T.T. Tittle Tattle

The inter schools table tennis tournament for under 16 and under 10 boys and girls threw up some poses for the organisers.

Earlier, the tournament had been held at the Thomian gymnasium. However, possibly on account of the expense involved, the venue was switched to the more modest Visakha Vidyalaya hall. Only ten tables could be fitted in as space was at a premium. The Thomian gym had room for twelve tables. The matches went on till as late as 10 p.m. on Saturday and even then, the A division final had to be carried over to the, next day.

What happened at the under 18 Boy's C Division final was more mirth-provoking. Kingswood and Ranabima, Royal reached the last stage but as there was no time for the final to be played, the two schools were asked to play it in Kandy at a later date. It had not been played even five days later. Quite obviously the final lacked the glamour that should rightly be associated with it and instead it turned out to be a damp squib.

Then again, a winning team was not awarded the shield because the previous year's winner had not returned it. The winners were asked to get it from the latter. Isn't it the duty of the organisers to get all the trophies, shields etc. ready for distribution?

If the number of teams is too great, the tournament could be played over three days and at a more suitable venue, too.

This tournament is initially held at provincial level and the first two teams play in the main tournament. This rule applies to all divisions. What happened in the U 18 tournament in Kandy provides plenty of food for thought. Girls' High School A and B teams, Pushpadana and Mahamaya are the only A division teams. Dilini Madawala, Sri Lanka's top ranked U 19 player, won all her matches against High School. A & B teams yet finished on the losing side. Hence her team did not make it to the championship in Colombo and the leading player among the girls was forced to give it a miss. Incidentally, Girls' High School A & B teams beat Pushpadana 3 - 2, while the High School A team beat their opponents 3 - 0 in the final in Colombo. This situation could be avoided if all A division teams were made to play in the tournament in Colombo. The numbers would be manageable - Sabaragamuwa Province, for example, has no A division team among the girls. Nivanthana Udugama (Devi Balika) was another who suffered the same fate as Dilini Madawala.

Switching tables, as it were there, were some startling surprises at the St. John's Open TT championships. Madushika Hettige of Maliyadeva Girls' School was on a winning steak beating Sri Lanka's number one Deepika Rodrigo and Dilmini Direckze en route to the final.

However, she met her match in Kalpani Herath,a mere thirteen-year-old, who halted her giant-killing.

Sri Jayawardenapura undergrad Thilina Piyadasa continued to dominate the men's event, but his perpetual rival Indika Prasad did not take part. Thus it was the third rank K.S.T. Chalitha who fronted up to Piyadasa in the final. As things stand it is only the above named (together with Ravi Vindyan and Rohan Sirisena) who are capable of giving the champion a run for his money.

Kandy's juniors continue to make their presence felt on the national scene - I.T. Gunapala, the top ranked under 15 player, together with under seventeen B.N.B. Jayasinghe (of Vidyartha) Ranabima Royal's Wijesiri Wickremasinghe and Atapattu and Upasena (Kingswood) are up there amongst the best.

-Top Spinner

Bangladesh, promise and performance

The sceptics and doubters were many, Bangladesh, it was claimed in many quarters, was getting too far, too soon. In comparison with another Asian country, Sri Lanka, their path to test status was almost strewn with roses. At the corresponding stage, Sri Lanka's ability was not in question. It was a case of lack of infrastructure. All that was slowly but surely put right. The Asian block of countries (India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) has become a powerful voice at the various ICC fora. After all, have not all these countries laid their hands on cricket's World Cup whereas the mother-of-them-all, England, has yet to get to. The clincher probably was the fact that India's Dalmiya was head of the international body.

Bangladesh's rise to exalted status is now so much water under the bridge. What of their performance in the inaugural test? For two days or thereabouts, it was most impressive. 

Aminul Islam (145) did what few batsmen before him have done. It was not merely a case of a debut hundred. It was a hundred in a country's inaugural test. The kudos he received were justified. The debutant surprised many by running up a total of 400. The Indians, by common consent not the hottest attack around, laboured five sessions to dismiss them.

Bangladesh's pleasure at dismissing the great Tendulkar for 18 must surely have been tempered by the fact that the Indians, by did'nt of some solid resistance down the line were able to overhaul their total and take a very modest lead. Incidentally, Tendulkar doesn't seem to be delivering in full measure these days. It happening to them no matter how great, at sometime or the other Lara knows all about it, so does Greg Chappell, Mark Waugh reeled off four ducks in a row on Sri Lankan soil. So Tendulkar has some kind of exalted status even in his moments of frailty.

But how the cookie crumbled! You can put it down to lack of expertise in playing over five days, a woeful shortage of staying power or, quite simply, they had shot their bolt. They had performed with great credit and distinction thus far, they had stayed the course and had run one of the Asian giants very close on the first innings. Consequently, the Bangladeshis must have been a trifle relaxed mentally. India applied pressure through Srinath and Agarkar and then, man of the match, Sunil Joshi cashed in. The home batsmen were experiencing test match pressure for the first time and they were not quite up to it.

-Aubrey Kuruppu

Tharanga soars high 

Record number of athletes take part at the Sir John Tarbat Athletic Championships Arjuna Madusanka, a tall well built lad from De Mazenod 
College, Kandana broke the Under-18 javelin record when 
he threw a distance of 56.62 metres. A feat which also 
won him his public school colours. This feat no doubt 
will remain in his memory for a very long time to come.

By Bruce Maurice

At the Sir John Tarbat championships which was organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Athletics Association and held at the Sugthadasa Stadium recently, seven hundred and eleven girls and nine hundred and sixteen boys participated. 

L.G.A Tharanga Vinodani of Vijitha MMV, Dickwella was the only girls' to lower a record. This was in the Girls' Under-18 High Jump, when she cleared 1.60 metres to break the record which was 1.55 metres. 

However, quite a few records were broken by boys from outstation schools. Another clear indication was that many up and coming champions are left to corrode because of lack of proper facilities, proper diet and the lethargy of those in authority. 

Arjuna Madusanka, a tall, well built lad from De Mazenod College, Kandana broke the Under-18 javelin record when he threw a distance of 56.62 metres. A feat which also won him his public school colours. This feat np–doubt will remain in his memory for a very long time to come. In the Track Masters meet he was placed 2nd despite throwing a distance of 57.98 and breaking the previous record. Hailing from a humble Christian home, he has to make do with whatever food is dished out to him in the school boarding. Once a week beef curry and one egg a week. A diet that is needless to say thoroughly insufficient for a lad of 17 years, leave alone an athlete. He started his athletic career at the age of 15, when he participated at the school inter-house meet. That was in 1996 when he was still undur 15 years of age. That same year he represented De Mazenod at the Provincial meet. In '97, at the school inter-house meet, he was placed 2nd in the javelin and putt shot events and third in the discus. But in the following year he won the javelin and putt shot and was placed third in the discus event. At the Track Masters meet he was placed 3rd in the javelin (51.96). In 1999, at the Provincial meet, he was third in the javelin and at the District meet also he was third. Was placed 2nd in the all-island meet with a distance of 56.62. At the inter-house meet that year he won the javelin and putt shot events and was placed third in the discus. In the new year at the Provincial meet was placed 2nd in the javelin and then at the recent Sir John Tarbat championships came his greatest triumph when he threw a distance of 56.62 in the javelin to set up a new record and win his public school colours. 

At first, Madusanka had no coach to guide him along, but was later helped by the coach of another school. However, when this coach realised that this boy had a tremendous amount of natural talent and he was a threat to the students of his own school, his baser instincts got the better of him and he tried to sabotage the boy's career. But a senior boy of De Mazenod seeing his predicament taught him a few important lessons in javelin throwing and introduced him to the Hewagama sports school where he was coached by Mr. Upatissa. For the success that he has so far achieved in his sporting career, he will always remember with gratitude, Mr. Upatissa, Brother Granville Fernando, the Rector of De Mazenod College, Mr. Upali Silva, the Prefect of Games, his parents, his uncle Mr. Anthony Wanigasuriya and of course Ivantha Karanagoda. Finally he stated that the grant he is entitled to from the Sports Ministry is only a pipe dream. 

The Under-16 boys' high jump record was broken by Suranjit Senarath of Maris Stella College, Negombo, when he cleared a height of 1.87 metres. At the age of 15 in '98, at the Divisional and Zonal meets, he was placed 1st and 2nd respectively, and at the All-Island championships was 2nd with a height of 1.65 metres. And at the public schools meet that year, was placed 1st in the Under-14 age group, when he cleared 1.65 metres. Last year, was placed 1st at the Divisional, Zonal and Provincial meets but at the All-Island championships missed the All-Island record by just .02 metres. At this year's Divisional and Zonal meets was placed 1st, but 2nd in the Provincial and All-Island meets. However, in the Under-16 high jump at the public schools meet he cleared the bar by 1.87 metres to set up a new record. 

He started his education at Nainamada Central School and then joined Maris Stella College after passing the scholarship examination. At his first school he was given all the encouragement and help by Messrs. Jude Fernando, Jerome Fernando, the Physical Training Instructor S. Thamel and Miss. Malini Fernando and when he joined Maris Stella College, he was fortunate to come under the coaching of Mr. Philip Ranjit, while the Rector Brother Godfrey Fernando, Mr. Gamini Fernando, the Master in Charge, Brother Sunil Fernando and needless to say his parents are all towers of strength to him. 

Another record that was swept off the board was the Under-20 hurdles record by L.A. De Silva of Nalanda Vidyalaya, Mulleriyawa. He clocked 15.8 secs. to beat the previous record of 15.9 secs.

He has one brother, and all that keeps the wolf from their door is his father's pension and was encouraged to take to athletics by his father and has been coached throughout his career by Mr. Ananda Athukorale. He is a dedicated student of athletics and trains 3 hours a day, 6 days of the week. When he started his career, at the age of 11, he was not into hurdles. At the Inter-House sports meet, he came 2nd in the Under-11 100, 200 metres and the long jump. This feat was repeated the following year at the Under-13 age group.

Are we ready for professionalism?

By Gamini Perera

The twin tours the national football team embarked to Malaysia and Singapore in October, 2000 clearly depicted two vital factors.

Firstly, that the demands of international and club level football have brought in its wake a sense of result-oriented mentality that has eaten into the soul of the game. Needless to stress that modern football is based on systems.

Secondly, it had proved when compared to the other Asian countries, we in Sri Lanka are poorer by the experience in high-pitched international competitions.

Gone are the days when teams took the field to give expression to all they possessed, individually and collectively, and allow results to take its own course. And, the result was accepted as either good for the victor or bad luck for the vanquished.

But, it is heartening to note that the FFSL - the controlling body for the sport here, has understood in a vivid manner that sans a proper youth base no sport can advance.

A good example in evidence to this statement is the far sighted move the FFSL has launched - Tharuna Sanvardanaya which means Youth Development.

The FFSL quite rightly is of the view that this Youth Development Programme (YDP) will spread its tentacles through the leagues and schools affiliated to the FFSL. The FFSL has also accepted the stark fact, that without a proper infrastructure football in Sri Lanka cannot be developed. Quite correctly, the administrators have planned out a strategy and hopes to work accordingly.

Drawing up a calendar, with the Premier League - 2000 and the F.A. Cup championship given top billing, is another laudable venture towards the right direction.

A national youth championship and an invitation tournament, in line with the Asian quadrangular football championship held in the sixties, encompassing not more than four neighbouring countries, we trust, will add more muscle to the football calendar.

This system will certainly pave the way for Sri Lanka to participate in a fitting manner in international competitions, especially at Asian tournament.

Especially, after the dismal performances of the national team against Malaysia and Singapore, where we lost to Malaysia (3-1, 2-0) and Singapore (4-0, 2-0), the need to assess and resurrect the still dwindling standard of the sport is of paramount importance.

In this aspect, we propose that all training programmes should be related to actual game experiences, so that the player could learn even the most complicated.

Watching some of the Premier League - 2000 matches, one automatically comes to the conclusion that Sri Lanka is still not fully geared up to go on a full-scale professionalised system.

Most of the players seem to forget the relevance and the importance the FFSL has placed on this Division 1 tournament - the ultimate of which will be to introduce professionalism into the mainstream of football in Sri Lanka.

Guest Column

Scouring the Augean Stable

By C. Vijitha Fernando 

One of the first duties of the new Minister of Sports is to honour the pledge given by the then Minister of Sports - The challenge he threw: If anyone of our athletes win a medal at the Sydney Olympic Games, he/she would be rewarded with ten million rupees (Rs. 10,000,000) must be honoured to ensure that these statements are not frivolous but genuine and sincere. 

To delay or revenge on the pledge would be an irresponsible part of the Government in office. Mr. Minister, this is not your "Baby" but once you became the new Minister of Sports you have to honour all promises of your predecessor. 

Political life is replete with "Broken promises" - Susanthika Jayasinghe will surely be disappointed if the pledge is not honoured. This is not unique for Sri Lanka. In some countries, medal winners are given "hero's" welcome on returning to their respective countries. 

When the first of this column appeared article on your assuming the office of the Ministry of Sports, only a small part of the many issues that pervaded our Olympic sports were touched on. Yours is a daunting task and every encouragement and support must be given to the honourable Minister to bring about a true and sincere policy on all sports if Sri Lanka is ever to be on top of international sports. Disallow any politician holding office. 

What is feared is that other ministries may continue to run their own sports programmes - such as the Mahaweli Ministry (Mahaweli Games) and the envisaged Samurdi Ministry's (Samurdi Games), etc. All these divisive games are having its toll on the general development of sports. Weak and irrelevant arguments are presented by a cunning and greedy lot to benefit by citing the poor performances and standards at sub-regional level of competition. If Sri Lanka is to grow and develop we must look at the more successful countries that have done exceedingly well. Example: The former East Germany, South Korea, etc. 

The important thing is to rationalize all these separate games and focus on a few that would be of national and international interests. Funds are alarmingly wasted, including budgetary allocations by a few. Unsuspecting and often irresponsible sponsors who expect favours at some point in the future also support these useless sporting events. The startling evidence is that none of these sponsors came forward to assist Susanthika Jayasinghe in her desperate hour of need to win that elusive medal at the Millennium Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Her's was all a fantastic individual effort. Through the perceptiveness of a few of those who saw her potential to run at international level of fierce competition helped her but not of the scale of a world class athlete - she did it all on her own. 

In Susanthika's case, we see and have a small group of divisive and mean-spirited individuals who spend all their personal and political capital fighting against fairness and justice. Had they rallied to give Susanthika the needed encouragement and financial support, wonder what she would have done at the Millennium Sydney 2000 Olympic Games or before. However, this was not to be the case - At every level of Government all they showed was cowardice and discouragement. 

Mr. Minister, abound are specialists and those who specialise in Olympic Sports in Sri Lanka. You must, however, remember that those who participated in sports are not necessarily sportspersons - and those who did not play sports are necessarily unsportspersons. However, the latter has unique record of having given much to sports than those who played sports. Example: The late Messrs. Dr. R.L. Hayman and C.R. Wise of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and Australian top swimming coach, Tony Wall. None of them could swim to save their own lives. Yet they produced Sri Lankan champs and Australian top world record holder swimmers such as Ilsa and Jon Konrads. 

The corruption has risen to such proportions, a "Royal" scouring of the Augean Stable of Sports would be seen as impossible by any account during the first 100 days of your office, be it in the next 1000 days, or during your entire term as Minister of Sports. However, it is expected and incumbent on you to clean it at whatever personal sacrifices you may have to make or at some personal embarrassment to ease and erase the huge stink in sports for what has been going on for so long. 

You don't need any advice or prompting, just look around in your Ministry as to how a few had amassed much wealth at the expense of our impoverished athletes. Luxury houses, homes in several towns, liquor licenses, supermarkets, and individual enhancement of personal wealth by those who could not afford a bus ticket at one point in the past few years. One gained so much for having only won one-quarter-of a Medal at a relay quartet some 25 years ago, benefited in the most vulgar manner and those other three received nothing, not even crumbs. This was the scenario at the Ministry of Sports you have inherited. Courage, perceptiveness, fairness and equity are some of the beliefs and character you will have to exercise in the discharge of your office as the Minister of Sports.

Caution Jorge

By Gamini Perera

For the first time in the annals of local football, or may be in the global version of the sport, a coach had spoken his heart out.

Brazilian-born, Jorge Ferreira now on contract with the Sri Lanka national football team on his way from the twin-tours of Malaysia and Singapore with the national team had confessed to a journalist (not of the Wijeya Group of Newspapers) thus: "Sri Lanka has no chance to qualify in the World Cup qualifying matches aginst Lebanon, Pakistan and Thailand. It is beyond the reach of the Sri Lanka national football team at the moment".

Speaking further he had said that, "the Lankans do not have a proper domestic set-up". Sri Lanka, being a nation with a fairly long record of independence, have always believed in the freedom of opinion in many fields.

Such freedom is not to be denied to the Brazilian coach, Jorge Ferreirra.

Well Done 

o At the beginning of the Sharjah tourney, we were not that highly rated, but Thank God! due to some stunning efforts by Sanath and the boys paved the way for the crown! 

Here are some special thanks.... 

o To Sanath, Dear Sanna, o Still there is no one to match you Sanna, that's for sure! 

o You're the only master blaster of all cricket fans! 

o This scintillating knock of 189 at the final shows o The Class, 

o The Temperament, 

o The Power; 

And the sheer motivation!

o So don't worry regarding the world record, that you have missed by a whisker!

o Though you missed it, I'm dead sure that you can achieve that in the near future!

o "Luck favours the brave"!! Good luck!

- Dr.Roshan Jayaweera
Matara.

Expats to celebrate Aussie Day

From Bernie Wijesekera in Melbourne 

Lankan expats in Victoria will organise a cultural pageant, and a six-a-side cricket tournament, to mark Australia Day on January 26, 2001. This tournament will be run, based upon the formula on Lankan School tournaments held in London and Sydney. 

An organising committee headed by Keith de Kretser (Chairman), Graham Halbish, Eddie Gray, David Cruze, Dr. Olga Mendis, Bertie Ekanayake and C. Labrooy has been appointed. 

Eddie Gray told The Sunday Times fittingly the Lankans in Victoria have dicided to celebrate Australia Day to further strengthen multi-culturalism in this nation. The Lankans here have contributed much toward this end. 

The Lankan community has decided to make Australia Day a rendezvous via a festival. 

According to David Cruze, a staunch supporter of Sri Lanka cricket said that the cultural-cum-cricket tournament will be staged at Mulgrave CC ground.

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