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Canoeing third popular sport in Olympics-Janos
By Bernie Wijesekera
On a quiet Sunday morning there was a cool and lovely atmosphere at the Colombo Rowing Club where we took time to meet Gyongyosi Janos the Canoe and Master-coach from Hungary, who is in Sri Lanka on a mission of developing the sport of Canoeing.

Strongly built Janos, has been in the rud sport and later as coach and technical consultant and had been involved with the sport for over 30 years. He is here on an assignment through the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNDP), while stationed at New Delhi. He came to Sri Lanka on Sept. 11 and will return on Sept. 30 after training the local coaches on the talent techniques in canoeing (Rowing).

Janos said, “Canoeing is the third most popular sport in the Olympic calendar barring athletics and swimming. These three sports offer the largest number of medals to the participants”.

Speaking about his trip to Sri Lanka and it taking a serious canoeing Janoes said “This country has many lakes around the country. Sri Lanka could be a force to reckon with through total commitment. Your trainers must show interest for the sport. Today about 20 coaches attended the training programme. They could make an impact after the next SAF Games held here (2006). The requirements are -- to achieve success. 1) Technique, 2) Proper Training, 3) Physical Strength, 4) Nutrients. Incidentally Sri Lanka is not short of men in the coastal districts (South) and in the North, who have the strength to pull fishing nets to make the grade”.

Mr. Prithiviraj Perera Chief Administration Programme Specialist/Culture UNESCO House, New Delhi and Yohan Thurainayagam (St. Joseph's Rowing Club) were associated with Janos at this briefing. The first seminar was held at the CRC Colombo on Sept. 18 and 19. The second at Belihuloya from 20-23. The third will be at the St. Joseph's College Rowing Club from Sept. 25-27.

The final training session will be at the Ranweli Beach Hotel, Kochchikade, in the morning from 6.30 a.m. to 9 a.m. The afternoon session will be from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. He leaves on Sept. 30 to New Delhi. (headquarters).,
Plans are afoot to put up a Board House on the East Bay of the Beira Lake shortly to add more facilities - for canoeing. Prithiviraj Perera said, “our objective is to promote the aqua sport at grassroots level and get more people involved islandwide.

St. Joseph's College Darley Road, is one of the leading schools promoting and developing rowing at school level. They are in the forefront in rowing. The Josephian Rowing Club will have to decided to put up a Boat House withins its precincts. They will give other schools around Colombo to make use of this facility as part of their promotional drive said, Yohan an official of the club”.
Those who wish to follow the training and coaching programme of Janos during his stay here, could contact Yohan on - 0777-315949.

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