SLTA strives to develop tennis

The Sri Lanka Tennis Association under a young and energetic committee, has embarked on an ambitious development and promotional drive around Sri Lanka. The young team is articulate in spelling out their new plans. We have a number of new ideas on how tennis could be improved in this country, and we are working on them, said Lalith Withana, President, SLTA. The youngest the SLTA has ever had. The smooth functioning of the SLTA is dependent on an efficient General Secretary, and we are fortunate to have Maxwell De Silva at this post, he said illustrating the team spirit that pervades the association.

Mini-tennis to be introduced to Batticaloa:

With around 15,000 children already enjoying the benefits of mini-tennis in Colombo, Kandy and Negombo, the SLTA will now introduce mini-tennis to 4 or 5 schools in Batticaloa. Approximately 3,000 children from 5 to 10 years will be introduced to mini-tennis within the next month, said Boshan Dayaratne, CEO/STI Co-ordinator. Explaining why the SLTA selected Batticaloa, Arjan Perera, Chairman, Coaching and Promotion, said that the children from Batticaloa have shown "tremendous interest in tennis" for some time. In fact they participate in a number of ranking tournaments too. He further said, that some of the children play tennis early in the mornings before going to school and restart after school. They also play tennis the entire day during the holidays. This is the type of commitment we need from our young tennis players. The SLTA has high expectations that in the next five years Batticaloa will produce some of Sri Lanka's best tennis players, he said.

Flood Lighting at a cost of Rs. 2 million:

In order to increase the playing time at the SLTA courts, the Sri Lanka Tennis Association has installed flood-lighting facilities on three of its courts at a cost of around Rs. 2,000,000/-. The International Tennis Federation contributed substantially to this project. Two of the flood-light courts are upto international standards, while the other is upto club standard, said Kumar Gunawardene, Ground Secretary, SLTA. The public will be permitted to use these facilities at a nominal fee. The SLTA also plans to convert five of the clay courts at the SLTA premises to hard courts at a cost of around Rs. 4,000,000/-, he said. Most of the international tournaments are played on hard courts, and our players need more training on such courts. Unlike clay courts which are dependent on the weather hard courts are all-weather and are not affected by rain. According to Gunawardene, the SLTA with 21 tennis courts has better facilities than other countries in this region. We are keen to stage prestigious tournaments in Sri Lanka, and have requested the ITF to assign one or two international tournaments to the SLTA, he said.

The SLTA will lease a portion of its building to the Playing Section Club for the purpose of operating a restaurant. This will be opened shortly, he added.

We are also considering very seriously at constructing a gym. This will not only give the SLTA a regular income but also provide the players gym facilities, said Boshan Dayaratne.

Mini-tennis tournament in September

The SLTA will organise the first mini-tennis tournament for the year in September at the SLTA premises. We will also conduct a tournament in Kandy and Negombo said Dayaratne. An inter- schools mini-tennis tournament is also planned. In order to derive maximum participation, the SLTA will work closely with the boys and girls schools association. We will also be able to gauge the effectiveness of the mini-tennis programme in each area too. Last year's mini-tennis tournament which was held in Colombo was a great success, with over 1400 children participating at this championships. This year too, we expect an enthusiastic response from these youngsters, he said.

Latest coaching accessories to assist coaches

In order to improve the level of coaching the SLTA will purchase some of the latest coaching accessories shortly. Coaching accessories such as Ropezone, Airzone, Netzone, etc. are presently unknown in Sri Lanka, but are in use extensively in other countries to improve the standard of a player. For example, the Ropezone creates unlimited on-court target areas and will inject new enthusiasm into lessons, said Romesh Fernando, Chairman, Coaches and Officials.

International Coaching Course

In its endeavour to uplift the standard of tennis coaches in Sri Lanka, the International Tennis Federation and the SLTA will conduct a nine-day Level 1 coaches course from 1st to 9th August, at the SLTA premises. The course will be conducted by Suresh Menon, ITF Development Officer, Asia, said Romesh Fernando. As mini-tennis is the launching pad to promoting tennis, the first two days will be entirely on mini-tennis, said Fernando. Certificates of attendance will be given to all those who attended the course, while those who pass the examination will be provided with an ITF Level 1 certificate. Successful candidates will be given coaching assignments in the outstations.

The ITF has also invited the SLTA to send coaches to attend the 10th ITF Asian Coaches Workshop to be held from 16th to 22nd October in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. The SLTA will favourably consider coaches who have not attended such courses before, he added.

Meanwhile, the SLTA officials who participated at the ITF Tennis Participation Coaches Workshop met Francessco Ricci Bitti, ITF President, Dave Miley, ITF Executive Director,Tennis Development, Suresh Menon, ITF Development Officer, Asia and some of the best known coaches such as Dennis van der Meer, Ron Woods, Miguel Crespo, Joe Dinoffer and Louis Cayer. The over-riding theme of this workshop was more tennis, more often, more fun and was directed primarily on increased participation, said Fernando.

Free coaching and adult coaching clinic

Having completed two free coaching clinics, the SLTA plans many more of these clinics in the outstations. After organising two very successful clinics in Colombo and Panadura, we are confident that the other free clinics will also be a success, said Arjan Perera. The SLTA will conduct free clinics in Negombo, Dehiwala, Ratmalana soon. We are also aware that tennis must not only be promoted among the young but should also be promoted among the older people such as those who are employed, housewives, school leavers, etc. In order to promote tennis to this category the SLTA will commence an adults coaching clinic soon.

Wheelchair tennis to be resuscitated

Wheelchair tennis which was active a few years ago, will once again be revitalised. The SLTA has placed Brigadier D.S.G. Kempitiya, Vice-President, SLTA in charge. The game of wheelchair tennis follows the same rules as able bodied tennis except that a wheelchair player is allowed two bounces of the ball. Wheelchair tennis is popular worldwide, with over 50 countries joining the world body. It is estimated that in the year 2000, the total prize money would exceed US$ 500,000. The SLTA estimates that a large number of disabled people would be interested in joining this programme. However, the initial set up cost of purchasing wheelchairs is high, we will need a sponsor, if we are to promote wheel chair tennis on a larger scale, said Brigadier Kempitiya.

Top tennis players invited to Papua New Guinea

Ravi Perera, President, Port Moresby Tennis Club, Papua New Guinea has invited the top men's and women's tennis players to participate at their open tennis tournament in April next year. Port Moresby Tennis Club is the largest tennis club in the Islands of South Pacific. Having a membership of over 200 and with 11 courts at their disposal, the Club hosts several tournaments which are attended by players from the South Pacific. Ravi Perera, a former ranked player in Sri Lanka and a former committee member of the SLTA Playing Section was confident that our top players would fair well. Prize money would be attractive, and we will provide free accommadation to the players, and the prize money will be adequate to cover all their air travel expenses, he said.

Restructured Coaching Scheme to cost an additional Rs. 1 million

The SLTA is in the process of reorganising its coaching programme. The restructured programme will be formulated by the coaches and the SLTA. The coaches will submit their own plans and targets, which will then be studied by the SLTA. The main intention of the SLTA is to get a commitment and place responsibility on the coaches, said Arjan Perera, Chairman, Coaching and Promotion. Explaining further, he said that 4 coaches will be in charge of a group of 8 top Juniors, who would train 5-6 times a week at the SLTA .

Countdown to the Olympics - 53 days [18]

53 days to the opening ceremony

By Annesley Ferreira

The series "Chronicling the Olympic games" in seven parts received encouraging complimentary commendation from diverse readership. Lack of space forced me to concising the series to the maximum possible.

Just fifty-three [53] days to the opening ceremony scheduled for Friday, September 15, 2000, when the games of XXVII millennium Olympiad would begin the grandeurst, expected to be the most spectacular games ever to be held.

Many of our readers are still confused and are unable to understand what is this thing called the "Olympic Movement" throughout the world. The Olympic movement is composed of several elements. Let us examine these elements so that our readers can better understand this great movement "Almost" uninterrupted for the past one hundred [100] years.

[1] Olympic Movement

Pierre de Coubertin and others founded the International Olympic Committee and the modern Olympic cycle on June 23, 1894 at a meeting in Sorbonne, Paris. Count de Coubertin developed his proposals for the modern Olympic games in response to deep-seated political and social crisis in his native France. He believed the creation of a system of highly competitive sport could inspire and invigorate the youth and thereby shake France out of its lethargy.

As would be expected his exuberance and perseverence, applying his aspirations to the entire world; argued that shared pursuit of excellence would build an international movement which could contribute to the peaceful resolution of international conflict. It took one hundred years to cement this ideal.

[II] AIMS OF THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT:

"Why did I restore the Olympic games?" wrote nobleman Pierre de Coubertin in 1894. "To enable and strengthen sports, ensure their independence and duration, and thus enable them to better fulfill the educational role incumbent upon them to in the modern world; for the glorification of the individual athlete whose muscular activity is necessary for the maintenance of the general spirit of competiton." From this stunning statement, the aims of the Olympic movement have grown and developed - expressed in the Olympic Charter under the following headings:

* Promote the development of those physical and moral qualities which is the basis of sport.

* Educate young people through sport in a spirit of better understanding between each other and of friendship, thereby helping to build a better and more peaceful world.

* Spread the Olympic principles throughout the world, thereby creating international goodwill.

* Bring together the athletes of the world in the great quadrennial sport festival, the Olympic games.

Nobleman Pierre believed that the Olympic movement had a moral, educational and international aims which extended beyond competition to determine the best athletes in the Olympic games every four years. To achieve these wider aims, the IOC cooperates closely with NOCs to foster the Olympic movement.

[III] EMBLEMS OF THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT:

The Olympic movement is recognized the world over by three emblems:

The rings, the flag and the motto.

The Olympic flag symbolizing the union of five continents and the meeting of athletes from all over the world at the Olympic games, in the spirit of fair, open and equal competition in good friendship. The ideal preached by Baron de Coubertin.

Colours of the rings are blue, yellow, black, green and red on a white background.

At least one of these colours is found in the flag of every nation of the world.

The flag depicted by the rings was first made in Paris and was first displayed in 1914.

The flag was first hoisted in the Olympic stadium at the games of the VII Olympiad in Antwerp, Belgium.

A motto also carried at the bottom of the flag - "citius altius fortius" meaning "faster higher stro-nger". Motto emb-lazooned on the flag was devised by Father Didon, a teacher and friend of Baron de Coubertin.

"The most important aim of the international committee is the promotion of Olympism and Olympic movement globally. To this end, education and preparation of sports leaders is an essential means to obtaining this objective."

[In association with C. Vijitha Fernando, Trustee, Duncan White Sport Foundation]

When Sir Jack was at his best

By Bruce Maurice

Sir John Berry Hobbs made twelve Test hundreds against Australia. The most number of centuries by an England batsman against Australia. It is true you don't judge a batsman only by the hundreds that he scores. Very often a century is not as nearly as vital as a 40 or 50, which is made under difficult circumstances. And Jack Hobbs was at his best when the going was really difficult. Australia still regards him as the greatest batsman that England produced. Jack Hobbs played his first Test on New Year's day 1908 at Melbourne and his last Test at his home ground at the London Oval in '30.

In all those Tests he opened the batting, so that he got no easy runs after the sting was taken out of the bowling. In fact he would have made a century in his very first innings in Test cricket, had Cotter not bowled him when his score was 83. In all the Tests he played, he scored five thousand four hundred and ten runs at an average of 56.94. And his record number of first-class centuries of one hundred and ninety seven still stands. Although figures indicate the greatness of his batting, they don't convey the grandeur of it.

In his Tests against Australia, which spanned 23 years, he batted against, Saunders, Noble, Armstrong, Macartney, Cotter, Laver, Whitty, Hordern, Minnett, Kelleway, Gregory, McDonald, Mailey, Richardson, Grimmet, Ironmonger, Oxenham, Blackie, Wall, Hornibrook, McCabe, Fairfax and a'Beckett. In this list there is every conceivable type of bowler - Men who bowled with a plan behind every ball or those who relied on natural ability. And they had shrewd captains too. Noble, Hill, Sid Gregory, Armstrong, Collins, Ryder and Woodfull. His technique was faultless and the manner in which he made his runs, captivated and enthralled those who could recognise style and elegance.

Hobbs took every bowler in his century making stride, and it was only in his last days, that he got strung up, when Bill Bowes, with a type of bowling that was not entirely cricket, gave Hobbs a dose of bodyline. Hobbs remonstrated at the wicket against such intimidatory tactics and, knowing that something alien to the spirit of cricket had entered it, he packed his cricket bag for good. Hobbs played Test cricket until he was 48.

Hobbs always acknowledged his debt to Tom Hayward, who introduced him to Surrey. But it is well to note that Hobbs never had an hour's coaching in all his life. He was a self-made cricketer. He did not copy Hayward's stance at the wicket, although there was a similarity. Hobbs improved on Hayward's stance which was decidedly two-eyed, with the left foot pointing almost straight up the pitch. The two shoulders round and the face practically full on the bowler. Hobbs like Compton, had his face, and thus his right shoulder, a little fuller to the bowler and herein as with Compton, could have been the secret of his remarkable prowess in playing on-side strokes.

Hobbs was one of the twelve children of a groundsman at Jesus College, Cambridge. His own first job was as a groundsman at Bedford School, where he also did some bowling at the nets. His life was thus inseparable from cricket. But he had an early setback when he was recommended to the Essex County Club and was turned down. He was not good enough. He then approached Surrey and was immediately accepted. In his second match he scored a glorious 155 and it happened to be against the very county that had turned him down. Every run must have given him immense joy and, knowing that their club had spurned him, the Essex players must have had some galling thoughts at the end of that match - and forever afterwards through Hobbs' great career.

He played for Surrey against Joe Darling's great Aussie side of 1905 and batted beautifully against Cotter then at his fastest, and had reached 94, when a glorious pick up and throw from Clem Hill on the Kennington Oval boundary ran him out. It was a compliment that Hobbs was to return to the Australians very often in the years to come. ( end of Part 1.)

Dalmiya has done a lot for Asian cricket

Jagmohan Dalmiya completed his term as International Cricket Council (ICC) chief last month. Observers in countries like England, Australia and South Africa might feel that he was a misfit but there is little doubt that his contribution was substantial.

It is never easy to rise to the top administrative position in the game and since he has been the first Asian to do so, countries like India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and for that matter Bangladesh should be happy that an individual beat virtually all odds and opposition to make it right to the top. So what if he engineered a few votes in his own distinctive style? He outwitted them all, didn't he?

Dalmiya assumed authority on the strength of his vast experience, having served as both the treasurer and then as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. He played a key role in bringing the World Cup to India, (the final was played at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta), has been one of the guiding spirits behind the formation of the Asian Cricket Council and two World Cups, 1996 and 1999, were staged under his aegis. How many administrators in the world can claim such experience and expertise?

Dalmiya's relationship with the game can be summed up in one sentence: a one point agenda to make it rich. That he has achieved his goal, and done it in an amazing manner, even his most strident critics cannot deny. If he is being held responsible for not nipping in the bud, as it were, match-fixing and betting which have rent the game, then the Australian Cricket Board and South African Board would have to confess to the crime of attempting to sweep things under the carpet.

Top former international cricketers like Ian Chappell, Tony Greig and the like have found merit in Dalmiya's attempts to bring in people with experience and knowledge like them into decision- making within the ICC on technical matters.

Dalmiya, a businessman and his wonderful acumen has enriched the coffers of the ICC. The game has spread, though one is not in complete support of this. A game that grows too big and travels far is hard to administer. Dalmiya will readily admit to this, given the ICC structure.

Jagmohan Dalmiya has done a great deal for cricket during his reign as ICC chief. So what if critics in England, Australia and South Africa are not gracious enough to accept it. Dalmiya's one point agenda was to make the game rich and he achieved it.

- Ramesh Joseph

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