Sports

Sports

Job well done!
The behaviour by a section of the crowd in the Army-Havies match was found wanting. Some fans thought it fit to indulge in a verbal assault at the Referee. They were there not to enjoy a pleasant Sunday evening at the Galle Face grounds,they were there to boo the referee Dilroy Fernando.

Without doubt Dilroy is one of the best rugby referees in Asia and has gained international recognition . Fans have the right to cheer and jeer - that's part and parcel of the game. The Chairman of the Army Rugby Board and Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Lohan Gunawardena was quick to move in after the game. He personally apologised to the Referee and even to some of the senior officials.

Mild-mannered Maj. Gen. Gunawardena hauled up the security officers, who were in attendance (Military Police). He told a senior officer who marshalled the off field arrangements. You can watch the match, but at the same time must not encourage or condone unruly behaviour from whatever quarter.

Sir, they are outsiders who have bought tickets and have entered the ground to watch the match. Yes, but if they misconduct themselves then throw them out of the ground. They can't make the Army match an abode to hurl brickbats at a Referee or otherwise. As a result the good name of the Army is being tarnished.

This will be the last time it happens at this venue. If you don't do your job apparently then I will have to do my job. One can't put solely the blame on the outsiders alone. Your guess is as good as mine. But will not happen again at Galle Face. Other clubs, too should emulate the courageous stand taken by Maj. Gen. Gunawardena. To the Army the final outcome doesn't matter but the spirit of the game. Job well done ! -BW

Sri Lanka rugby gets satellite access
The SLRFU is delighted to announce that highlights of our present League matches (Saturday "Live") will be aired on Ten Sports Satellite channel. The Executive Director of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union Mr. Chandrishan Perera had negotiated with Ten's Vice President of Programming Peter Hutton to showcase Rugby as an integral part of the IRB's ambition to broadbase and promote the game throughout the Asian region and provide Sri Lankans living in the region a balanced sports coverage.

"Highlights of the main games will be seen not just in the South Asian Region, where Ten Sports reach is over 25 million homes plus the Middle East and Gulf where we will launch by 1st August 2003," said Vice President, Programming Mr. Peter Hutton.

This is a positive first for Sri Lanka Rugby, a huge boost for the development of the game as well as massive exposure for our country. For the SLRFU this is exhilarating news, which supports the country's ambition to focus on sports-tourism as an international venue for major events.

Light Infantry and Gajaba Regiments champions
Light Infantry Regiment SC and Gajaba Regiment SC emerged the volleyball and table tennis champions of the two events worked out so far in the ongoing Dialog sponsored National Sports Festival for the Disabled which was held at the Sugathadasa Stadium and S. Thomas's College Mt Lavinia Indoor Stadium.

Volleyball which was the first event of the disabled games to be worked off saw Light Infantry Regiment SC overcome Vijayaba Infantry Regiment SC by three sets to one. The winners won the first set 25-20 lost the second 14-25 but fought back to win two more sets 25-19 and 26-24.

Before the commencement of the game the winners had to undergo some anxious moments as the losers put forwarded an objection stating that a player from the Light Infantry Regiment was not elgible to particpate as he is not in the disabled category now. According to the President of the Army Disabled Committee who difused the tension said that under the international rules the concerned player W.M.S. Adhikari was elgible to play.

The interesting part of the story is that the said player had played in the preliminary rounds so the issue of him being counted as not in the disabled category does not arise. P.H.K. Jayatissa of Vijayaba RSC was adjudged the best player.

Gajaba Regiment SC with 27 points won the second event of the National Sports Festival for the Disabled which was the table tennis tournament held at S. Thomas' College Indoor Stadium. The Light Infantry Regiment SC with 24 points was placed second while in third place was Rehab Lanka SC with 12 points. Eighty five players from seven clubs participated in this tournament and the next event of the Disabled Sports Festival will be on July 27 which is the cycling event to be held in Chilaw. The wheelchair marathon will also be held on that day.-MSA

Back to Sports