In a class of his own

By Ravi Nagahawatte

Captaining two different sports while in school could be among the rarest of achievements for a sportsman. And when such feats come off on the field where glamour sports are associated, the skipper's name usually goes down in the record books as a celebrated hero.

A man who came up with that extraordinary feat last year was Shanaka Perera who with his achievements, made his alma- mater - Royal College, Colombo - very proud. He was an all-rounder at cricket and a nippy linkman in the rugby field, finally showing such talent in the fifteen-man game that he ended up in the Sri Lanka national pool as well. Looking into the annals of this school, which is situated at Reid Avenue in Colombo, there has been only one other person who has achieved this 'double' in a single year. Mahes Rodrigo had his name listed in the record books way back in 1946 and had remained the sole achiever of such a feat before Perera got the opportunity to do so in 1998.

Shanaka, the second in the family of three boys, had stepped into the field of sports at the tender age of seven. But, most importantly the sense of seriousness had also got into him at that period of time.

The lad had commenced his rugby career as a centre with the school's under thirteen-team and worked himself up to the first fifteen side in 1996 where he took up position as a scrumhalf. "Its the most vital place in the field and you have to co-ordinate with both the backs and forwards", viewed Perera when asked why he chose to fit into such a position. But also when a question was thrown at him as to what sport he liked most, the Royalist was "beaten and bowled". "It is difficult to answer that question. Even my friends ask me the same question." Asked where he would go for advise if he wanted an opinion as to what sport he should stick to, 'I don't know' said Shanaka with a boyish smile on his face. - Shanaka plans to continue both sports after leaving school.

Without doubt he picked 1998 as his best year in the rugby field which also saw his team registering a record 42-11 victory over rivals, Trinity, in the prestigious Bradby Shield encounter in Kandy. And coming to cricket he bloomed as a batsman in the annual Royal-Thomian cricket encounter scoring two half centuries, 51 in 1997 and 76 in 1998.

He had also been a 'master' at organising a way to accommodate both sports. "I usually attended cricket practice at 2 p.m. and was in the rugby grounds by 4.30 p.m." reflected Perera while recalling how he managed to take part in both sports when the seasons clashed at the under-seventeen age group.

"Sometimes my rugby mates would come to a cricket match and call me for the rugby match which was in the evening", reminisced Shanaka.

Summing up the interview by answering the final question which was forwarded to him, Shanaka had this to say when asked what kind of experience he had gained during his stay at Royal. "It was the best experience I had. The school provided me with all facilities and also looked after me. The teachers were also very helpful".

Shanaka, who is currently awaiting results of the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination, took this opportunity to thank his family, school, teachers, classmates - for helping him with the missed out lessons - coaches and all people who had helped in whatever way to make his student and sports careers at Royal a success.

Missed chances, Sri Lanka's undoing at Freedom Cup

By Gamini Perera

Football, you might say, is a game of goals. Its all about a theory that goals, saves or missed goals having an impact on the psychology of the players. It also has a decisive impact on the progress of the game.

This theory was clearly demonstrated when India so astoundingly beat Sri Lanka in the final of the Bristol Freedom Cup championship in Colombo recently. After the match, Sirisena the Sri Lanka coach, as well as trainer, T.Wanigaratne, did lament of the missed chances, which if taken might have allowed their team to prevail.

Critics also had much to say of the football Sri Lanka played, calling it too hectic and blaming the players for using the long pass, thus playing into the hands of the Indian defenders.

Some people, mostly those not so well versed in the game, have novel excuses when our national team is beaten. Some people whom this writer met after Sri Lanka went down gallantly to India by just a solitary goal, that too, in period allotted for the 'golden goal', were emphasizing on physical conditioning, while some others were of the view that our defeat was due to the players not working hard enough.

Protracted move

This came as something of a surprise to those of us who had watched the exquisitely built-up goals by which India had won the final. It was a protracted move which included a couple of deft one-twos at the climax, plus an elegant finish by that promising 20-year- old, Rajeshkumar Pandey, who perfectly judged the time and place of his shot.

Now these people are talking about physical conditioning. "Sri Lanka have been losing matches, because our players have not been fit enough. Much fitter teams like India have outclassed them,'' one wag was heard saying.

So, they believe that the players will be dragged to a training centre to be put through fitness tests. What next?

This writer who had followed the coaching and training sessions of the national football team, prior to the Bristol Freedom Cup championship was amazed to hear of such archaic and odd sayings.

Admired

For years now, our footballers and cricketers have been admired, if not for their technique and finesse, then for the physical and staying power they have always shown. It was firmly believed for years that there was just no way some Asian teams could match the stamina and rhythm of our players. Some of these Asian sides had to resort to various strategies, such as the sweeper formation to even things out.

Fitness is in the mind. Football fitness, at any rate. Those who deeply believed that they were physically inferior had to play a more cautious, defensive, breakaway game.

I have seen well-built athletes, perfectly capable of running longer, faster and more effectively, than those who are involved in the sport. They would have succeeded, if only they believed that they were capable of doing it.

Running round and round the football pitch or the training grounds, builds up a stamina of a kind. But more important was the attitude, I suppose. Some of our soccerites grew up from boyhood, believing that they could run forever, and so, effectively they did.

Other factors

But when it comes to lasting a game of football, surely other factors come into it. Ball skills and positional flair for a start.

How much of running does a team or a player need to do? Look at those great Brazilian international teams at their best, over the years, and you will see that the essence of their play has been changing rhythms.

Fitness, I repeat, is in the mind. Football is a game the psychology of which is determined by goals. In the final between Sri Lanka and India, we completely dominated play and seemed likely to run out winners by a large score.

Instead, we missed chance after chance. At that moment, you could almost feel the confidence coming back to India. So pushing more players up, they began to take the game to the Sri Lanka territory, made chances, hit the post and finally, almost incredibly, came off victors.

Missing chances at one end, converting a chance at the other, had transformed the whole psychological picture of that game.

Training

Some feel that we should not play so many matches, our players don't do enough of training. But it could be argued that actually playing football is the best training of all. Certainly, as a body contact sport, it puts more stress and pressure on a player's physique.

It has been almost a cliche (hackneyed phrase) in local football, down the years, that when results are bad it is because players aren't working hard enough. Sri Lanka's football team won't get it right by continually going to training grounds. Because, they are footballers, not track and field athletes. They are footballers, not marathon men. Lasting a game is something that comes from a complex of factors. Not, 'fitness' alone.

Complicated

Dismissing the coach or the trainer will only complicate the issue at hand. These two men, with the resources available had done their utmost to build and prepare a cup-winning squad. They have been dedicated and devoted to their jobs.

The squad given to them was a mixture of youth and a few experienced players. Their task was to build a team for the future. Except Maldives, the other two teams, India and Malaysia came for this tournament with experimental teams. Even, they were contemplating on team building.

A pointer to rejoin was the fine performances put up by the players who were inducted to the national team from the national youth pool. They admirably displayed their inherent skills, which was a signal to the elder brigade, now awaiting their turn to step down, leaving the path to young ones tapping at the door to gain entry into the national team.

We hope the FFSL, under the dynamic leadership of Manilal Fernando will not take morale-shattering moves at this juncture when Sri Lanka is on the right path to build a strong and vibrant team for the future.

Specialised

Needless to mention, coaching a national team today for international competitions is a highly specialised task. It demands an analytical mind, depth of knowledge, comprehension of new theories and experiments. The talent available to our own coaches is good enough to accomplish our future goals.

The need of the hour is to correctly identify what is wrong with the system, than simply indicting individuals as villains.

Toiled hard

It is ridiculous to sling mud at people who were in the background to make the Bristol Freedom cup championship the success it was.

The FFSL to a man toiled hard to initially ensure that the tournament was off the ground and the preparations they made towards it success was enormous.

Mention must also be made of Ceylon Tobacco Company Limited, who had always been behind the successful completion of many a football tournament in this country, with their magnanimous sponsorship deals.

Their untiring team of officials, working hand in glove with the FFSL had always given their unstinted support to which football fans should be thankful.

Had it not been for the colossal sponsorship grant given by CTC towards this championships, the football fans who thronged in their numbers to witness this soccer carnival would not have lapped up with relish the fare dished out at this football extravaganza.

Once again we say, that the time for resurrection has come.

Unless all of us lend a helping hand towards this resurrection, the future of football in our country will look gloomy in the years ahead.

Cager and hockey Old Bens champs Old Bens Sports Club emerged champions in the inter-club Invitation Basketball Tournament conducted by Old Mazenodians & Gampaha District Basketball Association recently. Old Bens annexed the late E.A.P. Edirisinghe Memorial Trophy by outplaying Police SC by 53 points to 49 points after leading 26 points to 49 points at short whistle. (Old Bens SC 1-1 53 Sameera Vithanage 20, Sonal De Silva 15, Roshan Gunasekara 10) ( Police SC -49 (Prince Fernando 12, Duminda Hettiarachchi 10, Michel Priyadarshan 10, C.J. Wijesekara 10) Referees: Ralph Martel & Sisira Fonseka In the consolation final S.L. Army beat S.L. Air Force by 73 points 53 points after leading by 36 points to 27 points at lemons. S.L& Army -73 Rienzie Wijeratne 25, Wijaya Baskar 20, Manoj Perera 15, Chaminda Perera 10. S.L. Airforce -53 D.F.H.V. Fernando 18, C.B.B. Fernando 15, Shanthan 14. Mr. Nalaka Edirisinghe, Managing Director E.A.P. Edirisinghe Group of Companies was chief guest and gave away the trophies. CH stickers off to Malaysia CH&FC, the century-old club, presently dominating the local hockey scene are having their players rewarded with a short tour of Malaysia and Thailand, said the President of the Gymkhana Club, Sunil Peiris to The Sunday Times. The CH stickers will take part in the Malaysia Pesta Hokiusm Penang 25th anniversary '98 six-a-side tournament. The team took wing on December 3. Clubs drawn from 24 countries will take part in the event. This will be CH's first stint in Malaysia and they are bound to be in the finish, said Claude de Silva, a senior hockey official. CH have won the Andriesz Shield, the premier league tournament, for three years in a row, while being runners-up to Park SC Matale in the Moore Shield. Last week they bagged another trophy, the Bacon Cup defeating Old Anandian SC. In 1996 away from home they were runners-up to Singapore SC in the KO 'Sevens' - 2-1, in Singapore. Duncan Devendra leads the team, a product of Christ College, Matale and Dharmaraja. Former Sri Lanka Captain Malik F. Jhan, Ashok Peiris, B.L.S.V. Perera, D.C. Perera, Keerthi Weerasinghe, Suren Wijeratne and Athula Wijekoon are on the tour. Brig. Lucky Kulatunga, a live-wire of Sri Lanka hockey, goes as Chef-de-Mission and Dhammika Pathirana will be the manager. According to Suren Peiris, the tour was made possible due to the support given by its members and wellwishers of CH&FC hockey in order for the players to get that much needed exposure at international level and further improve their skills. The tournament begins on December 5. -Bernie Wijesekera Letter

Dismal display by World Champions

The performance by the Sri Lankan Cricket Team, in the Wills International Cup Cricket Tournament and the Sharjah Champions Tournament, leaves much to be desired. It has been a dismal display of the game. Being the reigning champions and considering their excellence in the past it is totally unacceptable. They are not only humiliating the country they represent but are demoralizing their supporters all over the world. What cannot be tolerated is their haphazard performance. They are a complete failure in all departments of the game, including the Captaincy! Our star batsmen appear to be terrified at the sight of the ball. They have lost their consistency. Most of the bowlers are being thrashed. The whole scenario is a total disaster, resulting in the loss of important matches. Cricket in Sri Lanka must be immediately subject to a complete revamp, from top to bottom. Managerial and Coaching potential must be the first to be put under the microscope. It appears that there is a total lack of discipline. The departure of Coach Dave Whatmore from Sri Lankan cricket most certainly sounded its death knell. Sri Lankans are not an ungrateful nation, but the treatment meted out to him was not the type of gesture our people are generally accustomed to. It is a great pity to have lost him.... It could have been prevented. I believe we are today, paying dearly for the consequences and may well pay for some time. Arjuna who is known to be the most outstanding one-day Captain in the whole world and dubbed "Captain Cool" is slipping. His prestige is wearing out. The loss to India in the first match, in the Sharjah Champions Trophy was undoubtedly due to a serious error by him. While the ball was in the Sri Lankan court and the Indians were struggling, his decision to send in Dharmasena to bowl the 49th over, invariably, cost Sri Lanka the game. Dharmasena was being mauled right throughout. It was not a sensible move by any means. Vaas had two overs left and should have been brought back. He would have restricted the runs. The second match against the Indians produced a most devastating collapse in the Sri Lankan batting resulting in the third loss in the tournament. The last qualifying match, too, proved a disaster. Captain Cool is now popularly known as "Captain Fool" what I am afraid of is, that, a few more foolish blunders will definitely earn him the name "Captain Stool" you know what I mean?.... Brian Hingert, Riyadh, KSA.

What to speak and what not to !

Australian public relations company to smoothen cricket team's image during their tour of Australia in Jan-Feb '99

By Marlon Fernandopulle

The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) has made a timely and prudent move in appointing a public relations company in Australia for Sri Lanka's tour next month.

Turnbull Porter Novelli a leading public relations company in Melbourne has been assigned the task of helping to smoothen the team's image and particularly prepare the way for Muttiah Muralitharan.

Considering the fact that the tour is bound to be an explosive one and certain to test the patience of more than a few players on and off the field the BCCSL has made a timely decision in the appointment of the PR company. Moreover it's quite clear and a known fact that players and officials have no training in public relations (unlike a few other international players and officials) and very often fight shy or are lost for words when confronted by the media.

Kumar Ramanathan, the former Benedictine and Colts opening batsman (who is now in Australia) in an interview with The Sunday Times a few months ago, insisted that the Sri Lanka team will have to do a lot of PR work before they visit Australia and Manager Ranjith Fernando will have a daunting task at hand. Now thanks to the appointment of the PR company the Lankans can be confident that this aspect of the tour will be professionally handled and the players can concentrate on the game better.

According to the President of the BCCSL Thilanga Sumathipala the PR consultants will constantly brief the Sri Lankan players and officials on what to speak and what not to speak and how to tackle the Australian media and the public.

As a first step in helping to improve the public relations of the players the BCCSL's latest move looks to be a step in the right direction. However training in this aspect should be on a continuous basis if the full benefits are to be reaped, and thus it would be pertinent if the Cricket Board appoints a local PR company permanently to look into these aspects of the players and officials.

It's a well known fact today that most players fight shy to face the media while the comments of certain others are predictable as they tend to repeat the same words over and over again.The Cricket Board should take full responsibility for this situation and not the players.As the controlling body of the game it's upto the Board to have ensured that players and officials are adequately trained to face the media confidently.

When asked what his ambition is, a current Test cricketer replied that he wishes to be the captain of the Sri Lanka team. I looked straight into his eyes as if to ask him whether he actually meant what he said.

Visibly upset the Test cricketer had a second thought and said yes,I shouldn't be saying that it can upset a few players.

Another Test cricketer has been heard saying how the thought of receiving a man of the match award sends shivers down his spine simply because he has to face a live television interview.

Situations like this could be avoided if the players are professionally trained in Public Relations .Thus one hopes that the present Cricket Board's initiative of appointing a PR company for the Australian tour will instill the neccessary confidence in the players and officials.

honour legendary coach

By Bernie Wijesekera

P. W. Perera, one of Ananda's greatest captains, who played a dynamic role as a player, captain and later as coach will be honoured with a trophy at a function jointly organised by the old boys of Ananda and Dharmaraja College, Kandy, during the inter-school match between these two schools.

This is a fitting tribute to a fine sportsman, a gentleman and an officer, who did much for the promotion of the game of character building in the schools, but also in the Prisons Dept., where he served with distinction.

A keen student of the game, P. W. has left an indelible mark in the annals of Ananda since he donned the pads from 1938-41. A crafty bowler he had a rich haul of 8 for 51, in the big match against Nalanda in 1941, until it was broken by Nalanda's versatile sportsman Anura Ranasinghe - a two in one cricketer, who passed away recently.

He has many firsts in his trail-blazing career. He was the first Anandian to have captained the Combined Schools team against the Ceylon University team. Unlike today, in the past the University XI was no pushover side which included some of the best willow wielders, who later on went on to excel on and off the field with their professional background. The combined schools XI included players like T. B. Werapitya, Vernon Prins, etc.

Big hand

As a schoolboy, P. W. was a member of the Saracens S. C. champion team who won the major league tournament, the Divison Three trophy and had a big hand in helping them to hit the top in 1940.

In 1941, he joined the tutorial staff of Dharmaraja Kandy, when the school hit a purple patch in cricket. With his abundant knowhow he was able to motivate the schoolboys, with an unyielding approach to beat Trinity College for the first time in 1941. It was a feather in his cap.

This was a golden era for the Rajans in cricket from 1942 - '44, when they outplayed schools like Ananda, Nalanda, Trinity, St. Anthony's etc., in stride.

After his epoch-making stint as coach of the Rajan cricket team, he joned Govt. Services, that, too the Prisons Dept. He possessed love and compassion be it for friend or foe. He was able to rehabilitate some of the misled youth in society, not with physical force, but with kind words as preached by the greatest philosopher Lord Buddha.

Now in the autumn of his life both Ananda-Dharmaraja old boys have joined forces for a lasting tribute with a challenge trophy which was presented to the school's hierarchy at the Ananda College Colours Nite.

A man of few words P. W. apparently never tried to make a living on the sport that helped hm to go places in life. He was able to reform the youth, who came behind bars, with most of them from broken homes. While as a coach in cricket, sans certificates he was able to spot talent be it at Ananda, Dharmaraja, St. Mary's, Negombo or St. Servatius, Matara, (which produced Sanath Jayasuriya).

He not only taught them to reach stardom, but to play the game in the correct spirit - the game that matters in the end. The final outcome is secondary. This is the first lesson he taught his charges. This scribe vouches for it and for P. W.'s simplicity in life.

Single flower

This is what the old boys from the Ananda and Dharmaraja have done to honour him. It's far better to give a single flower when a man is alive than a bouquet when he's dead and gone.

Perera, was shifted back to Welikada Prison in 1952 and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Ananda cricket. It was through the overtures of yet another diehard supporter of Ananda, Prefect of Games, Col. D. W. Rajapakse, that he was coaxed to take over the Ananda coaching. Fittingly Col. Rajapakse, too, an officer and a gentleman, later became the Principal of Ananda.

With Rajapakse and P. W. Perera's joint effort Ananda cricket hit the top during his tenure as coach for nine years. In the process they were able to produce national cricketers of the calibre of Dhanasiri Weerasinghe (now in Australia), Anura Polonowita, Brendon Kuruppu, Charith Senanayake, Dr. Sarath Wimalaratne, Sonny Yatawara, a versatile sportsman (who came from Dharamarja), left arm spinning wizard Ajith de Silva (from D'soka Ambalangoda) Arjuna Ranatunga, Tilan Wijesinghe, (now chairman of BOI), and Prasanna Amerasinghe (who came from a cricketing stock. His father Daya, too played for Ananda and a contemporary of PW in the Prisons.

According to PW his last year as coach of Ananda 1960, was the one to remember. It was led by late Yatagama Ameradasa (who was tagged as Clyde Walcott) - a great captain. Nine of the 11 players could have donned the Sri Lanka cap. if they pursued their cricket.

Amiable Perera, didn't believe in caste, race or colour and was prepared to help anyone from whatever quarter. In Matara, as coach of St. Servatius, he saw the college beat St. Thomas' Matara, for the first time in 1961. Since then St. Servatius has not looked back. Today they are a force to be reckoned with.

Back in Colombo again he had another short stint at Ananda for 3 years. The three Wettimuny brothers were at the fore - Sunil, Mitra and 'Lord' Sid who was the first to get a 'ton' at Lord's scoring 190. Back to Kandy in 1971 he took over St. Anthony's on the invitation of the then rector Fr. Edin for three years. Well, all good things must come to an end. In 1978, P. W. the humanitarian had to retire from the Prisons.

Frontline

He was invited by Mr. Alles the Principal of D. S. Senanayake M. V. in 1978. Mr. Alles a lover of cricket and a firm disciplinarian was able to get the best out of P. W. The school with P.W.'s guidance, was able to become a frontline school in the schools cricket fraternity. Players like Aravinda de Silva, Hashan Tillekeratne, Pubudu Dassanayake etc. benefited much.

Back to base again Ananda in 1982. Mr. Kudaligama became its Principal. P.W. was entrusted with the coaching of the junior cricketers. He coached the junior - under 13 and 15.

Finally he says it was a privilege to have worked with Col. Kudaligama and later with present Principal Mr. Damunupola. Today Ananda is a leading cricketing school in the island thanks to the seeds sown by evergreen P. W. Perera.

At the nursery. players like Marvan Atapattu, Sanjeewa Ranatunga, brothers Dulip and Thilan Samaraweera and Avishka Gunawardena came under his tutelage.

At times a Prophet is not honoured in his own country. But, the Old Rajans and Old Anandians, have honoured him for a lifetime. A great tribute to a man, who believes in simplicity in life.

Fittingly he was awarded the Golden Award for coaching, by the Cricket Board, at its Golden Jubilee celebrations, held recently.

Teeton Mill lifts the Gold Cup

By Ismail Khan

On Saturday last the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup was down for decision at Newbury and the race turned out to be a personal triumph for Noel Williamson the rider who booted home the in-form Teeton Mill to a popular victory at the nourishing odds of 5/1.

In the event run over 26 furlongs of the southern National Hunt track of Newbury having 21 fences Mrs. Reveley's Seven Towers was sent off the favourite but was a casualty halfway of the race.

Taking up the running from the 17th fence, Teeton Mill, who had already amassed £ 42, 419 as stake money, never looked likely to be caught and came home ahead of Martin Pipe's Eudipe with Fiddling The Facts and Boss Doyle filling up the remaining berths. The Mrs. William's nursed winner was a personal triumph for Jockey Williamson who rode the chaser to perfection avoiding the falling horses and negotiating the treacherous fences cleanly and cleverly too. At the fourth fence Teeton Mill nearly came down but Williamson did a marvellous U-turn on the 9-year-old putting him upright and from then onwards it was plain sailing.

The Gold Cup day at Newbury on Saturday last 28/11, got off to a perfect start as 11/4 Moor Lane got home first beating Looks Like Trouble hollow to post, a popular win in the Fulke Walwyn Chase.

Next Richard Dunwoody booted home the winner of the Equity Financial Feilden Handicap Hurdle Wahiba Sands run over 2 miles and 110 yds making it a double for him having been on board the winner of the opener. In this event Decoupage and Zafarabad finished 2nd and 3rd.

The Solaglas Long Distance Hurdle over 3 miles went to Princeful ridden by R. Dunwoody who got his hat-trick of wins with this Mrs. Jenny Pitman winner. Behind the 6/1 scorer ambled in Shooting Light.

The Gold Cup as I said earlier went to Teeton Mill from Eudipe Fiddling, The Facts and Boss Doyle.

The Jim Joel Memorial Handicap Chase went to P. Nicholls trained Green Green Desert at 6/4 and well ridden by J. Tizzard from a tiring Nashville Star who had every chance nearing the homestretch but giving up the fight due to having come a longway round to issue the challenge.

The Gold Cup day concluded on a good note with favourite Salamah taking the £6000 worth Newbury Saab Novices Hurdle run over 16 furlongs. The winner trained by C. Egerton was making her debut in this event and ridden by Jamie Osborne gave no anxious moments to the throng of punters who wagered on him.

Horses to follow from the above mentioned events:- Decoupage who finished runner-up to Wahiba Sands in the 2nd race is good enough for a 20 furlong event.

Shooting Light runner-up to Princeful in the third race needs less than 3 miles, maybe 20 furlongs to be at his best.

M. Morris's Boss Doyle ridden by J. R. Barry who finished 4th to Teeton Mill in the Gold Cup looks an out and out stayer and could get 30 and even 36 furlongs, the distance of the Grand National, with ease.

Salamah who won the last race on her debut looks the best to come out of the yard of C. Egerton. Watch him for big events to come.

That's all for today. Good hunting.

Give Ackzo another chance

Jim Goldie's Saintes won the Newcastle Juvenile Novices Hurdle over 2 miles by 3 lengths on 28/11 at Newcastle from Dangerman and this being his second win in 14 days augurs well for his future. He took the flights with ease and gave Dangerman a sound thrashing. Should go on to better things from now on.

Tim Easterby's Barnburg Boy who finished runner-up to Aghawadda Gold beaten a length in the Guinness Novices Chase run over 2 miles and 110 yds got into top gear a little late and next time out should be able to win a decent novices chase.

Fred Murphy's Ackzo made good for the £ 3000 worth Northgate Novices Hurdle over 3 miles but found one better than him in Sir Bob who whacked him at the last moment beating him by a neck in a sizzling finish. Given steadier handling next time out Ackzo should bring back losses with interest. Follow Tikopia too as he ran a forward race though going at 50/1 and finishing 3rd to Sir Bob.

J. Johnson's Forestal also got off very well fancied at 2/1 but was beaten by Ask Me. Later in the 20 furlong Douglas Smith Handicap chase.

Fred Murphy's French Holly beaten 5 lengths by Dato Star in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle made a bad blunder at the 6th flight thereby losing several lengths.

Mick Easterby's Purevalue going at 7/2 had every chance taking the last fence in the Jasmor Handicap Chase but failed to accelerate in the last furlong. On his next run over less than the gruelling 30 furlong he ran in, he should be able to deliver the goods. (IK)

Athletes, best bet for Gold

Annesley Ferreira, reporting from Bangkok

For the first time Sri Lanka's contingent will wear the national dress and will be accompanied by three Kandyan dancers and two drummers.

Come what may, Sri Lanka will be looking to redeem lost prestige in the sports arena by winning its first Gold after 24 years at the 13th Asian Games which gets underway today (Sunday, December 6) in Bangkok, Thailand.

The morning's proceedings started off with the marathon at the Ayutthaya Provincial Road and Asia Road with the grand opening ceremony at the Rajamangala National Stadium.

The first to come out in competition will be the Sri Lankan's rugby, shooting, swimming, diving, while athletics will get into full swing from December 13.

For the first time, Sri Lanka's contingent will wear the national dress and will be accompanied by three Kandyan dancers and two drummers.

The Ranatunga brothers will create history in aquatic sports after a big lapse to represent Sri Lanka.

Talking about Sri Lanka's medal prospects one cannot look beyond athletics to achieve it's target.

Athletics

Gold medals are expected from Susanthika Jayasinghe in both the 100 and 200, Damayanthi Darsha a Gold in the 400 metres and Silver in the 200 metres, Sriyani Kulawansa in the 100 metres hurdles and the Women's 4 x 100 metres relay quartet.

Among the men, Sugath Tillekaratne could provide a double in winning the 200 and 400 metres and the 4 x 400 relay.

On December 13 the first to come out will be Damayanthi Darsha in the 400 metres at 13 hours with the semi-finals fixed for 14 hours. Sugath Tillekaratne will face the starter at 14.30 hours and take part in the semi-finals at 15.50 hours.

The other athletes to come out on this day are Chinthika de Zoysa in the 100 metres at 13.30 hours with Susanthika Jayasinghe lining-up in the 100 metres at 15.30 hours.

On day two of the athletic events lined-up for December 14, both Damayanthi and Sugath may put Sri Lanka ahead when they run in the Women's and Men's quarter mile at 13.30 and 13.50 hours, respectively.

Susanthika will also face the starter in the Women's 100 metres final fixed for 14.50 hours followed by the Men's final at 15.15 hours, where Chinthika will run if he qualifies.

On the third day in athletics, Sri Lanka's relay quartet in the 4 x 100 metres will be seen in action at 13.20 hours with the finals fixed for 15.50 hours. The other event which will feature a Sri Lankan runner will be the 400 metres hurdles at 16.40 hours.

On December 17, Susanthika Jayasinghe and Damayanthi Darsha together with Sugath Tillekaratne will participate in the Women's and Men's 200 metres, timed for 13.20 hours and 13.50 hours respectively.

The semi-finals of the Men and Women's 200 metres is scheduled to be at 15.40 hours and 16.00 hours with the Men's 400 metres hurdles final fixed for 14.40 hours.

Sriyani Kulawansa will come out for the first time in the lower hurdles at 14.00 hours which will be followed by the Women's and Men's 200 metres finals fixed for 14.30 and 14.50 hours respectively.

The Men and Women's 4 x 400 metres relay will be worked off at 16.05 and 16.30 hours, completing the events for December 18 which will see the Lankans in action.

On the penultimate day December 19 Sriyani Kulawansa takes part in the lower hurdles final fixed for 14.20 hours which will see the Lankan's hopes of winning Golds in the Men and Women's 4 x 400 metres relays down for decision at 14.20 and 15.20 hours,

Golf

Sri Lanka has a good chance of winning a medal in both the Men and Women's events in Golf represented by Tissa Chandradasa, Anura Rohana, Rusi Captain, Lalith Kumara, Thusasini Selvaratnam, Shyanika de Silva and Anouk Chanmugam.

Rugby

Much is expected from the rugger team at least in winning a Bronze.

Rifle Shooting

Another sport which is expected to win a few medals after their let down at the Commonwealth Games is rifle shooting The rifle shooters will depend heavily on Pusphamali Ramanayake, Malee Wickremasinghe, P.K.A. Leelani and D.M.K. Pussela.

Billiards and Snooker

Billiards and Snooker is another indoor sport that Sri Lanka may strike Gold through Khobala Sirisoma and M.S. Sharwardi in the singles and doubles.

Yachting

The experience of Lalil Jeerasinghe crewed by K.H. Janaka could see them perform to perfection under trying conditions to win a medal.

Windsurfing

Thushal Gunawardena, the national Windsurfing champ should win a medal in heavy sails while Lalindra who will be sailing in a lighter class cannot be overlooked.

In all, 107 sportsmen and women will represent Sri Lanka at the 13th Asian Games which will keep sports fans glued to their TV sets.

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