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By Shirajiv Sirimane reporting from Thailand
BANGKOK, Dec. 11 - World Championship Silver medallist, Susanthika Jayasinghe said that she will not disappoint the Sri Lanka fans and wowed to bring in two Gold's what she promised despite her illness.Speaking to the Sri Lanka Media personal at a Dinner hosted by the Thailand Embossed, Tilak Amunugama she said that she went for training on Thursday morning but had to end her training halfway. 'I was planning to do a 'slow jog' but I vomited and had to go back to the Village,' she said.
She also said that she was suffering from muscle pains and medicine given by Chef De Mission of the team Dr. Maiya Gunasekera brought her some relief. 'Whatever it is I will run the short sprint under 11 seconds and also take the 200m Gold,' she said.
Asked about the Thailand's Media exposure that the Chinese sprinters would run better, she said let them try. 'I do not to want to make inquires about the timings of the other athletes because I am confident. They are the people who are making inquires about me. Naturally I am the only World Games Medallist from Asia,' she boasted.
Asked if there were problems for her at the village she said she would not comment on it. 'I know for sure that I have problems in Sri Lanka and when my two Gold medals start talking they will feel sorry for what they did to me,' she said.
She also wanted the Media to convey to her parents and husband, Dhammika that there was no major illness in her, for them to worry about.
Sriyani Kulawansa, the team leader said that the athletes are all in a sound condition and would be all out to grab medals. Her event is scheduled for the 19th, while Damayanthi Dharsha running the 400m for the first time will be off on Dec. 13 Dec.
Derwin Perera said the athletic team is under tremendous pressure since none of the other sports brought medals.
Ruggerites aim Bronze
Today the main attraction would be the Thailand vs Sri Lankan game scheduled at 5 p.m. and it is labelled as a blockbuster match.Maiya Gunasekera said that their Rugger team is in line for a Bronze medal and would play Thailand today. 'We have beaten Thailand by victory margins of over 15 points this year and we will repeat our performance today,' he said. He explained that the Koreans who beat Sri Lanka (90/3) is set to play Japan in the finals.
He also disclosed that injured Mustaq will be out of the tournament. 'We treated the Korean game to teat our players to plan games plans. We found out that S. Karunaratne who pulled a muscle is fit. We are banking on Haris, Omar, Asanga Rodrigo, Duminda de Silva, Shantha Rohana, Radeeka Hettiarachchi and Nalaka Weerakkody to do well,' he added.
Swimmers last again
The decision to include swimmers once again posed questions as they finished in last places from their events yesterday as well.Gihan Rantunge competing in the 50M Free Style event clocked 26.41 seconds to finish last. Indian Xavier Sebestian (24.4 1 Sc.) and Singapore's C. Anwat (24 .55.Sec.) was 6th and 7th in this heat. Competing in the 200M Butterfly heat he suffered the same feat finishing with a time of 2:31.13 while Macao's Lou who finished before him clocked 2:18.60 and the heat winner from Korea clocked 2:02.42 seconds.
Team Skipper Gefari Dulapandan was far below potential finishing last clocking 2:20.13 in the 200M Butterfly heat. Winner clocked 2:04.17 seconds while the 5th place had a time of 2:09.93 seconds. He was in the 6th place returning a time of 2:5.87 seconds in the 50M Freestyle heat beating two competitors in the process.
Natasha Kodituwakku in the 200m. individual medley heat was last with a time of 2:38.07 seconds.
Golf day two
Meanwhile the Lankan Golfers men were in the 9th place after day two of their team championships. Lalith Kumara with a difference of plus seven points and a score of 150 was on the 19th place while Tissa Chandradasa was 21st (151). Anura Rohana and Rusi Captain were disappointing finishing 30th (153) and 35th (156) respectively.In the Women's contest Sri Lanka was positioned in the seventh place, out of 8 with a total score of 316 after day two. Thuhashini Selvaratnam was the most successful Women Golfer for the country finishing 12th with 156 points and plus 12 against the winner. Shyanika De Silva was 18th out of 23 with a score of 165.
Soldier arrested
Thai soldier had been arrested after being caught stealing flag of competing countries in the Asian Games for souvenirs.Pte Saravudh Shunlaw was charged with destroying public property after police spotted him bringing down the flags of Singapore, Vietnam and Burma from under an expressway outside Bangkok.
A second suspect escaped
The private said he was taking the flags as souvenirs.Flags and banners of 41 competing states are flying all over Thailand to mark the Games, which ends on Dec. 20.
Twenty one young cricketers to meet Kent XI
A final pool of 21 players have been selected to represent Colombo Young Cricketers when they confront Kent Young Cricketers in a two day cricket match on December 15 and 16 at NCC Grounds, Maitland Place.
This pool was picked by the Colombo Regional Board of the Cricket Board. The following players are requested to be present on December 15 at 8.30 a.m. and meet Anura Weerasinghe, Secretary Colombo Regional board a NCC grounds. The players are also requested bring along with them their cricketing gear.
The Squad
Prasanna Jayawardana, Ian Daniels, S. Lafeer, M. Gajanayake,. T. Kandambi, M. Poroge, A. Junaid, Duminda Perera, Roshan de Silva, Ranil Dhammika, M. Pushpakumara, Upeka Fernando, Jerome Fernando, Hasitha Fernando, Mahesh Perera, Nalin Wijesinghe, D. Jayakody, J. Mubarak, N. Ratwatte, S. Peiris, C. Udika Kumara Fernando. - (AN)
Saunders-Renown clash could be a thriller
By Bernard Perera
Bristol FA Cup soccer tournament, Sri Lanka's richest Division I tourney, comes to a close today when Renown SC clash with Saunders SC in the final of the above tournament at Sugathadasa Stadium kick off is scheduled for 6.30 p.m.The tournament which attracted over 150 teams from all parts of the country had a total number of 150 matches played. Most of these games were played in outstations. The tourney which commenced on September 12 has taken exactly three months to reach its final.
The finalists, Saunders received a bye in the preliminary round and later faced six games. Before reaching the prequarters they defeated New Young SC 6-2 (a first round game), defeated Western SC 5-0 (in the second round), in the third round Saunders overcame Wanathamulla SC 4-1. Pre quarter-final saw they get the better of Java Lane SC 5-0.
Saunders then confronted Army and qualified for the semis beating them 2-0. In the semi-final after a keen tussel they failed to beat Cooray SC and were tied at-all. The penalty shoot out put them to the final with the score reading 3-2.
Saunders to reach the final after completing six games scored 24 goals while their opponents managed only 4 goals which showed the finalists superiority.
Their opponents for todays gave too received a bye in the preliminary round game. Later they too confronted six teams on their way to the final. They have recorded a better goal aggregate scoring 50 goals while only four goals were made against them by their opponents. The biggest victory margin from Renown SC was against Galle SC when they thrashed them by 27-0 in a first round game and defeated SLCTB 10-0 and Greenfield SC 5-1 in the second and third rounds. They also beat Carlton SC 5-0 and overcame Sri Lanka Air Force 2-1 to enter the semi-final.
The semi-final between Renown SC and Navy Seahawks was a thriller. Renown though entered the final had to face stiff opposition from the sailors. Both sides failed to score until the 85th minute. Renown scraped through with the score board showing 1-0 in favour of them.
All in all a quality game of soccer can be expected today when these two teams face each other. Renown and Saunders have clashed in many finals and nobody would be able to predict the outcome of this game. The side who play the game in the correct direction according to the situation could grab the prestigious Bristol FA Cup and the richest prize money awarded by the sponsors, the Ceylon Tobacco Company.
The Football Federation should be commended for completing the tournament within a short period of three months.
Minister for Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports, S. B. Dissanayake will be the chief guest and will give away the awards while Gothfried Thome, Chief Executive Officer, Ceylon Tobacco Company, the main sponsors for the tournament will be the guest of honour.
The awesome culmination to the Lion Stout Division B Volleyball Championship witnessed the powerful forces of Mahawewa Pragathi and Maris Stella (men's finalists), with NYSC and Dammissara MMV (women's finalists) competing for the Lion Stout Division B trophy. Over 5 hours of intense digging spiking and volleying saw Mahawewa Pragathi and NYSC emerge champions after two fiercely and impressively played matches. Two raffles of Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 15,000 worth of sports equipment including volleyballs, nets, jerseys, shorts and volleyball shoes were also held after the match with participating entries from 740 volleyball clubs islandwide.
Additionally, a series of games were organised for the audience by the Lion Stout Brand Team that saw keen volleyball fans walk away with Lion Stout bags, jerseys and volleyball shoes. ''Across the board, the Lion Stout Division B final was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all,,'' said Herman Pereira, the Lion Stout Branch Manager.
''It witnessed four powerful teams playing at unsurpassed levels of competitive excellence and also rewarded the thousands of spectators for their enthusiasm and encouragement throughout the match.'' The Lion Stout Division B Volleyball Championship is closely followed by The Lion Stout Division A Championship from 21 December to 28 December.
By Althaf Nawaz
The finals of the Inter-Association basketball tournament finals organised by Amateur Basketball Federation (ABF) will be held today at Kings Court, Otters Aquatic Club commencing 5 p.m.After a successful league tournament four teams men's and women's qualified for the grand final. The first final will be the women's final between Air Force and Colombo District at 5 p.m. and the opens final between Air Force and Army at 6.30 p.m.
Winners and runners-up will receive the ABF Challenge Trophy and Cash awards. There will be a consolation winner who will also carry away awards.
Shaun Donnaly, US Ambassador in Sri Lanka will be the chief guest and give away the awards.
Meanwhile, the ABF, has decided to felicitate former stalwarts of the game. Major General C. Thurairaja and Sam Sovell.
