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Sports

Is Samson waiting for Godot?
By Marisa de Silva
Winner of eight gold medals and two silver medals over the past five years and having been in the field of athletics for more than 20 years now, T. Samson Peries, a member of the Nittambuwa Black Eagles Sports Club, is today, a disheartened and disillusioned man.

A proud son of Sri Lanka, Peries has brought home much glory and honour, over the past two decades but, today he’s faced with the dilemma of whether or not to quit his life’s passion for the sole reason that he is yet to receive any sort of significant support or reward for his numerous achievements, that is long overdue now.

Peries’s success has not been limited to Sri Lanka alone, but is widespread throughout the Asian region and he was even invited to participate in the World Masters Games, in Edmonton, Canada, last year. Unfortunately he was unable to compete in the Canadian Games, as he had inadequate funds to do so. Furthermore, there’s very little he can do to develop and gain more exposure and experience, without the patronage and financial aid/sponsorship of well wishers or Governmental organisations. For this to happen, the country needs to acknowledge and recognise his service to his country and genuine need for assistance, he says.

Not only does he have inadequate finances and resources for participating in competitions overseas, he also has little or no finances to train with. This is made worse by the fact that he is not permanently employed anywhere either, he added. So, at the moment he manages with the money he gets from small-time business ventures he’s involved in now and then. Therefore, he trains on his own without any formal training or coaching, he said.

However, he has got some support from a few traders in Nittambuwa (his hometown) who’ve come forward to sponsor him in the past. But, as he can’t keep going to the same people, currently, he has no one/where to turn to.
Although desperate for some sort of aid, he has big plans for the year ahead, given that everything goes well and generous sponsors come forward to support him.

He hopes to break the National Record for the 800m event this year, participate in the Indian National Games in Bangalore, the Open Games in Bangkok and the World Masters Games in Australia.

Among his most recent international feats are his Golds for the 1600m event at the Singapore Masters Athletics 26th Annual Track and Field Championships, 2005, the 800m and the 4x400m events at the 16th Malaysian Open Masters Athletics Championship in 2002 and the 4x400m event at the 12th A.V.A.A. Asia Veterans Championship held in China 2002. He also bagged two Silvers for the 1500m and 4x400m events at the 16th Malaysian Open Masters Athletics Championship in 2002 and the 13th Asia Masters Athletics Championships in Bangkok, Thailand in 2004, respectively.

His achievements at home include Gold medals for the 800m and 1500m events at the 14th Annual Championships Meet in 2000, 800m event at the 15th Annual Championships Meet also in 2000 and the All Island Veterans Athletic Championships in 2002.

Any parties interested in making a donation or offering sponsorship to Peries can get in touch with him via snail mail addressed to T. Samson Peries, 550/11/A, Malwatte, Nittambuwa. Although his indomitable spirit has not yet been conquered, the lack of support is starting to take its toll on him and he may have little option but to quit. Should that be his just reward?

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