No more mercenary airmen
View(s):The Airmen have been flying high during the past 365 days according to its Sports Unit head Wing Commander Chandana Deepthi. But
Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama presenting the most outstanding sportsman of 2012, Sergeant Ekanayake at their Colours Night. - Pics by Amila Gamage
hereafter they will not have any contracted players running with the emblem.
“We had a three-segment plan this year under short, mid and long term. Our prime objective was to curtail contract players or we can straightforwardly say that we purely had athletes from the Air Force. One of our objectives through this exercise was to reform Air Force sports back to its glory days where we were on top in almost all fields. It was evident that all who represented Air Force at different disciplines did it with real spirit,” Deepthi stated.
Deepthi who represented Isipathana, Air Force and Sri Lanka in rugby as a dashing winger, also revealed that Air Force turned its focus on further developing sports activities and participation. At present Air Force has 1427 athletes representing in 34 sports disciplines at national level. Deepthi also stated that they have plans to introduce new sports such as elle, baseball, chess and the traditional martial arts
Wing Commander Chandana Deepthi.
sports, ‘angampora’.
“We make sure to provide all possible facilities to our sportsmen and women who represent us. That includes supportive items such as sporting gears, nutrition and technical support. Those who achieved well at national and international levels have also been compensated duly with promotions and cash rewards,” he added.
Closer to 150 athletes from Air Force has represented Sri Lanka during 2012. This is after its athletes reached the helm in athletics, taekwondo, shooting, wrestling, weightlifting, kabaddi, cycling, beach volleyball, volleyball, body building, netball, wushu, cricket, rugby, boxing, table tennis, tennis, judo, karate, hockey, badminton, basketball, bodybuilding, para jumping and rowing at domestic level.
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