| There must be some bureaucratic bungling somewhere down the line for sure, thought Mrs Anumaana. The world’s reigning Pole Vault Champion, six times gold medalist, 35 times record-breaker Sergei Bubka had visited Sri Lanka, and none of Sri Lanka’s top practitioners had been around to share their scintillating experiences with him. Not even the one-time Sports Minister who is a “Double Vaulter.” Nor the Foreign Minister, another “Double Vaulter.”
As if the absence of veteran Pole Vaultists was not bad enough, even the up-and-coming new talents like Johnston and Indika, who might have benefited from a few tips, were nowhere on the invitee list, it appeared. Nor the newest hopeful, Abdul Cader. Why couldn’t a few of the veterans have been invited at least to light the oil lamp, wondered Mrs Anumaana. Just imagine what this athletic legend from Ukraine would have thought of the status of this sport in Sri Lanka, with such a poor showing.
Owing to the failure of the authorities to put him in the picture and update him on the full battalion of illustrious Pole Vault experts that this country has produced - with its abundance of budding talent constantly training in the wings - Mr Bubka has been left with the sorry impression that Sri Lanka has a long way to go in order to make its mark in this sport, at the international level. Was he even aware that it was Sri Lanka that invented the “Double Vault?” Apparently he has said something to the effect that “If there are suitable facilities and correct guidance, Sri Lanka too can excel in Pole Vaulting!”
“Sri Lanka too???” Mrs. Anumaana shook her head in dismay. Here was Sri Lanka well on its way to an Olympic Gold, and the world’s reigning Pole Vault Champion was not even aware of these developments. His remark shows how greatly he has been misled, she reflected. Every Sri Lankan knows that far from “lacking the facilities,” Sri Lanka has the BEST possible facilities for anyone desirous of excelling in the Pole Vault. There are scouts on the lookout round- the-clock for prospective recruits, and they are ever ready to facilitate the transition of newcomers to the status of full-fledged Pole Vaulters. As for “correct guidance,” the authorities fear that they are now over-staffed, and there may soon come a stage when the trainers will outnumber the trainees. So how can anyone say there is a “lack of guidance?”
But to get back to the athletic event held at Diyagama, graced by Bubka - where were SB and GL that day? The absence of Bogols and Milinda could be excused, Mrs Anumaana reasoned, since they were no longer on the National Squad. But what happened to Mahinda, Sarath, Rambuks and Bandula? And what about Lokuge, Rajitha and Dayaratna, and the countless others, whose names Mrs Anumaana can’t even keep track of, since these Pole Vault events were so numerous and repetitive, with names (new and old) appearing in the media every other day? In fact she no longer remembers who’s who any more. What were their stripes? Were they blue or green? Or something in between? If the whole lot were listed together it would just make her eyes glaze over.
Now Sunil is practising hard at the art of Pole Vaulting, since his ambition is to become an MP. When Sunil sees this disappointing report she thinks he may be discouraged from pursuing his chosen career path. But perhaps that was just as well. Mrs Anumaana always had her doubts about the wisdom of his choice.
The writer is a senior freelance journalist. |
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