• Destiny's favourite joins the legends 
• Susanthika scholarship! 
• Australians rejoice in Freeman's race
• Help Susanthika 
• Congrats to Susanthika 
• Lankans face Pakistan in cracking form
• Briefly
• Wasantha excels in Stuttgart
• Ashhar clinches rally win with amazing zero debits
• Basketball bounces higher and higher
• De Bruijn sparkles, but the doubts still remain
• Congratulations Susi, but how can we forget Duncan White?
• Lankan girls ready for World Cup 
• Shereen Kumaranatunga is keen to promote & foster women's cricket 
• Olympic stars get warm welcome

Destiny's favourite joins the legends 

Zinedine Zidane has taken the acclaim of the stadium, Tiger Woods has acknowledged the roar of the gallery but when did the tumult of adulation descend so majestically on to the cap-domed head of a bloke in little blue goggles? 

Ian Thorpe has been the toast of all Australia. 

Ian Thorpe, the Australian teenager, launched into the 27th Olympiad in style, becoming Australia's first gold medallist of the Games, first winning the men's 400 metre freestyle and then, barely minutes later, anchoring the final leg of the sprint relay with such a furious gust of wilful adrenalin that he became destiny's favourite. The flag-flying rafters were virtually detached by the cacophony. Nearly 20,000 people, including the Australian Prime Minister, Chelsea Clinton and Greg Norman, went berserk. 

It was astounding, breath-taking drama. A matter of fingertips and the mighty determination of a schoolboy. All this and Thorpe is only 17. Such a thought was hardly consolation to the United States' team, losers by 19 hundredths of a second, who were aghast to find that an event they have won throughout Olympic history was suddenly wrested away by a kid. But at least a remarkable kid with size 17 feet that he uses like flippers and a gigantic wingspan (at least 20cms wider than the average) that carves through the water like a scalpel. He doesn't swim, he sculpts. His stroke is like an elegant drawl. 

It is hard for us to imagine a swimmer with charisma. Chlorine has the nasty chemical property of bleaching out character before the sponsors and television companies can beat a path to the door. But Thorpe, IT by initial and It by nature, has become a telegenic man-god in Australia despite being hampered by the medium of the goldfish. They say his medals - he ended up with three golds and a silver in Sydney - will be worth a lot of money, a substantial proportion of which he will donate to his favourite children's charity. 

They call him 'Thorpedo,' aptly explosive but nowhere near approximating his charm. He writes poetry, he plans to use sport as a springboard to work for the United Nations. Fabulous and prodigious as his achievements have been so far, he offered no juvenile hysterical celebrations. The response to his first gold medal, to the riot of acclaim, to the routing of his opponents, to the stratospheric advancement of his reputation, were two fists, gently clenched and subtle, as though holding on to the precious moment. 

"I just felt this sheer energy inside me when I touched the wall and I turned around and realised I'd become the Olympic champion." The first words he mouthed were 'Thank you.' "I'm very fortunate to have what I have. It was just so great to be able to share that moment with the whole country and fulfil a dream that I have had for a long time. It was the best day of my life, the best hour of my life, the best minutes of my life and I'm jumping with joy." 

The minutes were indeed fiendishly intense, so much so that he nearly missed the start of the relay. He had changed for his first medal ceremony, where endearingly he had sung the Australian national anthem with the bridge of his nose still pinked by the pinch of his goggles, only to require his bodysuit once more for the race. He couldn't get it on. Four people eventually managed to zip him into it and he emerged belatedly into the limelight still rippling from his previous endeavour. 

A great deal was being asked of him. To win an Olympic gold against an American team that had never lost at a distance that is not his forte and having expended his energy, physically and emotionally, on the 400m freestyle just past. Furthermore his rival on the anchor leg was the mercurial sprint-specialist Gary Hall Jr, banned once for marijuana and the proud owner of the opinion that "we're gonna smash the Aussies like guitars." 

At the turn Thorpe was half a length down on his rival. But as the noise level reached an almost impossible crescendo, he hauled back the space between them and, inspired by the common will, used his freakish reach to touch the wall first in a new world record. Bedlam. Truly we were watching the long arm of the lore. 

Dara Torres, in the US sprint relay women's team that won gold the same night, had sat on the same bus as Thorpe to the Aquatic Centre. She was still reeling. "Oh my God, I've never seen anything like it," she wailed. "His hands were the size of paddles. I said to myself: 'My God, I've got to look at his feet. And I looked down at his feet and thought: 'My God. He's not a boy. He's like a man'." 

Olympic legend must make room for him. "He is simply the greatest middle-distance swimmer of all time," said his team-mate, Michael Klim, who, incidentally, swam the first leg of the relay in a new world record for the 100m sprint. 

Poor Hall Jr, his hair jelled straight upwards as though in shock, described the experience as "rather painful." But he was gallant enough to applaud his conqueror. He took pride, not shame, from coming second in the circumstances. The race had been electric. "I consider tonight's race to be the best I have ever taken part in," he said. "Tonight was something the swimming world had never seen before. I doff my swim cap to the great Ian Thorpe." 

And yet, not so long ago Thorpe was the dumpy little kid, so uncoordinated at ball games he was everyone's last pick and allergic to chlorine. His father worked for a local council in Sydney, sweeping leaves being part of the job description. But the allergy abated, his sister went swimming, he went to keep her company and the aquatic drama that now supercedes Flipper was born. 

That he is a freak is beyond doubt. Those famous feet thrash the water so hard, the men that trail him say it is like being immersed in a washing machine. That is part of what makes him so exceptional. So many sportsmen are on the spin cycle, busy hyping themselves beyond their deserving. 

Thorpe is the real thing, the embodiment of a gracious, charismatic champion. So balanced is Thorpe that he complimented his rival Pieter van den Hoogenband, who beat him in one of his favourite events, the 200m freestyle, in Sydney. Wet he only is in the water. Courtesy The Sportstar

Susanthika scholarship! 

By C. Vijitha Fernando 

This singular success at this highly competitive level should have attracted several sponsors enabling her to hone her sprinting skills for the millennium Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. 

This was not to be the case. Instead of encouragement, all she received was discouragement and the kind of vilification that an athlete of this class should not have received. 

However, with her grit, courage and determination she did it on her own by winning a Bronze since Duncan White did it some 52 years back. 

Susanthika is still young and has a good chance to have a shot at the Gold in the 200 metres at the Athens, 2004 Olympic Games, Greece, the place she ran into world fame in 1997. 

The four years between now and the Athens Games would give her the opportunity to do the kind of training all world class athletes should get. 

For that Susanthika should be given all the support, more importantly, funds and funding so that she will be removed of the trammels associated with the disbursement of her proposed scholarship. 

A trust fund should be established in the name of "Susanthika - Athens 2000 Olympics Trust Fund" or such similar entity under an exemplary and responsible oversight organization acceptable to Susanthika. This proposed organization should not have more than five (5) to seven (7) members, drawn from among those who wish to sponsor her Gold medal aspiration at the Athens 2004 Games. 

Such a trust fund should have representation of a respected audit firm, representation from any sponsor contributing more than rupees one million (should they exceed the five-seven members, on a rotational basis every six months or so). All funds should be placed in an interest earning Account. 

An audited financial statement should be made public until Year 2005 and the trust fund should be reviewed for its continuance. 

Disbursement of funds on Susanthika's behalf for training and event participation, in any part of the world, should be the most important and critical function of the trust fund. Funds should also be made available for Susanthika's immediate family, so that they would not live in despair and anxiety for lack of funds as Susanthika is the only "bread winner" while she is training abroad. In the past several years a kind and generous benefactor has been looking after this aspect of Susanthika's plight at home. 

Thanks to The Sunday Times "Rover column", this humiliating and humanitarian issue was highlighted and relief was found for Susanthika's training expenses. 

In most countries, almost every world class athlete has his/her own coach and manager. The manager generally looks after the general affairs of the athlete and also represents the athlete in raising funds and managing it. Both are paid for their different roles. A manager at this level would be expensive for Susanthika. In the likely event that Susanthika would not be engaging in product endorsements, this is where she would need a manager to ensure such endorsements, etc. and would be consummated in a safe legal agreement. 

The ideal organization that could handle the affairs of the "Susanthika Athens 2000 Olympic Trust Fund" would be the Duncan White Sports Foundation. The Foundation Board is composed of high calibre and respected people and sports persons. They have vast and varied resources and the knowledge, expertise and contacts, to handle such a trust fund for Susanthika. 

When Susanthika's trust fund and its disbursements are handled professionally in a timely manner, her concerns for awaiting funds from sources that control them is totally removed. Competing at the Athens 2004 Games would be much more difficult than what she did in Sydney. 

Marion Jones will also be around. Between now and 2004 there will be several Jones, Davis Thompsons and Jayasinghes running the 200 metres under 22 seconds with consummate ease. It won't be surprising to see a sub-21 second by 2002 or sooner, with the kind of sprint crop emerging from all parts of the world. Making the whole 200 metres an altogether new game run, anyway! 

The public should generously contribute to this trust fund that would be tax free and tax exempt. Susanthika is now a national treasure, and no detractors can take that away from her. As such, the public has a stake in her welfare and vigorously support her go at the Gold medal in 2004. She is running for the Gold for them while making it personal at a secondary level. The public and sponsors ought to see this a special project for Susanthika to make it to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and get that Gold in the 200 metres. 

Duncan White would surely appreciate such an outstanding achievement. As Duncan always asked of our Athletes to do so goes - and Duncan would certainly be looking down from where he is to see that Susanthika will do just that so that he can go on his long sleep. 

Australians rejoice in Freeman's race

By. Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha, Sydney

I am sure that many of us in years to come will remember these as Susanthika's Games.

But if the Sydney Olympics need an epithet, they should really be known as Cathy Freeman's Games.

Whether it was lighting the spectacular Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony, running so convincingly to victory in the 400 metres final or uniting Australia behind her as she won that country's only individual athletic Gold at these Games - Cathy Freeman dominated these Olympics.

Billions watched the opening ceremony on TV, when the Olympic torch was carried through the stadium by a succession of Australia's greatest female Olympic medallists. Freeman - Silver medallist at the Atlanta Games four years ago - was the final torch-bearer entrusted with lighting the Olympic cauldron.

The choice of 27-year-old Freeman for this honour was symbolic in many ways. At the start of the Games she was one of Australia's brightest hopes for athletic Gold; moreover she is the only person to have been selected for the national award of 'Young Australian of the Year' (in 1990) as well as 'Australian of the Year' (in 1997).

But there was an even greater significance in making her Australia's ultimate Olympic torch-bearer.

In a population ruled, dominated and almost always represented overseas by white people, Freeman happens to be black.

One of Australia's indigenous Aboriginal people, Freeman is a highly talented and articulate figure that Australia could confidently present to the world as a symbol of her cultural diversity.

She was born on February 16, 1973 in Mackay, a small town in the state of Queensland, a region where blackness is an inherited liability that forces Aboriginal people to live on the sidelines of white culture. From her small days she was aware that she had been blessed with the ability to run fast - she recalls telling her primary school teacher that one day she would run in the Olympics - but the social norms of the day were such that black people had to prove themselves superior merely to be accepted as equals.

After winning numerous district and state athletic meets in the eighties, Freeman's first international success came in 1990 when, as a member of the 4 x 100 relay team at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland she won a Gold medal. She went on to become the first Aboriginal athlete to represent Australia at Olympic Games - at Barcelona in 1992 - but it was at the subsequent Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada that she made headlines.

Winning both the 200 metres and 400 metres races at these Games, Freeman did her victory lap as many Aussie athletes have done, with the Australian flag around her neck. However, she also prominently draped the Aboriginal flag around herself at the same time. The photo of her wearing both flags made headlines all over the world. As eloquently as Tommie Smith and John Carlos' black power salute at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, she was telling the world: Aboriginal Australia had a message to be heard.

Her action drew a lot of criticism from white Australians - including members of Australia's Olympic Committee. "No", says Aboriginal boxer Colin Mitchell, "It was the act of a patriotic Australian and true Aborigine - someone who was happy to have brought honour to her country but at the same time as proud of her origins".

Freeman's action in Canada raised her profile - and everyone in Australia soon came to recognise the lone black face among the country's elite athletes.

Following her success at the Commonwealth Games, she came second to world champion Marie-Jose Perec of France in the 400 metres at the Atlanta Olympics, becoming the first Aboriginal woman to win an individual Olympic medal (Nova Peris-Kneebone, was the first to win Gold, as a member of the champion women's hockey team).

Sporting champions have always been idolised in Australia - enjoying the adulation that in Sri Lanka we only bestow on film stars. And Freeman was someone Australians from all walks could identify with.

Aboriginal children could look up to her as a role model while white Australians ("Many of whom," claims famous newscaster Ray Martin, himself part-Aboriginal, "haven't met and conversed with an Aboriginal person") could appreciate her obvious athletic talent.

And the articulate and engaging way in which she spoke made politicians realise that here was a woman they could proudly display to the world as the embodiment of Aboriginal Australia.

So Freeman became the perfect choice to light the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony. However she also had a huge burden on her shoulders - carrying the expectations of her countrymen in the 400 metres race at these Games. She was the world champion, having clocked the fastest time in the event this year - but that was no guarantee of winning at the Olympics.

On September 25, Freeman kept her date with destiny. Watched by approximately 8.7 million TV viewers in this country, she took just over 49 seconds to blitz the field - ironically winning Australia's 100th Olympic medal in the process.

Australia's enterprising postal service had decided to issue commemorative stamps featuring every sportsperson who won a Gold medal at these Olympics. The stamp with Freeman's portrait (the first Australian stamp featuring an indigenous personality) was issued the day after her famous victory and within two hours of post offices opening that morning, over half a million of the stamps had been sold.

Some Aboriginal people have criticised the way in which Freeman is being honoured, calling it tokenism and claiming that Cathy winning hearts and minds of folk in Australia and overseas is allowing people like the Prime Minister to deflect attention from the country's shameful treatment of Aborigines over the past two hundred years.

It is a valid point. Until the early seventies Australia had a policy of routinely separating "mixed" Aboriginal children from their parents - and didn't give indigenous people the right to vote until 1967.

Says Pat Dodson, the first Chairman of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, "Cathy will be a source of great pride for generations of Australians as the woman who rose against the odds to triumph over the best in the world."

"But the lesson that must be learnt is that young Aboriginal children of the future should not have to battle "against the odds" to reach the podiums of athletic glory."

The Sydney Games have been so much about Freeman - while Freeman herself has represented so much more than just games.

And every ovation the public has bestowed on her has made her less of a token and more of a symbol of something real: that Australia, finally, has come of age.

Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha has worked as a doctor among Australia's Aboriginal people, and is currently a lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine at Monash University.

Help Susanthika 

By Minoli de Almeida 

So many of us are familiar with that enchanting song feelings. All of us experience feelings and emotions, these play a major role in our daily lives, so much so it makes or breaks us. Our nation is plagued into a crisis situation, a student not so long ago died a victim of sordid ragging, innocent people are brutally maimed or killed due to terrorist incidents and these appear to dominate our lives. 

We adults have a high level of coping skills, yet there is a high incidence of mental illness in some others. Through this the youth may get desensitized to those incidents while some others who are vulnerable, i.e. those with low self-esteem would not know how to cope with problems and may resort to drug taking or alcoholism or even suicide. It is no wonder then that Sri Lanka unfortunately boasts of a very high rate compared to the rest of the world. Statistics show that we are world leaders in suicide, that then ends this pathetic story. 

But no, not for Susanthika, who has had a fair share of trauma, initially coming from a not so affluent society, denied even of basic needs. This village girl rises to fame, being unable to sustain herself. Then subsequently the charges she made evidently is correct as there is no apparent denial from any quarter over these allegations. 

The damage was done. Imagine the psychological deprivation through all this yet proved to herself that any problem can be overcome by a strong mind.

But how strong is a strong mind? She was relentless in pursuing her goal and overcame all the obstacles along the way, obstacles too numerous to mention and as a mother my heart is with her. She even said that at the "Olympic village" the harassment continued, the powers that be tried to destroy her. 

Your coach deserves all praise for being so psychologically balanced to be able to have to handle such a crisis situation, and you the student with a limited knowledge of the English language to have understood and to have been amenable - to discipline, speaks volumes for your character. This should stand as paradigm to the rest of us. 

Sports is a great level of mind and body. It teaches one to face victory or defeat. But more so it teaches us that there are losers also. If no one loses no one wins ! But alas ! Nationally and globally standards have eroded. 

The joy the cricketers gave us with the win of the World Cup. Now the double joy of winning an Olympic medal which is the pinnacle of the sports arena. 

One must acknowledge that this little country is so rich in talent but sadly man is destroying one another for political gains, thereby neglecting talent and destroying the natural resources. 

It is our duty now before it is too late to help Susanthika to achieve greater heights in her future endeavours. If only she had the support she needed when she needed it most I leave you to reflect upon. 

Congrats to Susanthika 

It was decided that the Secretary to the Cabinet should convey the above sentiments to Susanthika Jayasinghe. 

Ministers Lakshman Kadirgamar and Lakshman Jayakody were educated at Trinity College, Kandy which was also Duncan White's School. Minister Kadirgamar captained the cricket team, played rugger and was schoolboy champion and later, in the early fifties, national hurdles champion. He also played cricket for Balliol College, Oxford. Minister Jayakody played cricket and rugger for Trinity. 

Lankans face Pakistan in cracking form

By Jatila Karawita

Sri Lanka's explosive left handed opener Avishka Gunawardene

This game promises to be a real cracker, with no quarter asked nor given, and with two evenly matched teams in their bid to outsmart the other, with a view to booking their place in the semis, the spectators are assured of vintage cricket irrespective of the final outcome.

Sri Lanka who is presently ranked as the second best one day International team, behind world champions Australia in the International one day standings, lived up to their billing with a highly professional display, which accounted for the hapless Windies.

Sri Lanka's explosive left handed opener Avishka Gunawardene, who notched up his maiden one day 'ton' with 132, and former vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene who made a sparkling 72, were the stars of the innings on the day, when they powered their way to a commanding total of 287 for 6.

Their champagne batting display, simply knocked the daylights out of the inexperienced West Indian attack, and that 160-run third wicket partnership between the two, after they had slumped to 10 for 2, paved the way for their match-winning score in the end.

Among the rest of the batsmen who shone for Sri Lanka, was that stylish lanky left hander Russel Arnold, who made a run a ball 41, and wicket-keeper bat Romesh Kaluwitharana, on his return to the International fold made an unbeaten 16.

But all indications point to the fact that, this trio along with Gunawardene, Jayawardene, and Arnold, should be among the runs today, if they are to be more than just a handful to the Pakistanis.

The Lankans put on a decent showing in the bowling stakes, with their pace trio of Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Soyza, and Pramodya Wickramasinghe, sharing five wickets between them, against the West Indies.

But undoubtedly their trump card is offspin wizard, Muttiah Muralitheran whose stunning figures of 10-4-9-0, against the Caribbean's the other day, proves the fact that the master tweaker is at the peak of his powers, at the time of writing. Muralitheran will be one bowler, where the Pakistanis will hope to counter with the greatest of difficulty, and if his current form is anything to go by, then a battle royal should be on the cards for cricket fans.

Meanwhile the Pakistanis, who make their appearance for the first time in this competition, will go with a full strength squad, looking to making it to the semi final.

The return of champion all- rounder Wasim Akram, and off spin sensation Saqlain Mushtaq, will immensely enhance their winning capacity, though they will be hard pressed to match the Sri Lankans in batting.

Batsmen as Saeed Anvar, Imran Nazir, Ijaz Ahamed, Inzamam ul Haq, Yousuf Youhana, skipper Moin Khan, and allrounders Akram, Abdur Razzaq, and Azar Mahamood, will be the danger men for the Lankans, and if any one of those get their eye in, it is bound to spell doom for the Islanders.

Their attack comprising Akram, waqar, Razzak, Mahmood, Saqlain, and Arshad Khan, are more than capable of penetrating any world class batting line-up, and it will be a stern test for Sri Lanka to weather it, if at all they are to make any progress, from the quarter final.

Teams

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt), Marvan Atapattu, Avishka Gunawardene, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Russel Arnold, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Soyza, Muttaih Muralitheran, and Pramodya Wickramasinghe.

Pakistan: Saeed Anver, Imran Nazir, Ijaz Ahamed, Inzamam Ul Haq, Yousuf Youhana,Moin Khan (Capt), Wasim Akram, Abdur Razzaq, Azar Mahamood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Waquar Younis and Arshad Khan.

Briefly

Bridge Tourney 

The Mixed Pairs event sponsored by Dr. S.E. Jeyaratnam was won by Ms. Srihari Saravanapavan and M. Chelliah, Dr. Rose Peiris and Anton Selvanayagam were runners-up. Mrs. Mallika Wijekoon and D.P. Senaweera were placed third. 4th Mrs. Fainza Macan Markar and Dr. Dilangen Soysa, 5th Mrs. Cera Fernando and T. Shanmugalingam. 10 pairs participated. 

New AAA office

Malaysian Cycle Tour

This team will participate at the "Perlis Open 2000" cycling competition which will be held from October 10 to 14, 2000 and Pahang 2000 cycle challenge from October 16 to 26, 2000. 

This championships will consist of Individual Time Trials, Road Races and Cretariums. The team left for the championship on Friday. The team consists of the following:

Women: U.D. Shriyalatha Wickramasinghe (Ranjith Anura Cycling Club); Men (Junior): S. Amal Suranga (Sri Lanka Air Force); Men (Senior): P. Yasaratne (Army Waggoners); G.G.S.K. Getamurutha (Sri Lanka Army Waggoners); H.L. Krishantha (Paragon Peddlers Cycling Club); W. Jayantha Kumara (Sri Lanka German Friendship Cycling Club). 

Officials - Manager: Mr. Carl Goonawarna; Assistant Manager: Mr. Nihal Kulasekara; Coaches: Mr. Tudor Wijesooriya; Mrs. Nanda Rajapaksha. 

Wattala Cricket

The ceremony commenced after observing one minute silence to the late parents of the cricketers, 50 and a cake was cut by Rev. Bro. Alexander together with Rev. Bro. Plasidus and Mr. R. Noel Jansz.

Rev. Bro. Alexander thanked the cricketers for organising such an event and said he was happy to see the cricketers are yet together even after 25 years. Some of the cricketers' parents were also present at this occasion. 

England 'A' to play in Busta Cup 

Meanwhile West Indies will also play their first three Test series against Zimbabwe in June next year. The Test series will be followed by a triangular limited over tournament which will also feature New Zealand. (MF) 

Trescothick-Player of the Year

Yorkshire's Matthew Hoggard was selected as the Young Player of the Year while his team mate Australian Darren Lehmann won the award for the fastest hundred. Ray Julian was adjudged Umpire of the Year. (MF) 

Goodwin replaces Bevan

Bevan's replacement Murray Goodwin played 19 Tests for Zimbabwe before retiring and returning to Western Australia. Meanwhile Australian medium pacer Glen McGrath will be replaced by Queensland's Andy Bichell for Worcestershire next season. McGrath will be with the Australians playing England in the Ashes series next summer. (MF)

Tufnell-Middlesex player of the year 

Tufnell who last played in the fourth Test against South Africa last year has been named as an official reserve for England's Winter tour. The veteran off-spinner has cliamed 120 Test wickets. (MF)

Anushka fastest girl

She also had the honour of receiving the National Schools Games Colours for both 100 metres and 200 metres for the second consecutive year. (MF) 

More Sports Plus

Return to Sports Plus Contents