Discipline - a 'must'

By Bernie Wijesekera

It doesn't end there. At times when a fellow teammate tumbles with the ball, some teammates at the spur of the moment tend to use vile language. It isn't rugby. It's not a war, but a friendly game played between two teams. 

Are trophies more important than the game, is the question asked by ardent rugby fans. Has gambling and match-fixing taken to this game, too? It's here the respective committees including the coach must educate the players concerned to be more disciplined on and off the field. Any misconduct should not be tolerated. The club must take action, rather than await a disciplinary committee enquiry. The controlling body, must take remedial measures so that in the future it will not be repeated again as was evident at Nittawela.

The Minister of Sports Lakshman Kirie-lla, who was the chief guest at this match, told The Sunday Times, it didn't warrant a walk-out at the alleged stone throwing. The match was poised for a close finish, when it ended abruptly.

Despite much persuasion the CH team refused to take the field.

The spirit of the game should have prevailed. It doesn't matter who won or lost. The minister, was disappointed in the end. He agreed that the seniors should set an example for the juniors to emulate.

Fakir appointed as Deputy 

Faki was earlier appointed as vice-chairman of the Technical Committee during the 1st Malaysian Open International Carrom Championship held in Kuala Lumpur in August 1999. 

He was also nominated by the International Carrom Federation (ICF) as their Technical Representative for the 3rd World Carrom Championship, which was held in New Delhi in November 2000. 

Fakir also served as the Manager of the Sri Lankan team during the Indo-Sri Lanka Test series held in Sri Lanka in 1998. 

Fakir was felicitated by the ICF for services rendered to carrom at the 10th anniversary celebrations of the ICF held at Chennai, India in November 1999. 

Rusi captures Gold 

I see a Consultant Specialist and it is confirmed that the amateur diagnosis was spot on. I then found myself in the Intensive Care Unit of a 5 Star Hospital. 

I survived a week responding to the expert medical advice and then decided and mutually agreed to "cut my ticket" as they say in hospital parlance. Before this I was really shattered when the expense account was presented with a claim for immediate payment prior to departure. I was staggered and had to seek resuscitation doses of oxygen and almost a dip into the Iron lung. 

I am back home now slowly recovering with medication with little chance of recovery from the financial jolt. From my bed the advice I send all my golfing colleagues is "don't get old".

Pin Fernando 

I pick up the newspapers off and on and was quite happy to read Pam Fernando's claim that her husband Pin, the tremendous maestro, was the very best amateur golfer our country had produced. Some seniors think otherwise claiming that Nandasena Perera's record is comparable and possibly better. But then Pin Fernando was always a true amateur while Nandasena was from the very inception a confirmed professional. I fully endorse Pam's opinion and wish to add that apart from his prowess as a golfer he was the embodiment of refinement, a tremendous gentleman, businessman and entrepreneur. A great bridge player who also excelled on the dance floor. 

Pin Fernando was a man' man but the ladies loved him all because of his refined mannerisms. He was a tremendous friend and Jeanne and I personally benefitted from the warmth of friendship he extended to us. May his dear soul rest in peace. 

Rusi Captain

I am also happy to read of Rusi Captain's exceptional performance of capturing the annual golf Medal once again. An extremely skilful player he punctuated his 4 rounds with a one under par 70. Rusi is a scratch golfer the only amateur reaching that peak after Pin Fernando left the scene prematurely. Captain's skill takes my mind back to another brilliant Sri Lankan golfer now settled in Brisbane, Australia. The 20 year old Pradeepa Ethapane is an absolutely stunning golfer and I had the distinct pleasure of watching the boy a couple of months ago playing a superbly planned par round on a course of international standard. Pradeepa belongs to Greg Norman's Coaching Clinic and is often playing in great company. The young barrel chested good looking boy is Copper Tone. His father Dileepa is still quite smart and moves comfortably with a handicap of 9. The Ethapanes are happily well established in Queensland. 

AirLanka Classic 

I hope the dastardly acted destruction and disaster at the Airport will not press a postponement of the Classics organised by the Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya under the wing of Hiran de Costa, the indefatigable General Manager and lavishly sponsored by SriLankan Airlines. The most generously supported extremely popular event takes pride of place as the most popular golfing Social event in the calendar. Near 200 golfers will vie for those prizes of Air Tickets to chosen exotic destinations. 

Kids Corner

I read with interest the details connected with the special competition organised for the little ones and the not so little ones. This is a great step in the right direction and I am confident some good will surface. Golf for the little ones comes under the protective wing of that terrific personality Radha Sunderampillai. Here's a woman dedicated to the cause, extremely knowledgeable about the game with an honest will to see the scheme succeed. I recall Anita Bischop the Dutch Coach telling me that the kids adored Radha and I was not surprised as I have always identified her as a complete lady unobtrusively doing her job and not chasing any form of publicity. 

The Marble Southern Rally 2001 to roar on September 8th and 9th

The day-night marble rally 2001 this year will cover 600 kilometres going through the most scenic wilderness and calm and quiet towns and villages the South has to offer. According to the organisers the rally will pass through 35 major towns over three stages like Yala, Buttala, Sooriyakanda, Uda Walawe and Wellawaya. 

The start and finish will be at the Sanath Jayasuriya Stadium in Matara. 

Entries will close on August 15, which was opened on July 23, with the first 50 entries accepted on a first come first served basis. 

Entry forms are available at Premadasa Group, 179, Jayantha Weerasekera Mawatha, Colombo 10 and 126/1, Nawala Road, Nugegoda and Broadway, Matara. 

Participants may enter for one of the three categories, Non-Turbo, Diesel Jeeps and Cars. The third category is for non-rally prepared standard vehicles. 

This category will be open only for cars, jeeps and cabs with non-digital adometers and without rally tyres and rally meters. 

Over 100 trophies are said to be on offer for drivers as well as co-drivers covering first and third places in the category stages, the first ten overall winners and team prizes. 

Tumbling India turn tables

By Marlon Fernandopulle

Batting first Sri Lanka crashed to 183 all out, after being 160 for 3 at one stage. India replied with 184 for three wickets, reaching the target in the 46th over. Beaten in the first three games of the triangular tournament the Indians faced a 'must win ' situation yesterday if they had to keep alive their chances in the triangular tournament. The team rose to the occasion and responded magnificently. Despite the loss of regular skipper Sauray Ganguly (due to a one match suspension), the young Indian outfit rallied round their new skipper Dravid to record a morale boosting victory and resurrected their chances of qualifying for next week's final.

Despite a steady start from openers Sanath Jayasuriya (57) and Romesh Kaluwitharana (46), who added 103 runs in 24. 2 overs for the first wicket, the Lankan innings failed to gather momentum at any stage. Both openers were made to work hard for their runs and had to be content with the singles and the twos with boundaries being few and far between. 

Once the openers departed the Lankan middle order displayed the brittle nature of their batting to carve into some intelligent and accurate Indian bowling. Marvan Attapattu (34), Mahela Jayawardene (05) and Chaminda Vaas (05) and Russell Arnold (11) were back in the pavilion in quick succession exposing the tail-enders who offered no resistance as Sri Lanka plunged from a healthy 160 for three wickets to 183 all out. Batsman Kumar Sangakkara who came into the side for Avishka Gunawardene was surprisingly sent in at number eight after all-rounders Chaminda Vaas and Suresh Perera. Sangakkara who was running out of partners and overs ran himself out as Sri Lanka were all out in the 47 th over. 

Chasing a relatively easy target of 184, India lost opener Kurasia in the second ball of the innings bowled off a Chaminda Vaas delivery. But Virendra Sewhag (27) and V. V. S. Lakshman steadied the ship with a 67 run partnership before Sehwag was snapped up by Kumar Dharmasena. Skipper Dravid (43) then joined Lakshman (87 n.o) and dashed any hope of a Sri Lanka victory with a fluent 84 run partnership. 

Both batsmen played the bowling on it's merits. Muralitharan who looked threatening with his spin was intelligently seen off his ten overs, while the Indian pair accumulated their runs from the other end. Skipper Dravid became Chaminda Vaas's 200th victim when he edged a catch to wicket keeper Kaluwitharana with the total on 151. Although Lakshman struggled to read the Lankan off-spinner he looked in full control against the other Lankan bolwers. He grafted his way to stroke ten boundaries in his 127 ball knock that carried India to their first victory in the triangular tournament.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka

Fall of wickets:1-103,2-128,3-143,4-160,5-166,6-177,7-177,8-178,9-181

Bowling: Khan 8-0-30-2, Nehra 7.5-0-31-2, H. Singh 10-1-32-2, Sodhi 3-0-13-0, Sehwag 10-0-40-0, Y. Singh 6-1-20-1, Badani 2-0-7-1.
 

India

Fall of wickets 1-1,2-67,3-151,

Bowling: Vaas 10-1-47-2, Perera 2-0-12-0, Fernando 6-1-25-0, Muralitharan 10-3-28-0, Dharmasena 10-0-36-1, Jayasuriya 5-0-22-0, Arnold 2.4-0-9-0.

Record sixth world gold for Thorpe

Thorpe overtook Americans Jim Montgomery and Tracy Caulkins, who shared the previous record of five golds in a single world championships — Montgomery in Belgrade in 1973 and Caulkins in West Berlin in 1978.

Thorpe clinched the relay victory as he stretched to the wall with his final stroke after catching American Anthony Ervin at the climax of a desperately close duel between the two teams.

After an agonising wait the Australian win was finally confirmed on the electronic scoreboard, which also showed that the Americans and the Dutch had been disqualified.

In Brief

Triangular cricket souvenir 

The souvenir has a comprehensive presentation of statistics of all players from the three countries taking part in the tournament, tour itineraries and photographs and a variety of articles.

The feature of the souvenir however is the superb print quality which makes it an appealing keep-sake. It has been printed by Lake House Printers.

Zimbabwe 27-1 in 2nd ings. 

Scores: Zimbabwe 131 and 27-1. West Indies 347.

George Steuarts Sports Day

In the last Sports Day held in 1998, the programme included softball cricket, track and field and a netball match between the President's team and the Chairman's team plus fun games, water relay, obstacle race and a fancy dress parade. 

This Sports Day will be conducted on a inter-house basis with George, James, Steuart and Joseph Houses competing. 

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