Nine countries consisting of Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Pakistan, Japan, Philippines, Burma, Iran and Ceylon entered the competition. Except for our national team, all other teams were accommodated in top hotels. Our team received step-motherly treatment. Karu and schoolboy Marzook stayed overnight at the Army Rugger Grounds pavilion, just a few hundred metres from where their rivals stayed in luxury hotels. Boxing fans from over the country came to see this rare sports treat.
By Donald Munasinghe
Since Police Sub Inspector A.W. (Barney) Henricus won the first-ever gold medal for Ceylon in 1938 at the Empire Games held in Sydney, Australia, for a spell of 29 years Ceylon did not win a single gold medal for any sport.
In 1967 Lance Corporal H.K. Karunaratne plugged the void by winning the solitary gold medal for Ceylon at the third Asian Boxing Championships held in Colombo. The first two gold medals for Ceylon were for boxing. Karunaratne was also the last boxer to represent the country at the Olympic Games and that was 33 years ago, at Mexico in 1968.
Eighteen years ago, the 39-year-old national hero, Lieutenant Karunaratne was tragically killed in an accident at the Palaly Army Camp, while demonstrating to his troops the art of jumping-off from a moving vehicle, when a reversing jeep ran over him. The irony of it was that he was due to retire a month later and he had come to die in Jaffna where he had spent his days as a small boy.
Hatha Kapuralalage Karunaratne was born in October 1943 at Karawanella, a small town on the banks of the Kelani river. He was the second among a family of 11 children, seven boys and four girls. His father, a Police constable was transferred to Jaffna when Karu was small and his father took his family there. Karu received his primary education at Sinhala Maha Vidyalaya in Jaffna.
The small boy watched with great fascination and eager eyes when his father trained the police boxers in the afternoons. Later, after his father's transfer to his home town, Karu received his education at Karawanella Primary School and at Central College. There was no boxing at school but Karu excelled in athletics and swimming, with the river close by.
After leaving school, he joined the Army as a recruit at the age of 19 in January 1962. After receiving basic training at Diyatalawa, he was selected to the 1st Regiment of Ceylon Light Infantry. This energetic young sportsman was soon spotted by Captain E.C. Fernando who took him under his wing. The Sporting Doctor C.O (Larry) Foenander took a special interest in him. They both moulded a boxer out of him. That year in 1962, he won at the Army lnter Regiment Boxing Championships, defeating a reputed and formidable old boy from St. Michael's College Polwatte, M.Y. Joharan, in the Paper Weight category. Karu was adjudged the Best Boxer of the Meet. From then on, there was no looking back. Subsequently Lt. C. Zavahir, L/Cpl P.H. Lionel and Captain Thambiraja further trained him.
In 1963 at the Clifford Cup Meet, he not only won in Paper Weight but was also adjudged as the Best Serviceman Boxer. The same year, he became the National Champion in Paper Weight. In 1965 he was awarded the William Manning Cup for being adjudged as the Most Scientific Boxer at the National Championships, a dream of any local boxer.
The ABA of Ceylon had arranged an Indo-Ceylon dual boxing contest to be held in Colombo in February 1966 and the Rome Olympics later. Boxer Sub Inspector Sumith Liyanage was named to Captain the Ceylon team but he withdrew stating that he had no time to attend practices. Hence Karunaratne was appointed as Captain. The contest was held on February 21 at C.R.C. open-air Stadium at Bambalapitiya. Of the nine weight categories India won seven while Ceylon won two. Only Karu and A.C.R. Herathge were able to win in the Light Fly weight and Middle weight respectively. Karu was pitted against the famous Ladkhan Kundu who had gained a reputation as a slugger at Indo-Ceylon Schoolboy Contests. This bout was the last one on the programme and the massive crowd enjoyed the hammer and tongs filled finale, which resulted in a glorious victory for our Karu. He was also adjudged as the Best Boxer as well.
In 1966 the "Daily News" newspaper conducted a voting contest among their readers to select the "Sports Star" of the year. The polling went on for three months and at the end Ceylon Cricket Captain Michael Tissera received third place polling 42,614 votes while racing cyclist Chandra Perera received 52,214 votes and was the runner-up. Boxer Karunaratne topped the polls receiving 66,412 votes, obtaining a majority of over 14,000 votes over his closest rival. This fantastic popularity made him the Sports Star of the year l966 and in the Army he was promptly promoted and received his Lance Corporal stripes.
In 1966 October, Karu led a team of five boxers to Bangkok for the Asian Games.
In April 1967, a team of four boxers led by Karu went to Pakistan to compete at the Hilali Trophy Tournament which consisted of three meets at three different venues, viz in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore. The two Army boxers Jaroof and Karu won at all three competitions. Karu was adjudged as the Best Boxer while Pakistan won the Hilali Trophy.
In 1967 August at the Clifford Cup Meet, Karu was adjudged the Best Boxer.
The ABA of Ceylon had arranged to conduct the third Asian Championships Boxing Tournament in Colombo agreeing to host the invited Asian countries, the dates were from December 10 to 16.
The ABA National Championships in early November were the Selection Trials. At the Semi Finals in light Fly weight, Ceylon's Best Boxer and the pride of Ceylon Army, Karunaratne, unbelievingly lost to a 2/1 points decision to young W.H.E. Premaratne of River Valleys Development Board.
Since it was supposed to be a bad decision, the ABA arranged a re-contest between them at the Police Depot Bambalapitiya ring just six days prior to the Asian Championships. Karu trained by Captain Kandiah competed to gain his lost pride and Premaratne trained by veteran D.C.A. Wickramasinghe came in with more confidence. In order to obtain better results, there were five judges instead of three, and the ABA Secretary Eddie Gray, an AIBA Referee/Judge himself, refereed the bout. A calculated cold and merciless onslaught by Karu resulted in pole-axing Premaratne to the canvas in just one minute and 55 seconds in the first round itself. Referee Gray counted unconscious Premaratne out. Later Karu walked to the opposite corner to console vanquished Premaratne seated on his stool, but not fully revived. After the bout Karu was not only selected to represent Ceylon in Light Fly weight but also to captain the side.
The venue for the third Asian Championships which began on December 10, 1967 was the brand-new Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium at Kotahena, a former Trolley Bus parking garage hurriedly converted into an Indoor Stadium. Nine countries consisting of Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Pakistan, Japan, Philippines, Burma, Iran and Ceylon entered the competition. Except for our national team, all other teams were accommodated in top hotels. Our team received step-motherly treatment. Karu and schoolboy Marzook stayed overnight at the Army Rugger Grounds pavilion, just a few hundred metres from where their rivals stayed in luxury hotels. Boxing fans from over the country came to see this rare sports treat.
At the quarter finals in Light Fly weight Jaru met J.M. Yen of Taiwan (Republic of China). Karu won the bout on points. At the semi finals he met the rugged V. Arsenal of Philippines and beat him on points. The other quarter finals winner for Ceylon H.M. Marzook fighting in Feather weight lost to an unpopular decision of Tun Kim of Korea. Only Karu remained in the finals to save Ceylon's face and honour. His rival at finals was tough N. Isogai of Japan, who had received bad cuts above both eyes during his semi final bout against Oru Chim of Thailand.
At the medical examination prior to weigh-in on the morning of the finals morning, Isogai's doctor agreed with the Medical Commission doctors to prevent him from participating that day. Hence Isogai had to concede a walk-over to Karu in the finals and Karu was awarded the gold medal without actually fighting the final bout.
Royal College, who dominated the schools rugby scene under Haren Kalurarachchi, for year 2001 , added another first to their sports calendar when they won the All-Island Schools Aqua Championship held at the Sugathadasa Stadium Pool recently.
There was keen competition, especially from St. Joseph's College, Darley Road, who swam neck-to-neck with the Reid Avenue school, to come second. It turned out to be an exciting tussle between the two schools. Ultimately Royal won with an overall 45 points. The Joes, runners-up with 39 points.
S. Thomas' College Mt. Lavinia were placed third with 29 points. Royal has produced several national swimmers - Julian Bolling is one of them. The Principal of Royal Mr. Lakshman Gomes, commended the swimmers for their winning effort and doing proud for the school. (B.W.)
By Bernie Wijesekera
Century old club NCC, who nursed and nurtured Sri Lanka's batting genius Aravinda de Silva, held a felicitation in his honour on Friday Oct. 12 at their clubhouse.
A large gathering drawn from all walks of life, in the midst, including past national cricketers, officials of the Cricket Board and the members of the Int. Committee. Mike Tissera, who represented the chairman, Vijaya Malasekera (who was not present due to an official commitment), Sidat Wettimuny, Anura Tennakoon, former president of the Cricket Board, Ana Punchihewa, Arjuna Ranatunga and contemporaries of 'Ara' headed by Sanath Jayasuriya, Dav. Whatmore graced the occasion.
Leslie Hewage (President, NCC) and its patron Vernon Prins Chaired the felicitation. Relph Alles, Aravinda's mentor, his parents and wife and club members were there.
Tissera, an ardent follower of cricket, said that Aravinda, whom he came to know as a 16-year-old in 1981 on the Sri Lanka under-19 tour of England. "I was the coach of the team. His enthusiasm and natural talent proved beyond his age. Without doubt he was a natural cricketer. In one game he showed his batting skills on a green top pitch against the Combined Services. The schoolboys were 34 for 4, but the lad stood up well and scored a 100 and came of age. There was no looking back since then. I am happy he started playing for my first club NCC and has contributed immensely to uplifit the image of Sri Lanka cricket at international level. The club is doing well with more facilities. My first club and Sri Lanka captain Vernon Prins is here today, to honour this all-time great. One must not forget the contributions made by the late Jimmy Vanderkoen, a live wire. He was an inspiration to the youngsters. NCC is in good shape, fittingly a champion club winning many trophies and will continue to do so in the future with a dedicated committee headed by Leslie Hewage.
'Ara', who was the chief guest, spoke with emotion. It was a rare honour to him from the club hierarchy, that too in the midst of his parents, wife and friends. "This is an unforgettable day in my cricketing career, I have enjoyed good and bad times. It was my father who introduced me to this club at the age of 13".
Foreigners will attract at the sixth Sri Lankan Golf Classic which will tee-off on Oct. 20 and 21 at the Victoria Golf Club, Digana. According to Sri Lanka Airlines promotion manager Kaushal Seneviratne the Classic will be held at Digana, in one of the most beautiful courses in the world where the participants will enjoy in a typical golf holiday in a tropical parades.
This amateur championship much looked forward to in the golf calendar has attracted about 40 foreign golfers drawn from Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, U.K, Bahrain, India, Oman, Qatar, Malaysia and Japan. It's going to be an enjoyable weekend for the golfers both foreign and local golfers will number over 150.
There are prizes a plenty for both men and women. Men's best aggregate Gross Stableford - two return business class return tickets for both men and women. This will also apply to best nett Stableford score, too. There are prizes and surprises aplenty for the participants for the senior (veteran) and junior divisions, too. The SriLankan Airlines classic is supported by Carlsberg, Hemtours, Yes FM MTV. Play begins at 7 a.m. on each day. The participants could practise on Friday Oct. 19 (B.W.)
In a cricketing world where spacemen, are the chief bowling weapons, the success of spin bowlers is indeed a welcome feature. In terms of rate of success Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan heads the list.
Watching the second one-day encounter between India and South Africa on TV a few nights ago it was so refreshing to see Harbajan Singh and Anil Kumble bowl in tandem and bowl very well too. It was a good batting pitch at Centurion Park but the Indian spinners were accurate, got just adequate turn and varied flight cleverly.
The dismissals of batting star Jacques Kallis, experienced veteran Jonty Rhodes and top all-rounder Shaun Pollock were spin bowling triumphs. The straight delivery that drew Kallis from the crease, to be stranded, was an absolute beauty.
Pricewater Cooper's have fine tuned their ratings compiling that it almost always portrays a true picture. Three spinners are amongst the top ten in the most recent publication. It once again underlines the dominance of the quicker men.
Muralitharan is perched on the top rung with Shaun Pollock and Glen McGrath closely in pursuit. Shane Warne is at five and Saqlain Mustaq is on equal eighth position.
Shane Warne's eventful career on and off the field continues to make the headlines. His cricketing story has much followed the pattern of the great England all-rounder of yesteryear, Ian Botham, Warne has defied odds, silenced critics, battled inquiry, to come back time and time again to deliver the goods for his country. The leg spinner may have lost some of his early brilliance, like the effectiveness of the flipper. But determination and the will to succeed drives him on.
Saqlain continues as the traditional off spinner who mesmerises batsmen with his wily variations. It may sound strange but spin bowlers these days do not try variations enticing the batsman to falter. It must be the effect of one-day cricket where you strangle the batter to then make the mistake or dry the flow of runs. To attack and dismiss your opponents, purposeful variation and attacking field placements are the requirements. Of these three top spinners Saqlain spins less than the other two, unless he gets a responsive surface. All through his carrier Saqlain has realised that and reluctantly works on implementing subtle variations.
A player can face up to Muralitharan a hundred times, even score runs quite consistently, but can never feel he has conquered the champion off spinner. Mind you, no player has ever claimed that either.
Murali's singular brilliance is in his ability to spin the ball considerably. As it is widely acclaimed - he will turn it square even on a glass top! All that spin is derived because of that double jointed wrist. The wrist is hardly or very minimally used by finger spinners. That is not the case with the Sri Lankan wizard. His wrist is turned in the opposite direction to that of a leg spinner. So just as a leg spinner imparts spin through the wrist action so does Muralitharan.
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