chance of playing foreign players. When I was playing for Sri Lanka in the Fifties and Sixties we had a chance of playing many outstation tournaments, which for some reason are not being held now. This shows that outstation Tennis is dying. Surprisingly there are a lot of young people playing Tennis now than before in Colombo only. No effort has been made to take the game to the outstations where the talent is. The Cricket Board has done this very successfully. And the results have been fantastic. Third fact is that the S-L-T-A is too involved in running coaching programmes, rather than trying to promote the game by concentrating on competition in the way of tournaments. Every effort must made by them to encourage clubs both in Colombo and Outstations to conduct tournaments if necessary funding should be sought. As for coaching they should only concentrate on the national squads which should be under the guidance of the national coach. All other coaching should be done by private coaching schools. All good players must be compelled to participate in tournaments in order to be eligible for selection into the national squads. If Tennis is promoted in the outstations then in the long run we could see results. If they don't do this then tennis would be considered a Colombo sport and not a National sport. The association should have annual Tennis matches on the lines of the Davis Cup against the South Indian states. South India is the home of Indian Tennis. And all the great Indian players in the last 30 years have come from Tamil Nadu. This should be a great boost to our local Tennis and our players would have something to look forward to. It would also be very affordable in terms of finances and accommodation for the foreign players. It would also be good to send our elite juniors and seniors to play in the South Indian circuits. Finally the S-L-T-A should try and build covered courts using hard court surface. Clay courts are expensive to maintain and are affected by rain. Funding could be obtained from the private sector. I come to Sri Lanka every year for only two reasons. Sunshine and to help my old country in Tennis. I am willing to offer my services to any promotional programmes that would benefit Sri Lanka. D. D. N. Selvadurai |
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