Susanthika, Sugath and Dharsha Sri Lanka's medal hopes in today's events
Shirajiv Sirimane reporting from Thailand

BANGKOK,13DEC98 - Sri Lanka's Susanthika Jayasinghe prepares for her 100m semi-final event under the scrutiny of a tv camera at the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok December 13. Jayasinghe clocked a time of 11.30 seconds and qualified for the finals seconds-fastest behind China's Li Xuemei. (REUTERS)

BANGKOK, Dec. 13 - The 13th Asian Games most looked forward to athlete. Susanthika Jayasinghe, did not disappoint her fans, when she sprinted away to the 100m finals with an impressive timing of 11.30 seconds, in a day where all fancied Lankan athletes, lived up to expectations.

However the performance of the inform Chinese athlete, Li Xuemei, and a hamstring injury to her right thigh may be the only worries the Sri Lankan sprinter must be having. Li, dubbed as Asia's fastest, created a major sensation when she clocked 10.99 seconds and established a new games record in the women's first semi-final last morning, bettering the 1994 record of 11.27 seconds.

Susanthika running in the second semi-final was no where better to her personal best of 11.18 seconds (1996 Olympics), nor her November Nationals timing of 11.24 seconds.

After completing the race Susanthika looked completely relaxed and in good health. But she still claimed she has a pulled muscle and would seek medical advice before final today.

In the third 100m semi final Li Yali also of China clocked 11.45 second to book her berth in today's final which will determine Asia's fastest woman.

Among the other sprinters to impress were Arai Mokota of Japan (11.46 sec.) Richita Mistry of India (11.46 sec.), L. Dmitriadi of Thailand (11.65 sec.) and Shanthi Govindasamy of Malaysia (11.47 sec.)

P. T. Usha another sprinter in the limelight pulled out at the eleventh hour of the race sighting too much of competition. 'There is Susanthika, China's Li and so many internationally recognized stars and I think that kind of competition is too much for me. I decided to give it a miss', she said.

A 34 year old mother and India's pride Usha who has competed in four successive games competitions will be running the 200m, 400m and the 100x4 and 400x4 relays.

Many observers have now placed their bests on Chinese athlete Li as the favourite for the sprint title. It is only courage and determination that could earn Susanthika the gold, if she decides to run the final today. Japan tipped to win men's sprint.

The 100-meter men's gold medal is look set for Koji Ito of Japan. He too set up a new Asian Games record by running home in 10.00 seconds erasing the 94 Hiroshima record of 10.18 seconds.

Ito, is also tipped to be Asia's first ever sprinter to run a 100m dash under 10 seconds in Asian Games. Sri Lankan Chinthaka Soyza ran a praiseworthy dash of 10.34 seconds in the first semi-final and was placed third to qualify for the finals.

With five sprinters, N. Watson-Malaysia (10.20 Sec.), Y. Utsuki - Japan. (10.31 sec.), S. Reanchai - Thailand (10.23 sec.), V. Medvedev - Kazakhstan (10.31 sec.) and New Asian record holder Ito, running under the timing of Chinthaka, it looks a tall order for the Lankan sprinter to go for a medal.

Meanwhile Dama-yanthi Dharsha, stood to challenge quite effectively in the 400m sprint and entered the final with a bang by winning her semi final in 52.48 seconds thus recording the best timing of the two semis. Due to lack of competition towards the end Dharsha relaxed in the final stages and she could not come near her Sri Lanka mark of 52.53 seconds achieved at the Athletic Nationals last November. However she has the honor of clocking the fastest time from the two semi-finals.

She beat the formidable Kazakhstan sprinter S. Bodritskaya (53.47 sec.) to the second place and put Usha to the 4th slot. (54.63 sec.), H. Zhang of China who clocked 53.37 was third. Usha narrowly qualified for the finals to be held today afternoon.

In the first semi final K. Rosa of India stunned a host of famed runners and won the event with a time of 54.06 seconds while China's Y. Chen (54.13 sec.) and Kazakhastan's S. Badrankova (54.59 sec.) was second and third respectively.

Damayanthi Dharsha's performance yesterday clearly puts her in line for a Gold medal today.

Third Gold Medal
Sri Lanka's third gold medal is strongly tipped to be earned for the islanders by another rural sprinter Sugath Tilakaratne from the 400m final today. Though he was the slowest out of the four heats winners. Sugath's experience, gained at the Olympics, Comm-onwealth Games and Asian Championships put him ahead of the other sprinters, who are less known in the international circuit. In a highly professionalism run Sugath, finished in 46.88 seconds winning his first comfortably. J. Da Kim of Korea followed Sugath, with a time of 47.88 seconds while K. Rashed of Juwait was third (47.99 sec.) Sugath after his run said that there was a lot of wind coming to meet them in the first 200 meters. 'We have to drain a lot of energy for that and towards the end we are exhausted. But I will run for a Gold,' He assured.

In the second the winner Kan Masayoshi of Japan timed 46.67 seconds, while the timings of the third and fourth heat winners were Ibrahim Faraj of Quattar (46.55) and Paramajit Singh of India. (46.68 sec.)

Disappointed
In a day where the Sri Lankan Sprinters were erasing the black marks created by the Swimmers, Rifle Shooters Gymnasts, Cueists and the Taekwondo players middle distance runner Lalith Galappaththi was the only disappointment. Running in the 1500m qualifying round and not asking it to the finals.

Competing in the second semi final he could only manage a 3:56.82 and had to opt out of the final today. It was disappointing to note that he has a personal best of 3: 46 20 which is the national record and he failed to repeat it.

Mohamed Taib of Qatar (3: 50 43 sec.) and Kim Soon of Korea (3: 53 93. Sec.) won the first and second semi finals.

Debutante M. K. Nayanananda who was Lanka's first athletic for the ASIAD was placed 6th in Race Walking event. Winner of the National Sports Festival Race Walking event in Kalutara a few months ago he had an impressive timing of 1 Hour 30.45 Seconds.

The Walk was won by Yu Guohui of China with a new Asian Games record of 1: 20 25 seconds while V. Broissov of Kazakhstan (1: 23 52 Sec.) and Li Zewen of china (1: 23: 52 Sec.) picked up the Silver and Bronze medals.

M. Anuradha Cooray also competing in a major event of this magnitude for the first time, was placed 8th out of 13 competitors in the 10,000m finals with a time of 31: 18.76 seconds. Kenji Takao of Japan with a time of 8: 45.66 seconds won his event's Gold medal. The Silver medal went to Ahamed Kashim of Qatar (28: 26 55 Sec.) and the Bronze to the Indian Gulab Chand. (28: 10.53. Sec.)

Keshani Sam-arakoon will compete in the 1500m finals and the two sprints and 400m finals will star Lankan competitors.

Kabaddi team win
The Sri Lankan Kabaddi team which is yet to receive any attention proved their inclusion to the ASIAD justifiable when they recorded two victories against Nepal and Thailand.

In a low scoring game the Lankan team coached by Daya Prathapasinghe and assisted by the former Indian National Coach Prasad Dao, beat Nepal 17 6. The Lankan team in their next match met the full force of the Thailand team and emerge victorious 41: 28.

The Lankan team had a well-set plan and successfully implemented it. They're 'Raiding' and attack was at a very high rate and the team only has to improve on their defense, which at times has been costly.

Both Coaches who expressed their views to The Island said that they will sit back and plan their match plan against the might of the Japanese team today. 'We have and will learn by our mistakes, and will beat Japan,' said Prathapasighe.

The Kabaddi team on the 15th takes on defending Champions India and the Pakistan and encounter Bangladesh on the 16th.

India beat Pakistan 17/9, Bangladesh beat Japan 25/8, India beat Bangladesh 36/10 and Japan beat Nepal 52/13 in the other matches played so far.

Mixed fortunes
The Golfers and the Yachting team ended their events without medals, but not before making their presence felt strongly.

Thuhashini Selvar-atnam who was also featured in the Gunnes Book of World records, did well to secure the overall 8th place with 301 points. Anuk Chanmugam was in the 15th place with 313 and S. De Silva was placed at 18th with 325. The Taipei trio of Chun Lu, (288) Jye Wei (289) and Lin Yu (290) got the first three places.

In the team competition they were placed sixeth with 614 points while Taipei was first with 575 and Korea (585) and Philippines (596) followed.

Tissa Chandradasa was in the 17th place (298), while Lalith Kumara (307) and Ruisi Captain (316) failed badly and took the 33rd and 43rd places.

The Yachting team of Lalin Jeerasingh;e and debutante, W. P. Janaka who had fluctuation fortunes in their Enterprise Open Fleet race was placed third in the 10th race and was 9th in the 9th race.

The pair coached by Jeremy Bolling has now secured the overall sixth place after the ten races.
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