Pera Uni does it again

By Aubrey Kuruppu

It was three-in-a-row for the sportsmen and women of the Peradeniya University when they headed the other universities overall to win the Sri Lanka University games 2007.The games organized by the Kelaniya University, saw Peradeniya repeat their triumphs of 2001 and 2004. These games, first organized by the late Leslie Handunge in his capacity as Director of Physical Education at Peradeniya in 1980 are held once in three years. University of Colombo has won the games five times and Peradeniya four times.

Peradeniya Univ - Road Race Champions for 3rd successive year.

Peradeniya won the Men's section with a total of 163 points and Kelaniya the women's events with a total of 96 points. The final standings were Peradeniya (238), Colombo (231.5), Kelaniya (191), Moratuwa (161), Sri Jayawardenapura (141) and Ruhuna (107).Colombo University can take comfort from the fact that they won more medals than Peradeniya. 22 golds, 18 silvers and 25 bronzes as opposed to Peradeniya's 17 golds, 13 silvers and 25 bronzes.

The road race, weight-lifting, wrestling, chess, athletics, volleyball, table tennis (women), badminton (women) events were won by Peradeniya.

I.M.R. Ilangakoon (Peradeniya) established a new games record in the Long Jump event (6.88 meters). L.M. Karunaratne (also of Peradeniya) set up new games records in the 105 kgs. snatch and clean and jerk events. His tally of 150.0 was a new university games record.

However, Peradenisya University did not live up to expectations and was stretched all the way by their Colombo Counterparts.