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Seevali
MMV, boxers get a thumping boost For the boxers of Seevali MMV, Ratnapura it was a God send gift for them having started boxing in the school just nine years ago in 1994 to be precise. It will be the day the school will cherish and will never forget for a considerable period of time. A school which had stormed the boxing arena and made a name for itself in this very short time without the basic facilities, leave aside the best a boxer would need to keep him fit. The boys would have nothing to worry as Caltex has come forward to sponsor them for a period of two years involving their boxing gear, equipment and other expenses. At the handing over of the sponsorship which took place at the school hall in Ratnapura. Kishu Gomes, the Managing Director of Caltex Lubricants was speaking with emotion and stressed that if not for the media which had highlighted the hardship that the boys were undergoing, today this would not have been a reality. It was a pathetic sight to see the conditions and the way the boys were doing their training. The sponsors and the media were taken to the place where they practiced. It would have put the more affulent schools in Colombo to shame. All were shocked but the coach Wasantha Kumara who has been the live wire and architect of boxing at Seevali stood tall and proud saying we have produced champions under these conditions. The Principal D.M. Gunaratne who took over the school two years ago was proud of his boys who had brought honour to their school, speaking at the occasion said that the parents should be commended for having encouraged the boys to pursure boxing which all said was a dangerous sport. It was the first time an outstation school had got a sponsorship from a big firm like Caltex. He thanked the sponsors for coming forward to help our poor school. Sumith Edirisuriya, Deputy Principal and Secretary of the Schools Boxing Association giving a brief description of how boxing came to Seevali said that if not for the present coach Wasantha Kumara boxing at Seevali would have been a forgotten sport, through his effort and the cooperation he got from the boys boxing has come to stay at Seevali. Boxing began
at Seevali in 1994 and within this short period they have champions
at all major boxing meets. K.A.C.N. Alexander was the only schoolboy
to be included in the national team for the Commonwealth Games which
was held recently. A
double for trainer Nigel and jockey Asok The heavy rains underfoot made the track heavy nevertheless it was successfully conducted. This was the third monthly meeting to be held by SLTC. The race was well organised by SLTC officials spearheaded by the President of the SLTC Dhammika Attygalle and Rajan Sellamuttu the Chairman Board of Stewards assisted by Raja Sinnathurai and Mrs. Shantha de Zoysa. Miss. Rohini de Mel assisted by Mrs. Maeve Martenstyne and Jith Peiris were the judges. Ace motor racing driver Suranjith Premadasa was the starter while Sirimevan Senanayake did a wonderful job as the handicapper. The races got going with ace trainer Nigel sweeping the boards with his horses winning the first three placings of the Negombo Cup. Pretty Girl ridden by jockey Asok Kumar was aboard the winning horse. Nigel won his second race of the day when his horse Satin Streak ridden by S.D. Lalith lifted the Nuwara Eliya Cup. Jockey Asok Kumar recorded his second win of the day on Millenium Debutant owned by a new comer to horse racing Roshan Motha. Results: 2). 'Galle Cup' for Thoroughbred Horses Class II - Distance 7 Furlongs (Handicap) - 'Nicodamus' - Ashif Noohu - M. Sudhakar. 'Savage' - Kumar Abeywardena - Selvaratnam. 'Perfect Parliament' - Miss. Sonali Abeyratne. - V. Mathialagan. 3). 'Kalutara Cup' for Thoroughbred Horses Class IV - Distance 5 Furlongs (Handicap) - 'Millenium Debutant' - Roshan Motha - Asok Kumar. 'Singing Melody' - Master Saveen Abeyratne - V. Punitharaj. 'Korean Dancer' - Master Saveen Abeyratne - V. Mathialagan. 4). 'Matara Cup' for Thoroughbred Horses in Class 1 and II - Distance 5 Furlongs (Handicap) - 'Crowning Star' - Gamini Abeyratne - R. Selvakumar. 'Stormy Warrior' - Ashif Noohu - R. Razick. 'Certain Smile' - Anurath Abeyratne - V. Mathialagan. 5) 'New Crystal Colombo Cup' for Thoroughbred Horses Class 1 - Distance 9 Furlongs (Handicap) - 'Libo Queen' - Gamini Kodituwakku - S.D. Mahes. 'Turn to Gold' - Ashif Noohu - R. Razick. 'Sound of Whisper' - Nigel Austin - Asok Kumar. 6) 'Kandy Cup' for Thoroughbred Horses in Class III - Distance 7 Furlongs (Handicap) - 'Timeless Appeal' - Anurath Abeyratne - V. Mathialagan. 'Nuclear Power' - Miss. Nishara Jayaratne - L. Ravikumar. 'Helen of Troy' - Master. Hasanga Jayaratne - R. Sivakumar. 7). 'Nuwara Eliya Cup' for 3/4 Bred Horses in Class I - Distance 5 Furlongs (Handicap) - 'Satin Streak' - Nigel Austin - S.D. Lalith. 'Neferitti' - Nalin Rajapakse - V. Punitharaj. 'Tamana' - Nigel Austin - Asok Kumar.-MSA Wanderers
to stage next year's World Cup But my visit to Wanderers Park with a panoramic view is the best. It's fantastic. The 42nd test venue has created many firsts. Sri Lanka is playing the first Test and a one-dayer, as a lead up for next year's W.C. to be staged here. The pitch looks hard and fast and bouncy, but they must have self-belief to be there and stay there. This was opined by Barry Richards who was earlier Sri Lanka's batting coach. Derrick High, local World Cup co-ordinator and Executive Director GAUNTENG Cricket Board took me around the venue and narrated how it was built. He is one who was responsible to make this ground one of the best in the world. Nothing was impossible if all work together. Many hands could make it a reality he said. Construction was started in 1955. The old Wanderers ground is the present Johannesburg Railway station. History was created within an year when the first Test was played here in 1956 against the MCC team led by Peter May. South Africa was led by Jackie McGlew. What a way to start. On the second day Brian Statham created history by taking a hat-trick for England - one of the victims was Gerald Ritchie, who later became the chairman of Gauteng Cricket Board. This venue witnessed the best bowling performance - by Hugh Tayfield against England a match-bag of 13 for 113 in the 1956-57 series. Rugby, too was played here and Internationals in 1980. South African cricket suffered immensely when they were banned from international sports due to their aparthied policy. The likes of Heine, Adcock, Grahame and Peter Pollock (father of present skipper Shaun), Barry Richards etc., who could have matched the best, but their International careers were cut short. The likes of Kepler Wessels, Alan Lamb and Robin Smith represented England and Australia. In 1991 South Africa returned to the international league and there was no looking back. Since then, the Wanderers Park took a new facelift. It was officially opened by late Sir Collin Cowdrey after the first test played in 1956. The first test, MCC was led by Peter May and the opening of the new-look stadium was opened by Cowdrey. More development has been done in preparation for next year's World Cup final here. With a powerful lighting system today it's a popular venue for night cricket. This stadium now could accommodate over 22,000 fans. Besides the 2003 W.C., it could be a tremendous tourist attraction, too, High said. The pitch table has been relaid in the past few years with ten pitches. An automatic irrigation system - underground pop sprinklers. The drainage system is upgraded to the highest international standards. There is no question of the match being called off after rain, unless there is a continuous downpour. Wanderers Park is one of the best in the world as a result. You could see to yourself the curator (head groundsman) Christ Scott, and his staff working. It's a full-time job, not meant for part-timers. The local cricket board should do well to take note of. One should prepare a pitch that will last for five days and closely contested for all to enjoy to the end. The outcome is forgotten. A good fast, hard pitch will give equal opportunities for both batsmen and bowlers (fast and spinners later). Any high note performances at this venue - Australia led by Bob Simpson scored 628. in the '60s. Highest run-getter at this venue - Greg Blewett (Australia) 214 in the 1996-'97 series. early this year Adam Gilchrist smashed the second fastest 200. Australia wrapped up the game under four days. They surpassed the highest total of 628/8 dec. made in 1966 (under Bob Simpson). Steve Waugh's team made 652 in the first innings. In this test McGrath, Gillepsie and Lee destroyed S.A. batting for 159 in the first and in the second innings went racing for 133 in 38.3 overs. Wanderers Park had its humble beginnings but later created a new milestone in S.A. cricket as one of the best well equipped stadiums in the world. Tennis
in for good times next year The President said this is going to be one of the biggest programmes we have ever undertaken in decades. But we are not grumbling or complaining, staging international tournaments in our own backyard is an opportunity for our players to play against foreign opposition at no cost to us. More important is that it shows that the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has faith in us and has the confidence that we could conduct international tournaments. A few months back we conducted the Junior World Tennis tournament which was also financed by the ITF. The report given by the representative of the ITF Maj. Uthrapathy had been an encouraging one which satisfied the governing body of the ITF in handing over eight more international tournaments to be conducted here. Boshan Dayaratne stressed that four of the eight international tournaments will carry a prize money of US $ 10,000 each with world ranking points. The most important assignment will no doubt be the Davis Cup tie as the SLTA's ambition is to upgrade Sri Lanka's present status of Group 4 to Group 2 which we stood in the late 1980's. Already the 11 nation line up for the week long tournament has been confirmed. The line up being Singapore, Bangladesh, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka will also host three Futures Championships with some of the world's promising and emerging players who are ranked in the 200's and 300's billed to participate. These events are scheduled to be held in February, August and October. All three Futures Championships will carry a US $10,000 prize money. Another feature will be that the prospective players will get an opportunity to better their world ranking points which is an important factor for aspiring players who hope to compete in the Grand Slam events. Sri Lanka being the host country will be given four wild cards which ensures four of our players getting three chances next year of pitting their talents against some of the emerging players in the world. When Colombo staged a Futures Championship earlier this year more than 50 players around the globe competed unfortunately all four Sri Lankans were elimanted in the first round. With that experience our players should know what is required in terms of preparation if they are to advance further. At the last Futures Championship Roberto Alavaraz of Argentina who was ranked 356th at that time was the winner. The event that has excited officials the most is the US $10,000 Women's Professional Tennis tournament which is scheduled to be held in June. The organisers said the Women's tournament as a historic event because this is the first time that Sri Lanka has been requested to conduct a womens tournament. Like in the Futures Championship here too four Sri Lankan players will get a chance of playing against superior foreign opposition. Players between 100 and 200 in the women's world rankings are expected to participate. The 2003 international tournaments kicks off in early January with the 12 nation South Asian under 14 championship, one of the three ITF junior tournaments to be staged here. The other scheduled tournaments are January 2003 - Veterans over 35, 45 and 55 - 10 countries. February 10-16 - Under 18 - 20 ITF Junior Tennis Championship - 20 countries. February - US $ 10,000 Jumbo Futures Tennis Championship - 30 countries. June 16-22 - Davis Cup Group IV. August 18-24 -US $ 10,000 Women's Tournament - 30 countries. August 25 - Sept 1 - US $10,000 Men's Futures Championship - 35 countries. In September - Under 18 ITF Junior Tennis Championship - 25 countries. October 27 - November 2 - US $10,000 Men's Futures Championship - 35 countries. Meanwhile the standings in the Under 12, 14 and 16 of the Boy's and Girl's singles was released by the SLTA. Two players Yaveen Jayasekera in the boys category and Mahesha Seneviratne in the girls category is ranked on top in the Under 18 and Under 16 age group. Boy's: Under 18 - 1. Yaveen Jayasekera. 2. S. Wickramasinghe. 3. D. Mayadinne. 4. Amrit Rupasinghe. 5. Oshada Wijemanne. Under 16 - 1. Yaveen Jayasekera. 2. U. Wickramasinghe. 3. S. Shashivaran. 4. C.C. Vidanarachchi. 5. Oshada Wijemannne. Under 14 - 1. U. Wickramasinghe. 2. A. Arudpragasam. 3. R. Kohulan. 4. C. Thalagala. 5. S. Shashivaran. Under 12 - 1. T. Dineshkanthan. 2. U.A. Hewacottage. 3. Indika Wettasinghe. 4. Michael Siyagune. 5. M. Hazari. |
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