Historic occasion for Galle

By Marlon Fernandopulle

It was a historic occasion for Sri Lanka cricket and a dream come true for Jayananda Warnaweera but for the thousands of spectators who made their way to the Galle International Cricket Stadium it was a memorable day in their life as they watched and came face to face with Sri Lanka's cricket idols and pin-up stars.

The second Test was watched by over 35,000 spectators despite the unpredictable weather that was experienced.

The figure itself was unprecedented and easily a record for Test cricket in Sri Lanka.If such enthusiasm is generated in the outstations one wonders why Test matches are played in Colombo where only a few hundreds of spectators are scattered around the ground.

True, developing a venue to Test level is no mean task, unless we have persons with the dedication and commitment of Jayananda Warnaweera .The former Test player must be congratulated for spearheading the gigantic task of converting the Galle Cricket Ground to what it is today - the Galle International Cricket Stadium.Warnaweera worked tirelessly and left no stone unturned to see his dream a reality.

The ground itself is a beauty.Flanked by the Old Fort on the Western side and surrounded partly by the beach the Galle International Cricket Stadium could be ranked among the most picturesque grounds in the world today.

Renowned TV commentator Tony Greig expressed his views on the grounds to The Sunday Times when he said, "It's a beautiful ground that has a wonderful setting which will be talked of for a long time by players and spectators.The beach and the Fort gives the ground a terrific look.Not many grounds have the beach so close.One thing I would like to see is to have the flags flying on the Fort during the game"

Tony Greg ranks Cape town as the best ground."The backdrop of mountains gives the South African ground in Newlands a spectacular view which is not seen in any part of the world.However in terms of atmosphere there is nothing to beat Eden Gardens, Calcutta."It is absolutely fantastic to be in the midst of over one hundred thousand screaming fans", said Greig who has been travelling around the world as a TV commentator.

When asked whether Galle was ready to host a Test match the former England captain said,"No doubt Galle was rushed to host the Test. The pitch and the outfield is still young and a few things have to be done. I think itís fair to say that the wicket was not up to the mark and the outfield needs further improvement".

Greig is also of the view that cricket should be taken to the outstations and more Tests should be played there."I think it ís very sensible to take cricket to the outstations and play Tests in these areas where there is a tremendous following," said Greg after glancing at the handful of spectators from the Commentary Box at the SSC grounds during the Third Test.

The interest and enthusiasam generated in the outstations when foreign teams play has been tremendous.Earlier this year, England A played in Kandy, Matara and Kurunegala which attracted large crowds even for the side games.

However Galle was a different story. People queued up long before the commencement of the day's play to witness the historic Test. The last two days were exceptional when hundreds of people were outside the stadium even after play began,still desperately trying to gain entry to the stadium. Amongst the spectators were hundreds of schoolboys with their parents to watch their Lankan idols. Having heard so much and seen them on television these young 'uns were delighted and couldn't believe their eyes when they came face to face with the Lankan stars. Autographs, minature bats and bits of papers were not spared as these yougsters swarmed the Lankan cricketers to obtain their autographs on and off the field.

The popularity of the team in the Southern city was so much that crowds lined the streets close to the ground whenever they arrived or departed for the day.

Infact this even caused a traffic snarl on Saturday morning as the luxury coach carrying the Lankan team wound its way to the ground. People young and old stood by the roadside while tri-shaws and buses came to a halt, just to have a closer look at the stars.

The successful baptism of the Galle International Cricket Stadium should prompt the Cricket Board to play more and more Test cricket in the outstations where the interest is increasing instead of Colombo where only a handful of spectators witness the action.

Niroshan solves leg spinner problem

He likes Backstreet Boys and Milton Mallawarachchi...

By Saif Izzadeen

Sri Lanka's latest Test debutant Niroshan Bandaratilleke may have solved Lanka's biggest problem in finding a world class leg spinner. Niroshan who bowls left arm leg spin heralded his arrival toTest cricket in no uncertain terms when he claimed a nine wicket haul in only his second Test match and virtually took Lanka to victory against New Zealand at Galle, enabling them to level the series at one all.

Niroshan, an old boy of Thurstan College, started to play cricket at the tender age of four with the plastic bat and ball which his father bought him. He recollects how his father used to bowl to him and teach him how to play forward defensive strokes.

"I have two younger brothers - Sumedha and Charith - and I used to play with them. Sometimes my father used to stand as the umpire and correct our mistakes".

Niroshan went onto add, "Our home windows were not spared when the three of us started to play and I can't count the number of times my mother used to shout at us when we broke a window or damaged things at home.We still play cricket at home when ever we have time.

Niroshan says that his father was his biggest influence and has helped him immensely. "My father wouldn't miss a single cricket match whenever we played."

Niroshan's father, Neville Bandaratilleke comes from a cricketing background. He captained the first Xl and junior teams of Dharmapala College Pannipitiya as an off spinner and batsman.

Niroshan says, "My father could never concentrate on his work when we were playing. He was very enthusiastic and wanted to see us reach the top". Was his mother also as keen as his father in encouraging them to play cricket? " Yes of course she was a tower of strengh. Whenever we used to play junior cricket my mother used to wake up early in the morning in order to prepare our meals. Infact both my parents were of immense help",he said.

The foundation for Niroshan's cricketing career was laid by coach Lionel Mendis, his first coach at the NCC School of Cricket. "He taught us many things on and off the field. But when I was playing Under 13 cricket at Thurstan College my coach was a lady called Mrs Wijepala. and my first Xl coach was Upali Ahangama. I captained the Under 13, 15, 17 and was the vice captain of the First Xl team in 1993.I played in two triumphant 'big', matches against Isipatana in 1992 and 1993 ", said Niroshan. Cricket was not Niroshan's only interest where sports are concerned. He was also a member of the Thurstan College First XV rugger team in 1993.

After leaving school Niroshan joined the Tamil Union and has been playing club cricket for the last five years. During Niroshan's five years at the club he has learned a lot from off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Bandaratilleke says: "Murali has given me a lot of support. I relish bowling with him from the other end. I joined the Tamil Union with the intention of playing at least a three day game against a visiting team." He finally got his chance against the visiting England A team and made use of the opportunity to impress the selectors with some eye catching performances. However, Niroshan was unfortunate to miss Sri Lanka's tour of South Africa.

After the England A tour Niroshan was chosen to play in the three-day game against the visiting New Zealand team and made a worthy impression by claiming four wickets at the P.Sara Stadium. With this outstanding performance he showed the officials that he had the potential to be a national player and got his rightful place and made his Test debut against New Zealand in his first Test at R. Premadasa Stadium.

How did it feel like to be playing in the first Test match ? "I was very happy to be selected and played the match as just another game.I was not overawed by the situation and to tell the truth I was not nervous at all when I bowled my first ball", said Niroshan.

Every Test cricketer dreams of taking a wicket in the first ball or score a century on his Test debut. Niroshan although not taking a wicket in his very first ball managed to get a wicket in the fifth ball of his very first over. Asked how it felt to get a wicket in his very first over in Test cricket? Niroshan said, "I was aiming to get a wicket with my very first ball. But I failed. Nevertheless I was able to get a wicket in the fifth ball.This was a great personal achievement ." Niroshan's maiden Test wicket was off Matt Horne. Horne was bowled out by Niroshan with a beautiful delivery.

How did it feel like when you took five wickets and virtually took Sri Lanka to victory last Sunday? Says Niroshan, "I am happy that my bowling on the fifth and final day helped Sri Lanka to win the match and square the series. I hope I can take many more wickets and help Sri Lanka to achieve more victories in the future.It's my ambition to play for Sri Lanka for a long time."

Niroshan is also a good bat. He used to bat at the number three position when playing for Thurstan College and in a Sri Lanka A vs England A match, Niroshan put up a hundred run partnership with Pramodaya Wickremasinghe for the eighth wicket."My batting is good and if need be I can make a useful contribution", said a determined Bandaratilleke.

Apart from cricket, Niroshan ,like all Sri Lankans, love to eat rice and curry and listen to music. His favourite songs are by the Backstreet Boys and Milton Mallawarachi. He also drives a Volkswagon Golf.

Niroshan says, "Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva and Muttiah Muralitharan has given me a lot of help and encouragement ".

Most junior cricketers have role models before they come to the big league but Niroshan says that he was not influenced by such role models. However Niroshan does have a list of favourite cricketers. When asked to name them, he said, "They are Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunge, West Indian batting genius Brian Lara and stylish Australian batsman Mark Waugh".

What is his opinion on Shane Warne, probably the world's best spin bowler. "I like Shane Warne because he bowls six different balls and he has good variety. I would like to meet him and get some tips". Niroshan's dream of meeting the spinning maestro Shane Warne may become a reality if he's selected for the Sri Lankan tour of Australia at the end of this year for a triangular trophy.

High-Rise wraps up Derby

By Ismail Khan

1998 Vodafone Derby Stakes was a shocking reveletion. The first three who finished were all outsiders. But not for Olivier Peslier the young devil-may-care French rider who riding Luca Cumani's High Rise made known to the entire racing world that he is the best rider at present given the correct horse.

Though going at 20/1 Obaid Al Maktoum's 3 year old having won all his prevous races did not give even a semblance of anxiety being in the forefront most of the time and accelerating in the last furlong to have the measure of the entire field winning the £500,000 prize in a blaze of glory.

High Rise's earlier win ridden by Frankie Dettori was at Lingfield beating Sadian 1/2 length on a course resembling Epsom Downs where the Derby was run. That was a preparatory gallop of a race and the connections satisfied with that performance gave O'Peslier the greenlight and that was that. It was a big race riding coup well thought of and well planned.

All credit to trainer Luca Cumani the ex-Italian ace who brought off one of the most astute training coups of all time. And that too at 20/1 having plummeted from 28/1 on oncourse betting that day, down 8 points on the race day itself within a few minutes. A revelation indeed. And shocking too but for rider Peslier who was gulping down glasses after glasses of champagne after the day's races.

Epsom's Derby day shot off to a healthy start with favourite Bishops Court (9/2) taking the Vodafone Dash Handicap from a rating of 122. Ridden by J. Fortune the Mrs. J. Ramsden's 4 year old broke off well and maintaining a steady gallop took the sprint in good timing. Repertory finished runner up while Tadeo fiished 3rd in a field of 15.

The second race the Vodafone Diomed Stakes a Group 3 event went the way of Intikhab at 3/1 from Hidden Meadow and Almushtak and the way this 4 year old won the race pulverising a smart field of 11 runners showed that more wins are under his big tank and just for the asking.

Saeed Bin Suroor his trainer has made a top class miler of this moderate colt. And Godolphin Sheikh Mohammed's counections must be pleased with the result. His lifting of a £ 50,000 worth prestigious Diomed Stakes augurs well for the connections.

The Vodafone Handicap over the middle distance of 10 furlongs saw 14 starters and this event won last year by Champagne Prince at 15/2 didn't do any better this year a 10/1 shot Shadoof spreadeagling this field almost point to point from 3 furlongs out.

And young Martin Dwyer rode a peach of a race on the 4 year old having others Future Perfect and Fahs well struing out behind. This was a tonic for small time trainer W. Muir whose nursing of an Epson winner tells much to his astute handling of horses under his care.

The Vodafone Surrey Stakes saw Pat Eddery at his best on P. Harris's Volontiers. A difficult horse to ride the 3 year old who was reluctant to get into her stall finally got in only to raise her head as the gates opened. But Pat Eddery summoning all his strength got her going and once settled to a good gallop moved beautifully and mowed down the early leaders sysmetically to take the race in her ample stride. Volontiers was one of the horses I tipped in my early selection list.

And in the very next race the Vodafone International Stakes too, a handicap for 4 year old and upwards Pat Eddery was seen to advantage booting home E. Dunlop trained Hajr to a good win over Sabadilla and Tough Silver. At the outset Hajr was seen bringing up the rear of the 12 furlong race but halfway up the M.AL Maktoum owned 4 year old put his head down and racing powerfully whipped up enough heat to propel him to the front and once in the lead galloped on resolutely to bag the £40,000 event.

The curtains on the 1998 Epsom Derby meet was wrung down by an old favourite of mine 7 year old Selhurstpark Flyer who decided to come the shortest way home to the surprise of all and sundry but not me.

He was followed home at 9/1 by White Emir and Jayannpee. Shamami finished 4th in a huge field of 17 runners. So that was the culmination of 1998 Epsom Derby Meet which surely surpassed all other meets for sheer quality and competitiveness.

Lankan student in Shaolin Temple

By Sonali Sen

About 1500 years ago, one Buddhist monk travelled alone across the Himalayan mountains, walking thousands of miles from India to China. His name was Bodhidharma. He travelled to a Buddhist monastery in Henan province in China. This monastery, hidden away in a green forest, was called "Shaolin", meaning 'young forest.' Bodhidharma began to instruct the monks in the Shaolin monastery in his way of Buddhism. He taught them mental and physical exercises that gradually developed into Chinese Martial Arts, the fighting art of self-defense. This ancient monastery is famous in today's world as the 'Shaolin Temple' and the great art of fighting born there is popularly called 'Kung Fu' or 'Wushu.'

The underlying philosophy of Shaolin fighting is that "the martial-arts are a means for developing physically, mentally, and spiritually, and not just a fighting method for defeating one's enemies."

Although Wushu has been slow to get a name in Sri Lanka, it has developed immensely as an international competitive sport. Wushu is an event at the Asian Games Competition. It is being considered to be admitted as an event for Olympics in the year 2000 and the Fourth World Wushu Championships has been held in Italy recently.

A Sri Lankan athlete Harsha Chaminda Baddewithane has participated in a World Wushu Championship, solely through his own effort and single minded dedication. He conquered many obstacles alone by himself to represent Sri Lanka in Wushu competitions.

His accomplishments are known to only handful of Sri Lankans, but the world at large has been quick to recognize his talent, will, and strength. Several foreign countries have offered him attractive positions in their Wushu teams. He continues to decline their offers and keeps his aim clear in representing his own country, Sri Lanka. It is no easy task to accomplish by himself. He needs all the help and support Sri Lanka has to offer.

Harsha Chaminda Baddewithana was born in 1973. He found himself the day he found Wushu. His story is a continuous series of victories, struggles, defeats, and an unyielding passion for martial arts which makes it all bearable.

Chaminda attended Nalanda College, Colombo. He had the first lesson of Wushu there from Sifu Prassanna Jayaweera. Sifu Jayaweera introduced Wushu to Sri Lanka in 1975. He is the only Sri Lankan among the founder members of the International Wushu Federation. Under the guidance of Sifu Jayaweera, Chaminda started his Wushu career and never looked back.

Chaminda won the all-island school Wushu competition in 1991, becoming Sri Lanka's first ever School's Wushu Champion. Then he had the honour of receiving Sri Lanka School Games Colours for Wushu in 1991, the first time he was awarded in Sri Lanka.

One year later in 1994, Chaminda became the first National Wushu Champion winning the National Wushu Championship organized by the Sri Lanka Wushu Federation.

These accomplishments resulted in him being offered an undergraduate scholarship by China to study Wushu in Beijing, China, the first time such a scholarship was granted. Chaminda says it was a dream come true for him to get the chance of a lifetime to learn Wushu in the motherland of the famed fighting art itself.

In August 1994, Chaminda started training with two Chinese teachers, Li Yin-kui and Li Yan - jun, at the Beijing University of Physical Education in Beijing. Within a short period Chaminda was recognized as one of the most promising Wushu athletes among foreigners. He competed with Chinese athletes and scored the highest in a Wushu style called Chachuan in the annual exam just after four months of training in China. Furthermore, Chaminda doesn't fail to score the highest points in his class in the exams.

From the first time he became aware of the international approval of Wushu as a sport, Chaminda dreamt of the days Sri Lanka could make it to the winners list in international Wushu.

Chaminda prepared to take part in the International Shaolin Wushu Festival in August 1995. He asked for financial assistance from Sri Lanka, tried to collect money from friends, and struggled to save enough money for him to participate in the competition.

The highest exams conducted for Wushu athletes in the world are held only in China. They are called the "Ranking Examination (Tongji Bisai)". Wushu athletes from around the world must compete with one another in front of a panel of international judges to get through these highly competitive exams. There are two levels: the lower level is called the Second Ranking Exam (Tong Er Ji). The higher and more difficult level is the First Ranking Exam (Tong Yi Ji).

Chaminda passed the Second Ranking Emamiation in 1996. The calendar of 1997 was full of Wushu events: the Fifth Zhengzhou China International Shaolin Wushu Festival & Competition, the Fourth World Wushu Championships, and the First Ranking Exams. He had been in preparation for the competitions. This time he was wise enough not to rely on anything from Sri Lanka to help him. He was fighting alone for a country that was ignorant of his efforts.

First came the Fifth Shaolin Wushu Festival in September in Henan Province, China, where Martial Arts was born thousands of years ago. This festival is a huge competition and a celebration of Martial Arts in Shaolin, Henan. More than 300 athletes of 48 Wushu teams participated in the 1997 competition. Sri Lanka had originally nominated five Wushu athletes but Chaminda was the only one from Sri Lanka who actually reached Shaolin and did participate in the competition.

He brought honour to Sri Lanka by winning the Exhibition Excellence Prize (for Xingyi Style) when he snatched it from about forty other athletes; many of them were more experienced and mature. It was another first for him and for Sri Lanka: the first time a Sri Lanka Wushu athlete won a prize in a major international competition event. He was also placed seventh of 30 athletes who competed in Changchuan another Wushu style.

Next great Wushu event of the year was the Fourth World Wushu Championships in Rome, Italy, to be held in November. Chaminda's biggest problem was money. (it still is). After the expenses at the Shaolin competition, it seemed impossible for him to find the large amount of money needed to buy the air ticket to Rome and to stay in Rome during the championships. So by cutting back on his training time, and sacrificing numerous other things, Chaminda strove very hard. Finally he managed to collect and earn barely enough to get him through to the Rome championships. It's unfortunate that not a single rupee or cent reached Chaminda from Sri Lanka.

Chaminda described how he prepared for the 'great journey.' For Rome championships, every country had to take an audio tape with the national anthem, and three national flags. Chaminda's only option was to try making the flags. He had spent several days to find the correct colours of the flag. Finally he found an affordable tailor to sew the flag a week before leaving Beijing. He brought home the unfinished flags on the eve of his departure and spent a sleepless night cutting out the emblems and outlining them with black ink to make them look like embroidery.

Early next morning, Chaminda left Beijing Capital Airport for Rome, Italy, to represent Sri Lanka alone in the Fourth World Wushu Championships. On the same flight was the Chinese National Wushu Team, consisting of over one hundred athletes, judges, doctors, and officials.

For the first time ever, the Sri Lankan flag was carried in a World Wushu Championship in November 1997. In the parades where groups of other athletes carried embroidered silk flags hoisted on smooth flag-staffs Chaminda walked alone with the Sri Lankan flag draped over his shoulders, his head held high. He has made a dream come true he has taken Sri Lanka's Wushu to a World Championship.

This was a grand victory for Sri Lanka to finally make a representation at a World Championship. It was possible solely because this one person refused to give up, because he was strong enough to face the challenge, alone. It was Chaminda's own personal victory, too.

Chaminda spent ten days in Rome for the championship. He competed in two events (Wushu styles named Changchuan and Gunshu), and participated in one exhibition (Xingy Style). On the 10th of November he returned to Beijing satisfied, happy, and completely broke.

As the year drew to an end, Chaminda trained with renewed confidence for his last goal for 1997: the First Ranking Examinations. He was confident most of the time. A new set of rules has made the exam extremely difficult to pass for everyone. Foreign students and Chinese students had to compete together for one of top six places in one competition event to pass the exam. This made it even harder for foreigners to pass. Even at the times when the rules were more relaxed, only a few foreigners have passed the exam successfully.

The First Ranking Examinations were held the University of Physical Education on December 20-21. Chaminda competed in three events (Wushu styles) for the exam. For the events called Changchuan and Broad-sword, he scored 8.71 and 8.73 respectively. In the strong competition for the top-six places with the Chinese athletes, Chaminda won the third place in the Traditional Long Weapons (Pudao) event with his score of 8.75.

Chaminda passed the exam with flying colours. He is the only Sri Lankan who has ever passed this exam to win the first rank title.

Chaminda now holds the highest Wushu title ever held by a Sri Lankan: "First Rank Wu-Shi." He is also the only Sri Lankan who is holding this title now. Only a few non-Chinese Wushu athletes in the world have reached this most enviable level in Wushu.

Chaminda made the year 1997 a golden year for himsef, and for Wushu in Sri Lanka. The forces that kept him going were admirably his own. He has accomplished so much, with his own effort. Chaminda truly is a hero, beacause a person is what a person does.

How Chaminda prepared and planned his tour of Rome speaks for the strength of his character and the power of his will. If it were not for him and his strong dedication, no one could have achieved what he had, single-handedly.

Chaminda appreciates the countinuous enouragement and support he received from his teacher Sifu Prassanna Jayaweera who was the founder and first president of the Sri Lanka Wushu Federation. Sifu Jayaweera's guidance and training have been a strong foundation for Chaminda to build upon.

Under such negative circumstances, Chaminda can be hailed as the one who has succeeded in achieving something for Wushu. He is the one who has made the outside world aware of Wushu in Sri Lanka.

Chaminda deserves even more admiration, because he is the only one who has truly succeeded in rising above the rest. The lack of applause from his own country has not diminished his love or devotion to the country, or to Wushu. He is still determined as ever to represent Sri Lanka, for as long as he is able to.

For Chaminda, it comes naturally to silently do his best and to await the results to speak for him. Today, many indulge in talking about doing things they have never really done; many spend time just talking about planning to do things (and then forget all about it). It is rare to see someone like Chaminda who can prove that there is still hope by actually doing something, not just by talking about it.

Chaminda's next targets are the upcoming Asian Games Competition in Thailand and the Fifth World Championship in 1999. He has already started his long fight against odds to participate in them. It needs careful planning, because the total expense of travelling to a foreign country and participating in competition is a huge amount to bear for a student like Chaminda who is from a middle-class family.

I planned and prepared to go to a World Wushu Championship for years. Even after years of careful planning, I barely managed to cover all my expenses. I spent about fifty thousand rupees for Shaolin competition, and more than one hundred and fifty thousand rupees (Rs. 150,000) for the Rome championship ... Finally I didn't have enough money to buy a single souvenir to remember Rome. There were countries more hard-hit than us, like Nepal and India. They sponsored complete national teams with doctors, coaches, judges, and even pocket money. They had their own national track-suits. I was the only one from Sri Lanka.

I was the Sri Lankan Team. The other teams were surprised to see this one guy from Sri Lanka carrying his flag alone. I felt they all respected me for it he says.

After coming back from Rome, it all felt like a dream to him. "I couldn't believe I had made it! That I really went to represent my country in a world championship. I was in the documentary China-television made about the World Wushu Championships in Rome. I watch it again and again; and I look at the photos and certificates from Rome; and I still wonder how I did it." He continued.

He sounds a little proud of himself and he well deserves to be. Even his friends and teachers wonder aloud at his willpower, for it alone helped him achieve what he had. Other countries saw him for what he really is capable of, to offer him positions in their teams.

China has done a lot for Chaminda. He is more aware of the competition around him, and he is more aware of the many limitations in practicing Wushu in Sri Lanka.

"The international standard of Wushu is very high. There are no international standard athletes in Sri Lanka. The Wushu people inside Sri Lanka will disagree with me about it. But if we really respect Wushu in Sri Lanka, we should all stop talking and arguing. We must start to listen and watch. If we want to get ahead we must watch the international Wushu scene. How many Wushu experts in Sri Lanka have watched an international competition?

Chaminda has. And what he has seen makes him hesitate to abandon training in China to go back to Sri Lanka for a lengthy stay. Not just yet.

Chaminda dreams of a day he can take a complete Sri Lankan Wushu team to a World Championship. But he is not sure how to make it happen. "If Sri Lanka didn't have money to send one person to a competition, how can we think about a whole team?" The lack of publicity has made life harder for Chaminda who has to fight alone to reach every milestone.

His biggest battle is against lack of funds. To put it directly, he is fighting against poverty. He has exhausted all his resources in representing Sri Lanka at the Fourth World Wushu Championships in Rome last year. The problems in collecting funds and lengthy preparation for going to Rome reduced valuable time for his training. Where other teams spent their energy training for the championship, Chaminda had to spend his in collecting money. Chaminda says this may have resulted in his not acquring his usual capability during the Rome championships.

Many ask him why he has spent so much time, effort, and money to represent Sri Lanka when it has offered him nothing in return. That is the one question he doesn't know how to answer.

India and Nepal have already left Sri Lanka behind in Wushu as a national game. Both of these countries send good teams to international Wushu competitions.

Furthermore, they spend thousands of dollars to send athletes to China for occasional courses and training periods.

Sri Lanka already has a winner, right in China, only if we are wise enough to exploit his talent.

For Chaminda, he is making maximum use of his good luck to be in China for Wushu training. Now Sri Lanka must learn to make the maximum use of Chaminda.

One of the reasons keeping Chaminda from joining a Wushu team of another country is the purpose of his stay in China: to improve Wushu in Sri Lanka. If he goes back to Sri Lanka, there will be no one to improve his training and it will deteriorate his standard. Therefore he feels the need to further stay in China. It will be ideal if he can to go back to Sri Lanka once in a while to coach athletes there.

Chaminda will be able to dedicate more time to coaching a team in Sri Lanka after this August. He wants to make a strong Sri Lankan team to participate in the Asian Games Competition in December 1998. Then he wants to continue his training in China.

Chaminda, with his diligence, zeal, and talent, will certainly reach highest standard in Wushu one day. He is strong enough to rise up to any challenge. But the question is this: will he have enough money to go and prove it to the world?

It is to this question that we have to find him an answer.

There is enormous support for only a few national sports. A young sport like Wushu needs a lot of help to grow. While those with ability spend millions to reward just one popular sport again and again, new sport like Wushu have to struggle to keep afloat.

Although it looks like a staggering amount to Chaminda, actually the expense of sending a Wushu team to a competition is relatively small. If there is a company or a person to sponsor rising young athletes like Chaminda, the future of sports in Sri Lanka will be a little bit brighter.

Staying true to the spirit of Wushu, Chaminda does not seek praise or fame for what he has done. His success deserves to be noticed because he succeeds not only for himself but for his country. That makes him stand apart from others, much above the rest.

If Chaminda stays with Sri Lanka, for Sri Lanka, it will be our gain. He is the one to make a change in the Sri Lankan Wushu scene - a change for better.

He hasn't given up yet; and for the sake of Sri Lanka, I hope he will not.

The three certificates awarded to Chaminda for participating in the Fourth World Wushu Championships adorn the walls of his dormitory at the univeristy. They occupy the place of honour together with the two certificates and the shield he received for Exhibition Excellence Prize at Shaolin Wushu competition. He treasures the photo of him wearing the national flag in the parade at Rome.

They prove to Chaminda himself how he defeated the obstacles to win all his goals in 1997. And I hope that they add a little strength to his mind, and a little spark to his eyes each time he looks at them. For it is strength and spark he needs, not words and promises, to continue to reach up towards his goals.

With the provenly immense resources of his mind, and the seasoned discipline of his character, I am sure he will reach where no Sri Lankan has ever reached before, in Martial Arts.

I wish him success and I hope, one day, Sri Lanka will too, when she is wise and strong enough to look at him.

He is too modest to acknowledge it, but he is the best Wushu athlete Sri Lanka has made so far. And from the look of things, the best Sri Lanka will ever make.

Kelani Valley too powerful for Peradeniya Campus

Kelani Valley Club beat Peradeniya University by 14-4 at Peradiniya Grounds played last week in the Carlsberg B division Up country League rugby tournament.

K.V won the match with 2 goals to 1 try (14-5). For Kelani Valley S.Perera, a former Trinity coloursman downed two tries which were converted by 'Tiger' Priyantha who hails from Talduwa. Priyantha played excellent rugby right throught out the match.

K.V has played two matches so far and are unbeaten. K.V is captained by Duleeka Mitchel this year.

At the half time K.V led 7-0. During the first 15 minutes of the second half K.V scored two more tries thanks to some outstanding performance by' Tiger' Priyantha .

Former Havelocks and Sri Lanka player Dinal Samaranayake, former SPC prop forward Bhathiya Bulumulla and former Trinity prop forward Kapila Kasthuriarachchi did a marvellous job on the field for Kelani Valley.

Kelani Valley rugby convenor Niroshana Illangaratne played a major role by organising this match successfully.

Top post for Basil

Basil Rodrigo has been appointed as the Regional Officer for rugby in the Western Province.

His appointment has been made possible by Dr. 'Maiya' Gunasekera, Ajith Abeyratne and Y. C. Chang, the Chairman of the Development Committee.

He represented Sri Lanka and CH&FC from 1975 to 1985. He has been coaching more than 35 schools in the Island including those from the Kurunegala and Gampaha Districts. Basil thanks, Tony Amith, Hisham Abdeen and S. W. Chang for all the support given in his coaching stints.

Other than rugby, Basil has earned a name in Judo being the national champion and holds the Shodan Black Belt having represented Sri Lanka at many foreign competitions.

Major Gamini Nanayakkara the President of the Sri Lanka Judo Association has requested Basil to promote this sport in the Western Province Schools.

Wimbledon tennis to be telecast 'live' on ETV

It's June and Wimbledon is little more than a fortnight away. This year, as always, there is a raging controversy on the timing of this blue riband event in the tennis calendar, which commences on June 23.

The professional tennis players have always complained that the time between the French Open on clay and Wimbledon on grass is not enough to prepare for the world's No. 1 event.

There are several tournaments and many weeks that lead up to the French Open but just two weeks on grass before Wimbledon and to this day that complaint continues.

But June in London is expected to be warm and the perfect weather for the championship for as soon as the clay court season ends with the French Open, the favourites for Wimbledon come into focus.

Not since the legendary Bjorn Borg has there been a player who has been at the top of both the clay and grass court lists.

A few have made an impression in both Grand Slam events. Like Agassi who reached the finals in Paris and London, Stich who was in the final of Paris and won Wimbledon, or the Swede Stefan Edberg.

But today's Grass Court favourites, the world's No.1 Pete Sampras is also a hot favourite on the clay in Paris. But at Wimbledon all eyes are on this. Hingis, in spite of her French Open final loss to Iva Majoli last year, has now proved her unbeatable form and staying power.

The weather as usual will play a major role at Wimbledon.

Even the organisers are wising up to this in their planning with improved court drainage in place this year as well as a contingency plan to refund tickets for games that are completely washed out.

Organisers promise this will be the best championships yet, with the total prize money on offer exceeding £7,000,000.

The championships will be telecast to over 180 countries this year, and will be available to over 50,000,000 more viewers than in 1997 according to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

ETV will telecast the tournament in Sri Lanka, and Live coverage will be available from the semi-final stages onward in the Singles events. The entire schedule of telecast is as follows:-

Day Time Telecast Details 23 June 11.00pm Highlights of day 1, 24 June 11.00pm Highlights of day 2, 25 June 11.00pm Highlights of day 3, 26 June 11.00pm Highlights of day 4, 27 June 11.00pm Highlightsof day 5, 28 June 11.00 pm Highlights of day 6, 29 June 11.00pm Highlights of day 7, 30 June 11.00pm Highlights of day 8, 01 July 11.00pm Highlights of day 9; 02 July 11.00pm Ladies Singles Semi Finals (Taped); 03 July 11.00pm Men's Singles Semi Finals (Live); 04 July 01.00pm Ladies & Men's Singles Semis (Rpt); 04 July 11.00pm Ladies Singles Finals (Live); 05 July 01.00pm Ladies Singles Finals (Rpt.); 05 July 11.00pm Men's Singles Finals (Live); 06 July 09.00pm Men's Singles Finals (Rpt.).

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