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Hot favourites Chandradasa and Brar dislodged
Off the tee with Tita Nathanielsz
The 11th annual SriLanka Open Golf Championships teed off impressively at the Ridgeways of the Royal Colombo Golf Club sponsored by CIC and inspired by Dulux, the magnificent paint.

There was a massive invasion of tremendous talent from our neighbours. The best from India comprised the dashing, cavalier Simanjeet Singh the current title holder with strong support from Harindar Gupta, Gagan Varma and that skilful stroke player Vikrant Chopra and managed by flamboyant Kapil Kaul. Pakistan came with Taimur Hassan, the star of yesteryear combined with good looking stroke player Shahid Javed Khan, flashy Vaqas Ahmed, consistently impressive Tariq Mahmood and managed by a tremendous personality, Asha Khan.

The third team to join jetted in from Bangladesh. I saw very little of their golf but suffice to record that they are up and coming impressive players, warm, friendly and ready to learn and improve. Preceding the main title event was the international contest for the Rajkumar Parlakamedi Trophy.

The Rajkumar is a close friend of mine having met him on the cricket fields of South India in the year 1948. Years later I invited him to Sri Lanka and having met Pin Fernando and Upali Senanayake, he agreed to donate this Trophy. He was also the most successful racehorse owner in India.

His magnificent horse Courageous was India's very best which won him the Calcutta Gold Cup on three successive occasions. The Sri Lanka team was in stunning form with Anura Rohana and Tissa Chandradasa outstanding.

They beat the formidable Indian side, moved past Pakistan comfortably and settled Bangladesh in last position. They were the popular winners of the handsome Parlakamedi Trophy.

Zia-uL-Haq Trophy
This event was designed for competition between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Both teams collected the same score: 217. Tissa Chandradasa was once again upfront with a praiseworthy 69 followed by Anura Rohana on 73. For Pakistan Vaqas Ahmed and Shahid Javed Khan shot 72 each. The winning side was settled by taking into account the score of the fourth player in each team. Shahid Javed Khan struck 72 against B.A. Sanjeewa 75 to give Pakistan the trophy.

Ladies
A pretty contingent of gorgeous ladies from India adorned the Ridgeways and made heads move in the foyer of the Clubhouse. Apart from smashing good looks they are studded with excellent talent.

Irina Brar picked our title last year and through 2002. So far she has won eight title events in India plus the prestigious Singapore Open. Just 18, Irina is inching her way to international recognition. Anjali Chopra is another dashing player with Parnita Grewal and Shruti Khanna capable of creating upsets at any level.

In the first round Brar took Korean Fung to the cleaners and left her there with a 9 and 8 victory, thereafter she moved past Nonita Chand comfortably. In the other half Parnita Grewal beat Mayali Talwar convincingly while Anjali Chopra was far too smart for Suwaneetha Selvaratnam. In the semi-finals just concluded Shurti Khanna slammed a tremendous victory clipping Irina Brar and Parnita Grewal outshone Anjali Chopra.

The men's classic title event has been studded with a few outstanding performances together with two sad to record results in which the colourful Taimur Hassan moved out in the second round and Rusi Captain, our dashing young star, was punished by his team mate Tissa Chandradasa.

Simanjeet excels
Brilliant stroke player Simanjeet Singh first cleaned up Chutti Munsoor 5 & 4 and then moved to vanquish Tariq Mehmoor 3 & 2. Harinder Gupta smashed through Mithun Nandasena 6 & 5 and then was merciles with Hosen Mea.

Chopra looks good
Vikrant Chopra, the danger man and unpredictable stylist, has had two smashing wins so far and is looking for gold.Andy Andrews is frighteningly accurate off the tee and looks comfortable on the greens. Shahid Javed Khan has been quite impressive. The semi-finals, a war of nerves, saw Chopra beat Shahid Khan and Simanjeet Singh beat Tissa Chandradasa. The scene at the Ridgeways of the Royal Colombo Golf Club is great. Superfun, tremendous camaraderie and smart elbow bending at the 19th. Taimur tells stories, Kapil Kaul, turned historian, Ashad Khan reminiscing. Chula Ariyaratne expresses a burning desire to be the Liaison Officer for the Indian ladies. Fresh orange becomes the third most popular beverage behind beer and Scotch.

The course
The course was untidy in patches. There was controversy about the placing of the pins on certain holes and despite what anybody says, soccer is played on the 3rd and 12th fairways after the course supervisor returns to base. A great event so far and much credit to the formidable duo Sriyan de Soysa and Mark Silva.

Haris, a leader for the future
Trinity rugby 'lion' Haris Omar, one of the best forwards in the country has been elected to lead the Sri Lanka team for the forthcoming Rugby Asiad to be held in Busan, S. Korea later this month.

Twenty-six-year-old Omar who led Trinity with distinction in 1995 winning the Bradby Shield, is one of the best produced by the Hill Capital School. As a schoolboy Omar, a chip of the old block, was an outstanding player. His father Izwan, turned out for Kandy S.C and was a fine cover defender.

Trail blazer
As a schoolboy Haris enjoyed a trail-blazing career. He represented the Sri Lanka U-19 Schools at the 9th Pacific Int. tournament in 1994 held in Chinese Taipei. He led the U-19 Schools for the first Junior Asiad in 1995 also in Chinese Taipei. Since then there was no looking back for the granite hard No. 8 who was a regular member of the national team, barring injury.

He led the Lankan U-24 team in the Two-Test series against Hong Kong, which Sri Lanka won. With an eye for the future, the national selectors headed by Tikiri Marambe should be commended for picking Haris to lead a team with a blend of youth and experience.

He has proved his mettle as a leader. When he led Kandy S.C to win a "treble" in 1999 - the Sevens, the league championship and the Clifford Cup. His Trinity teammate Pradeep Basnayake played under him in 1999. Haris now playing under Pradeep Basnayake, helped Kandy SC to win a 'Triple Crown' this season - a repeat of '99.

Haris was interviewed by The Sunday Times after his appointment. He was happy to lead the Lankan team, but all has to rally around for its ultimate goal - to uplift the country's image at the international level (in the Asian region). It has to be a concerted team effort, said Haris.

Kandy SC which is dominating the local rugby scene attributes its infrastructure, to discipline, determination and total commitment. Haris will strive do likewise with the national team with Kandy coach. C.P.P. Abeygunawardena. 'CP' has been assigned with the training of the national squad.

'I have learnt much from Priyantha Ekanayake as a player and leader on and off the field. Represented Sri Lanka under his captaincy in the Rugby Asiad in 1996 in Chinese Taipei. Sri Lanka won the Neigbours Cup (Quadrangular) in 1997, held in Thailand under Priyantha's leadership with a fine team effort. I was a member of the winning team". recalled Haris.

"If I have achieved success on and off the field, thanks to my parents. They were the guiding light. My father inspired me from my childhood to indulge in this beautiful sport. But it was my mother, who really nursed and nurtured me and looked into my needs at all times", recounted Haris.

Trophies are secondary, but the spirit of the game is what matters in the end. Not the final outcome - all is forgotten then. Yes. I will adhere to it at all times, said Omar. (B.W.)


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