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Advance Rowing tips for Lankans
Sri Lanka has invited Indian and Bangladeshi rowing crews to visit here with a view to get our rowers ready for participation at the next Asian Games to be held in Busan, South Korea, in September/October this year. It is hoped to host the Bangladesh Rowing Federation around mid-July, and the Indian oarsmen in August.

These Dual Regattas will be the first international competitions seen on our waters and will be the precursor to holding the SAF Rowing regatta simultaneously with the SAF Games scheduled for early 2005 in this country.
Meanwhile a successful Olympic Solidarity Course on rowing has just been completed for the locals here.

This was a Level Three Course for rowing coaches and was conducted through the good offices of the N.O.C. and the I.O.C. F.I.S.A.

The international rowing authority made available one of their highly qualified international rowing coaches to visit Sri Lanka to conduct this five day rowing coaching camp at the premises of the Colombo Rowing Club on the Beira Lake.

We were fortunate enough to get the services of a coach of the calibre of Mr. Gianni Postiglione, Senior FISA Coach and Member of the International Competitive Rowing Commission, to conduct this rowing course.

The course covered advanced rowing techniques, style correction, evaluation methods in order to get the best possible combinations of crews, training and fitness programmes with special reference to psychological preparedness of our young and enthusiastic oarsmen and women.

Rowing in Sri Lanka is on the threshold of international participation. In the recent past our oarsmen and women have dominated the Club rowing scene across our region of South-east Asia.

The SAF Games were postponed last October to March 2003 due to the post-September 11th scenario.

Mayumi in record breaking spree
Ten year old Mayumi Raheem broke two records in a row in the Under 12 category, at the 26th National Age Group Swimming and Diving Championships held at the Sugathadasa stadium last week.

Mayumi broke the 50 metre breast stroke (girls) record held by Natasha Kodituwakku in 1990 by a timing of 41.42, by 40.55 seconds. She also set a new record in the 50 metre back stroke (girls) event with a new timing of 37.88 seconds. The previous record was held by Shehani Gunasena (38.10) in 1990 .

She represented Otters Aquatic Club in Colombo and has been involved in competitive swimming for the past three years. Mayumi was training under Faizal Junaid and now under Sumith Dharmadasa.

The event was organized by the National Amateur Sports Union in Sri Lanka and was held on 11,12, 13 of July 2002.

Fine gesture by Sachin Tendulkar
In the recently concluded one-day triangular (Natwest Trophy) match between Sri Lanka and India at the Kennington Oval, the Lankans suffered another humiliating deafeat.

After being bowled out for 202, which attributes to rank powder-puff batting from the middle-order. The bowlers helped by Vaas initially had the Indian top order in disarray, barring Sachin Tendulkar (49) with Yuvraj Singh.

Later Singh and M. Kaif restored the innings to win the match. Sachin, on 49, nicked Nuwan Zoysa and before umpire Peter Willey could make the decision he made the slow trek back to the pavilion. A sporting gesture indeed - something rare in the international scene these days. He was admired for his action. It's something that our present-day youngsters should strive to emulate from the maestro.

Tendulkar has many firsts in his trail-blazing career, but never went chasing behind records. When he equalled one of late Sir Don's records, the media went to town. He said there is only one record that was Sir Don's. He is an all-time legend. It can't be compared in the present day level of cricket. This he mentioned with humility. This is what is called character in the man, not the fame which is temporary. -BW

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