Sports

Sports

Swarnapali BMV, A'pura does Sri Lanka proud
In Sri Lanka all thought rugger was meant only for the males but since recently the girls have taken to this game in a serious way, with many girls representing about eight clubs that have been formed in Sri Lanka.The only girls school in the district of Anuradhapura, Swarnapali Balika Maha Vidyalaya is one of these clubs and has done Sri Lanka proud by becoming the runners up in an international women's rugby tournament where thirteen teams from various countries participated in Thailand recently.

Swarnapali BMV, Anuradhapura was formerly a convent which was taken over by the government and was upgraded to a national school. It has ove 4,000 students on the roll. When The Sunday Times spoke to the Principal Indralatha Ratnayake without whom rugger would have not seen the green light to progress. The principal stated at the begining most of the parents objected to the girls playing rugby, she too was against it as there are other sports like netball, volleyball and cricket which has been revived after being stopped for a few years. But with the involvement of the Rugby Development Committe Central Province the principal had to give in and the green light was given to start rugby in this school. The girls showed tremondous interest with over 40 attending practice.

The girls though not big in size were very enthuastic in playing rugby. They were a dedicated unit who were serious in playing said the principal.The Development Committee had been informed by a foreign club to send a women's team to participate in an international tournament in Bangkok, Thailand for which Swarnapali BMV was selected.

The principal stated that she was happy when she heard that the school team had been selected but to send a girls rugby team on a tour like this was a herculean task. No one knew the teams performances or the background and she toyed with the idea of making a plea on national TV channel Rupavahini requesting for funds to send the team for this tournament. On hearing their request Lanka Tiles responded immediatley and contacted the Rupavahini news correspondent in Anuradhapura, Mrs. Priyadharshani Meepagama and the North Central co-ordinating officer Mr. Premalal and informed their willingness to sponsor the team.

From then onwards funds began pouring with the Minister of Sports, Mr.Johnston Fernando and chief minister of NWP Berty Premalal Dissanayake and with many more contributions the girls comprising 17 members and 2 teachers became the first ever girls school to have been selected to represent the country.

The girls led by Thilina Rangani Senanayake went with a happy heart and they did not dissappoint the sponsors and the others who came forward to help them when they came back having won seven matches losing only in the final to Hong Kong who they say were bigger in size and better in technique as they have all the facilities given over there. - MSA

A new chapter in Sri Lankan Sports
By Bernie Wijesekera
A new chapter was enacted in the history of Sri Lankan sports, with the inauguration of the online sports magazine, by the Minister of Sports Johnston Fernando, at the AAA auditorium, on July 10.

The www.srilankasports.com was launched by Sports Line Marketing Pvt. Ltd. The Minister Fernando said two young journalists, Leonard Ratnayake and Hishan Welmilla, have started in a small way to achieve the ultimate objective of spreading its wings to know about all sports rather than confining to a few affluent sports.

Despite a slippery climb the duo has made further inroads to develop sports at all levels. The media, too has to play a vital role, the Minister said. The objective is to promote the sport, via the media, not build the ego of the individual. Ratnayake outlined the functions in detail. Firstly, to provide extensive coverage in sports (local) events. Further, maintain a data base of each sport, its events and the athletes, enabling easy recall of data when needed. .This will give the much needed exposure in the global sports market.

Hemasiri Fernando (Chairman N.O.C.) Milton Amerasinghe Director Gen. Dept. of Sports, Sunil Jayaweera (Chairman Youth Council, President AAA), were associated with the Minister during this inauguration.

The hulk takes the bulk
A few years ago Sanjeeva Wickremanayake was a complete stranger to golf and through his first year at the Ridgeways he revelled in the ponds and strayed often through and over the boundaries of Club property a completely devastated enthusiast. He then came good and quite unknown to him the shots were connecting with a rewarding degree of accuracy.

Wickremanayake gets serious, his pals compliment him on his stroke play which makes him move from Clinic to the nets. A year later Sanjeeva starts collecting trophies and in 4 ball encounters he was collecting tax free income comfortably and donating such proceeds to the Caddies Fund. Today with a 10 handicap he looks formidable.

As a business professional he heads Lexmark with considerable distinction and his love for golf prompts him to promote and support the game particularly in the area where Caddie class golfers need support. The July Medal round was sponsored by Lexmark lavishly.

Sarath Again
From Volvo Trading to Lexmark Sarath Wickremaratne has flourished with commendable scores and well calculated steady golf. Another net par round and he picked the much coveted Lexmark Trophy a week after he snapped the Volvo Classic 1st Division Award. Nirmal Hettiarachchi was as outstanding with a great effort of nett 71 beaten by Wickremaratne who had a better rear nine.

Impressive Hulk
Janak 'the hulk' Hirdaramani was at his striking best with 2 birdies on each half and an outstanding nett score of 65 which no one could match. He was reasonably long off most of the tees and pitched and chipped positively to ease tension on the greens. He had his nervous moments but came through successfully to win the "B" Division and also be identified as the overall winner. He is planning a Banquet. More of that later.

Lalin Senadhira struck a great round of nett 68 to come second and he also won a special award collecting 11 pars the most number in the competition.
Jerome Kumar Rajendran and young Sanjay Gunewardena had much to be pleased about with excellent rounds of nett 69 each. Bringing up the rear was a harvest of scintillating centuries. Joseph Kenny, Narendra Wijemanne & Ferrin Careem had to be noticed with Hemal Fernando, Kumar Mirchandani, David Ponniah and Mohan Alles striking stunning scores they would want to quickly forget.

Rao Excels
I remember Srinivas Rao in a few despatches but none that was worthy of a trophy. Last Saturday he put most of his good strokes together, made an appeal to omnipotency who responded and came off with a 3 under par nett score of 68 to move into jubilation and collect the "C" Division Lexmark Trophy beating Adrian Pereira and Chanaka Perera who played excellent rounds of nett 69 each. Pereira and Perera were absolutely thrilled and quite naturally were a trifle disappointed that the "C" Division award escaped their grasp. Majid Awan, Kishore Rao and K.K.U. Perera played impressive rounds.

At close of play 32 centuries were recorded in this division with the stunners coming from Sanka Wijesinghe, Rahula Seneviratne, A.I. Gooneratne, L.E. Ratnayake and a few other regulars. Further records have it that Ajantha Mylvaganam and Rahula Seneviratne have cracked centuries on every outing since January 2001. Susantha Pinto, S. Vethavinayakam, Shelton Jayasinghe and Johaan Leembruggen contributed to smart packets of confetti.

Seniors
M.M. Ismail returned to form after a short absence from the Ridgeways when he compiled a one over par nett round to beat K.B. Ambanpola by one stroke and take the trophy for Seniors.

Brilliant Rohana
Through the courtesy of Sanjeeva Wickremanayake the Ex-Caddies were invited to participate and the result was absolutely outstanding with Anura Rohana cracking an incredible gross 65. Six below par under present playing conditions after the upsetting rains show what can come off his clubheads when opportunities are afforded to display skills. The Golf Union must press for more frequent opportunities for such talent.

Soon after twilight the participants and their spouses met at the Award Ceremony as the guests of Lexmark. It was comforting to see a slightly better response from the invitees and Lalith Ramanayake appeared pleased that he had less embarrassment. As some wag said "where the hell are the office bearers and committee members?" It's they who should show common courtesy.

The ceremony was short and sharp with Leong Chang the Marketing Manager of Lexmark South Asia distributing the main awards. A great party with a tremendous spirit of camaraderie.

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