• China makes a clean sweep of the Games
• Medals Tally
• AIBA 14th World Congress in Turkey
• CCC win a close game
• Convincing win for Colts

China makes a clean sweep of the Games
Shirajiv Sirimane reporting from Thailand

BANGKOK, Dec. 20 — Sri Lanka’s star at the Asian Games, Damayanthi Darsha will lead the team’s red carpet welcome at the Colombo’s International Airport at midnight today.

The Sri Lankan team despite a series of setbacks recovered well to return with three Golds and three Bronze medals. Damayanthi, bagged a record two Golds, one from the 400m event and the other from the much talked about 200m final while Sugath Tilakaratne accounted for the third Gold medal from the 400m.

Damayanthi also accounted for a new Asian Games mark from the 200m final. Sugath also did well in the 200m sprint taking the Bornze medal. Skipper Sriyani in the 100m Hurdles event won their second Bronze. One felt that Sriyani did not go all out for the Silver, which certainly was on the cards.

Susanthika’s pull out took away another possible Gold from 4 x 100 relay while a wrong batton handling in the 4 x 400 men’s relay let off another medal away from them. A sleepy run by Nimmi Soyza halted their chance of yet another possible medal in the women’s 4 x 400 relay.

The most disappointing performers from the athletic arena for Sri Lanka were named as Ruwan Perera, (Pole Vault), Chinthaka Soyza (100m), Anoma Suriyarachchi and Nayanthi Kumari (Long Jump), by the head coach Derwin Perera.

While the athletes were celebrating their countries biggest tally of medals in the Asian Games sporting history the Lankan camp had a host of let downs.

The much-publicized swimmers and rifle shooters debacle needs further investigation and a few questions have to be asked from the Rugby management too.

They promised to give the country a Bronze from the 15-a-side game but only managed the fourth place. Their 29-member team was the biggest from the Sri Lankan contingent. It has to be also questioned as to why a 7-a-side team was fielded if the SLRFU was only concentrating on their 15-a-side team.

According to the schedule they were to leave on the 14th, but remained in Bangkok.

The Kabaddi team which arrived on the 10th were scheduled to leave on the 21st. But they were forced to leave the very next day after their competition.

The country’s Badminton players, Golfers, Gymnasts, Tackwondo players and the Squash teams did not come out with any special achievements. All these teams failed to qualify for the final 6.

Their Billiards players did well to qualify for the quarter finals.

The only other silver lining for the team was from the Yachting team where P. Janaka and Lalin Jeerasinghe sailed to a Bronze medal.

Best athlete

As expected Asia’s fastest man Ito Koji of Japan was awarded the Samsun’s best athlete’s award of the Asian Games.

Ito was blessed with this award on a popular vote taken by Journalists and other officials which took nearly a week.

He received the coveted award and a cash prize of USD 100,000.

Closing ceremony

The Thai Prince was the chief guest at the lively closing ceremony which brought down the curtain of the 13th Asian Games. The next games will be held in Pusan, Korea in 2002.

Following are the highlights of the ceremony:

1. Famous Thai vocalists from the country’s four regions perform the song in their dialects.

2. A harmony reflected the march in unison (in "Ever Onward Celebration")

3. A breathtaking colourful performance (in "Flowers of Asia")

4. Extravaganza of the show, "The Story of Mahajanaka"

5. From the flamboyance of the opening ceremony reflecting our cultural heritage to the joyful celebrations and colourful performances in the closing ceremony.

The parade of athletes in style reflecting "Friendship Beyond Frontiers" celebrate the closing of the games with Thai style entertainment

6. The closing of the 13th Asian Games with the Show reflecting the profound Thai intellect (in "The Story of Mahajanaka", HM the King’s Composition)

7. Athlete troops in the largest Ramwong dance stage.

Medals Tally

AIBA 14th World Congress in Turkey

Mr. Herbert Embuldeniya was elected to the Executive Committee of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) at the 14th Congress held in Antalya, Turkey on the 28th of November 1998.

He was nominated by the Sri Lanka Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) for this prestigious position and elected for a four-year term by the 121 countries representing all continents attending the congress.

The ABA of Sri Lanka has also voted for Professor Anwar Choudry of Pakistan for the post of Chairman of AIBA. He was elected by a majority margin.

Mr. Embuldeniya has a long history of involvement with amateur boxing. He boxed at the University of Sri Lanka winning gold awards both at University and Inter University competitions.

He worked in Canada for over 28 years. During this time he served in various capacities including a term as president of the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association. He has officiated at three Commonwealth Games three Olympic Games, and at the World Championships. He also served for 8 years on the Executive Committee of AIBA. He also served in the jury at the SAF Games 1993 held in Colombo.

He is now retired from work and will be returning to reside in Sri Lanka for good.

The Sri Lankan Amateur Boxing Association looks forward to his help and involvement in the development of Amateur Boxing in Sri Lanka.

Delegates from Sri Lanka who represented at the Congress were Lieutenant K. V. Dharmadasa, President of ABA, Sri Lanka, Commodore Sisira Jayatileke, a former President of ABA, Sri Lanka.

CCC win a close game

Colombo, Cricket Club, scored an exciting 26 run win over Sebastianites Sports Club in their Division I Limited overs cricket match at Maitland Crescent yesterday.

Chasing CCC’s modest total of 153, Sebastianites were shot out for a dismal 127 with six overs to spare, with left hander Nimesh Perera top scoring with 30.

Right arm leggie, N. Rajan applied the brakes on Sebastianites run rate with figures of 3 for 33.

Earlier the home side were dismissed for 153 with wicket keeper bat Lanka de Silva making a brisk 30 off as many balls, with six fours. All rounder Hemantha Botheju also chipped in with 22 runs, while the rest failed to make an impact.

Scores:

CCC 153 all out in 48.5 overs. (Lanka de Silva 30, Hemantha Botheju 22, Romesh Fernando 16, Bradman Ediriweera 14, Damitha Hunukumbura 11, Duncun Arnolda 10, Indika Gallage 10, Dinusha Fernando 2/35, Chamara Liyanage 2/13, Anush Perera 2/20)

SEBASTIANITES 127 all out in 43.5 overs (M. Mendis 23, Nimesh Perera 30, N. Wijesinghe 22, M. Perera 11, Indika Gallage 2/11, N. Rajan 3/33) (JK)

Convincing win for Colts

Colts CC scored a convincing 170 run win over Kurunegala YCC in their Division I limited overs match at Havelock Park yesterday.

Scores:

Colts 306/4 in 50 overs, (C Mendis 123, S. Fernando 118, I de Saram 37, Hiran Liyanage 3/69),

Kurunegala YCC 136 all out in 34.1 overs. (R. Kariyawasam 52, R. Amunugama 17, J. Jamon 15, A. Ekanayake 19, Malinda Warnapura 5/33, D. Hettiarachchi 2/16).