A victim of circumstances or conspiracy!!
The concluded 44th National Sports Festival (NSF) 2018 would likely be the final appearance of thrower Charith Kapukotuwa, who has been unknowingly pushed into a cold war by a selected sector of the local athletics field.
Kapukotuwa, probably Sri Lanka’s most celebrated and successful throwers of recent times, has been the latest subject of victimisation lately. The force is such that he is contemplating on giving up competing in Sri Lanka and even for the Lion Flag.
The holder of two national records went on to win three gold medals at the NSF. He set a new mark in the Men’s Hammer Throw event with an effort of 50.86metres and bettered his own record of 49.69metres held in 2014, to claim the first record of the 44th NSF.
He went on to win the Men’s Discus Throw event but his final event, the Men’s Shot Put event was put off for a couple of days due to rain. Eventually after the event was held Kapukotuwa went on to claim his third gold medal, but was controversially stripped off after protests.
Kapukotuwa, who first attended Ananda National School Chilaw, later went to Royal College Colombo and represents North Western Province at national level in addition to representing Sri Lanka. He is currently based in Nebraska, United States of America and competes there as well.
Kapukotuwa has been targeted merely for the reason he is based in the USA, and it has been the excuse for the naysayers over and over, who has condemned him without a break. Eventually the latest salvo struck during the latter day of the 44th NSF soon after he had claimed the gold medal of the Men’s Shot Put.
The complainants, according to official sources, are Southern Province and Western Province, who had strangely forgot to protest on the first two wins Kapukotuwa recorded. As a result he managed to retain the gold medals he won in the Men’s Hammer Throw and Discus Throw. The protestors however made sure to lodge a complaint during the stipulated timeframe on his final win.
“I really don’t know the reason why I’m being the subject here. I legitimately hand over all supporting documents of the results of events I take part in the USA before applying for events held in Sri Lanka. This year too it happened the same way and the Amateur Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AAASL) scrutinise them and grant me the approval and registration and competition numbers. It happened the same manner this time at NSF and if they find that as a reason for my ineligibility, how come I keep two medals and stripped off a third for the same reason,” asked a dejected Kapukotuwa, hours before his departure to USA.
Soon after the complaint, the protestors have threatened to launch a protest, which is said to have targeted the arrival of the chief guest the President Maithripala Sirisena. The event officials, to seize off matters, have succumbed to the protestors eventually, according to reports.
“I was summoned by the Ministry of Sports and they took down a statement from me on Tuesday. They told me that there will be an investigation but what I’m getting to hear is the other way around,” he lamented, probably with all hopes of a return broken into pieces.
It was revealed by Thursday evening that 44th NSF event officials confirmed the three athletes who finished behind Kapukotuwa in the Men’s Shot Put, as the three official finishers and have already awarded the medals. Prior to this, before the 44th NSF came to an official end, the final points tally was made and calculated according to the decisions taken on Thursday, which strangely depicts the plot was inevitable.
Kapukotuwa is the national record holder of the Men’s Discus Throw (17.55m), achieved on June 1, 2017 at National Trials in Diyagama and the Men’s Hammer Throw (52.53m), achieved on May 1, 2015 at Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship in Pueblo, USA.
A senior official of AAASL, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that nothing could be done rather than laughing off for the serious comedy of errors.
“It’s not a technical problem as far as I’m concerned, it’s a administrative failure. The athlete who is good enough to win two events is not fit for a third, and nobody has the sense to hold responsibility on this,” the stalwart said.
Kapukotuwa left Sri Lanka late Thursday and may return to visit his kith and kin, unlike in the past, where he made sure to make himself available for events taking place at national level. Despite offers from a few booming countries in track and field events to represent them, Kapukotuwa is more than glad and ever willing to represent the Lion Flag.
“I still have two years to obtain permanent residency in the USA, but I do have to admit that I have had offers from a few countries, that are investing greatly on athletics. I have turned them down more than once or twice, because my pride is representing the country I was born. But that’s not the treatment I get and I guess I should start considering seriously on my future in athletics,” Kapukotuwa hinted of a possible exile.
For an individual to come to that height of thinking, only portrays the failure of those responsible in streamlining the administrative structure and decision-making on vital issues. If Kapukotuwa was good enough to claim two wins and was not fit to win a third, and that too for a insolvent reason brought up by pity individuals, in the same event, only shows the state and commitment of those responsible.
It would not be a surprise if Kapukotuwa goes under the radar for some time and suddenly pops up either representing Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait or the USA for what he was backbitten and thwarted by his own people.