Sports
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| Forget
internal squabbles and move ahead-Minister
He was speaking at a felicitation ceremony to shower accolades and recognize the achievements of our athletes at the recently concluded South Asian Federation (SAF) Games held at the Athletic Association Headquarters at Torrington on Friday. "This is a new Government," emphasized the Minister. "Furthermore, it is a new year and we should not harp on the past and the past problems that we have encountered with the administration of the game. We should put the past behind us and set our minds on a goal and look to the future". No doubt the Minister was referring to the unpleasantness that had cropped up between some of the senior athletes including the captain. "Like in a home when we live and work together we have certain problems which should be solved at a home and home level without publicizing it too much. In this regard I urge the media not to just publicise only the bad things that take place in athletics but also highlight the good points. This does not mean that we are going to turn a blind eye to disciplinary problems. We have appointed a committee to look into the matter and they will come up with a solution to the problem. The trainers, selection committee Management and athletes should work harmoniously to improve the sport. " The Minister also stated that he has a development plan in place to develop athletes and we should get some foreign coaches if the need arises. Sunil Jayaweera, President of the Athletic Association said that we should be proud of our athletes' performances and this is the primary purpose in felicitating them. "They have carried our flag high at the International level and we should now plan for the South Asian Games to be held in Sri Lanka next year and also the Asian Games to be held in 2006 in Dohar, Qatar. The Athletics Association is one of the oldest in Sri Lanka having started in 1921. In 1948 Duncan White won a silver medal for us at the Olympics and in 1997 Susanthika Jayasinghe won a gold in Athens Games. After that Susanthika won a bronze in the Sydney Olympics in 2000. We are such a small country as compared with India and India has yet to get a medal in Athletics at the Olympics. Athletics has brought a lot of pride to tiny Sri Lanka, probably next only to cricket. About 4 million children train in athletics and we give Rs. 500/= to promising athletes and also we have selected 504 junior athletes to give Rs 2000/- as an incentive for training. We spend about 7 to 8 lakhs a month on training. In another two years time we should reap the benefits of this investment. As Brigadier Parry Liyanage, the Manager of the team stated we have brought back the highest number of medals this time. Meanwhile a training programme has been put in place for the athletes under the eagle eye of German coach, John Bauer, who will be having a training camp from May 16th to June 16th. He is from the NOC and was here 10 years ago as well. The AA has called for applications and only a maximum of 30 will be accommodated. This is an advanced course and will contain theory in the mornings and practicals in the evening. Those who pass the test will be given a certificate that will be well recognized. The German Embassy has also decided to back the athletics programme. The following athletes were recognized at the ceremony. Rohan Pradeep Kumara, who won 3 golds, one each in the 4x 400 relay, 400m, 200m, received Rs 75,000, while Hurdler Sriyani Kulawansa who won gold in the 100m hurdles, and 4x100m relay received Rs 50,000. Captain of the overall team Susanthika Jayasinghe won gold in the 200m and received Rs 25,000. The other athletes who won gold and received Rs 25,000 each were: Ranga Wimalawansa (4x400 m relay) , Sugath Thilakarathne (4x400m relay), Anne Maheshi (Javelin), Manjula Kumara (High Jump), Achala Dias (4x100m relay), Upendra Bandara (3000m steeple chase), Anuradha Cooray (Marathon), Mohamed Sifrath (800m). Prasanna Amerasekera (4x400m relay-Gold and 400m relay silver) received Rs 40,000 while the star of the women's events Jani Chaturanganie received Rs 50,000 for winning two golds in the 100m and 4x100m events. Those who won Silver and subsequently received Rs 15,000 for each win were as follows: Nalin Priyadarshana (High Jump), Mangala Priyadharshini (two Silvers in 4x400m and 800m-Rs 30,000, Kusum Kusumawathi -4x400 relay, Shanthi Irangani (4x400m relay), D.D.P. Priyadarshini (4x400m relay), Prabashitha Caldera (4x400 relay),Umanga Surendra (4x100m relay), Chaminda Ramanayake (4x100m relay), Joy Danushka Perera (4x100m relay), Arjan Rathnayake (400 m hurdles), Ajith Bandara(Marathon), Chaminda Wijekoon (1500m). The
following obtained bronze and Rs 15,000 |
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