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testing tour in progress To the Sri Lankans it will be a great experience and a testing assignment. For a majority of the side it will be venturing into new ground, an unfamiliar culture and way of life style. The playing surfaces will also be different. But a relaxing atmosphere awaits them in the holiday resort islands. Every team feared the West Indies pace battery in the days gone by. Roberts, Holding, Croft, Garner, Marshal, Clarke, Daniel, Bishop, Patterson and a few others who appeared and disappeared, could send a shudder down the spine of even the best of willow wielders. Ambrose and Walsh, who matched any of the others before them, temporarily brought down the curtain. Merv Dillon leads the current pace attack who at best could be described as above average. No batsman will lose any sleep thinking of countering this attack. Their main advantage is being familiar with home conditions, which is totally alien to the Sri Lankans. The never-ending production line producing demon fast bowlers and naturally brilliant batsmen dried-up in the nineteen ninetees. Only Brian Lara and to a lesser extent Carl Hooper have survived. Many reasons have contributed to this situation. Lack of money in the game has been a major factor. Other more lucrative sports and job lines have distracted many from the game. Also, whilst the other nations built-up an infra-structure to develop players, the West Indians were short sighted and kept depending on natural talent. Considering the multitude of men available to support and promote the game their decline is a very sad spectacle. However, in the past twelve months there have been signs of revival. Sir Viv Richards, now in his role as Chief Selector, has worked with the team management and behind the scenes to set about the repair work. The batting has certainly come good. There are half-a-dozen players, with Lara in the forefront, capable of scoring against any attack in the world. On the last occasion, in Sri Lanka, Muttiah Muralitharan baffled all, but the great Lara. That will be
the biggest test. Can they get the better of the champion off spinner? To function as a cohesive unit is what is required. Against New Zealand and in the recently concluded tri-nation series that was lacking. There were good individual performances, but collectively the team’s requirements were not satisfied. Three one day internationals and two tests, coupled with a few practice games does not give enough space to get familiar with playing conditions. That is part of today’s game. With the two team concept in operation, some players will be back even before they settle down! It is an important tour for Sri Lanka. The West Indies although well beaten by Australia must come into this series with some confidence after winning the last three one-dayers. The two captains, Marvan Atapattu and Hashan Tillekeratne, Duleep Mendis (Coach) and Ajith Jayasekera (Manager), must muster the players to perform to their best potential, with consistency. That way they will triumph against this West Indian outfit. Tamil
Union squash from June 14 Squash has generated tremendous enthusiasm among juniors. This eight-day tournament will be staged at the Tamil Union National Sports Complex. There will be men's and women's open Intermediate (over 35 for both men and women) plus junior events under 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and Plate events. Entries will be accepted at the Tamil Union AC office and at the Air Force Sports Complex up to June 10 and the draw will be held on the same day. Slowly but surely, Squash has taken firm roots since its inception, with many clubs and schools taking to this healthy sport. In its wake has been able to develop the sport to gain International recognition. One of them was Saman Tillekeratne, who has made a name in the European circuit. The Tamil Union C and AC formed in 1899 has made many firsts in the annals of Sri Lanka sports - especially cricket and hockey. But today has spread its wings to other sports, too. Affording facilities to its membership with an Indoor Sports Complex bordering to international standards. It could hold any national contest be it badminton or squash at the Janashakthi Sports Complex - thanks to the brainchild of former Thomian, Chandra Schaffter.-BW Success
fluctuates for Susanthika and Pradeep At the Hyderabad version, the Sri Lankans managed only two golds from Susanthika Jayasinghe and Pradeep Kumara but in the Colombo version they went a little further by bagging five gold medals through Susanthika and Pradeep Kumara again and then from Damayanthie Darsha, the 100m men's relay quartet and the men's 3000 meters event. The event was well organised but one of the main ingredient for the occasion, the much needed timing device which is essential for a event of this magnitude went wrong again as in the 14th Asian Athletics Championship held at the same venue. Before the event was scheduled to be held the media was made to understand that the timing device will be functioning at this important meet. Alas nothing was there! Only a small dot was visible on the screen. At the championships held last year there was at least the names of the participants occasionally. Speculation was that it had been tampered by some unknown persons. He said that the timing device was functioning even this morning, "We had spent so many millions in giving this tender to the said company. A balance is due to them and now the minister has told not to pay that as well", said the official who met the press. Another thing he told was that the timing device does not suit the Sri Lankan climate. The Sunday Times on an earlier occasion had pointed out some of the shortcomings of the dealing with this unknown company from Austria whilst giving the tender to them. All efforts taken by the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka to conduct this prestigious event successfully had this as the only shortcoming. Other than that it was well organised. After the conclusion of the event Maurice Nicholas Secretary of the AAA said that he was more than satisfied and commended the AASL officials for conducting the event. "We have the confidence of the officials now and they are capable of organising international events.We will give them the chance to conduct more international meets", he said. When asked why prominent participants from the Middle East were not in the fray, he said it did not matter, adding, "We wont stop the meet if they don't participate". You wait and see the time will come when they will come behind, this is only the start as before this we have never given cash awards for any championships. We will be increasing the prize money every year he concluded. Back to the Asian Grand Prix. The Sri Lankans tasted success at the home event with Susanthika Jayasinghe recording her second successive win along with Pradeep Kumara in the women's 100m and men's 400 mts respectively bringing their prize money to $ 6000. But the most encouraging performance came from Damayanthie Dharsha who came back to her winning form but she had to put in all the effort possible. In the men's 400 metres event the first four placings were participants from Sri Lanka which was a good sign. Though Sugath Tilekeratne had to play second fiddle he cannot be written off and the other runner who should go places in this event in time to come is third placed Prasanna Amarasekera, with a little more exposure in the international arena he is sure to improve and be a threat to his seniors. Sugath regains loss rhythm, Susanthika pushed back to the second slot. Thats what happened at the third leg held in Bangkok, Thailand on June 5. Sprint queen Susanthika who came first in the first two legs of the Grand Prix was surprisingly beaten in a thriller by Uzbekistan's Khubbieva Guzel who played second fiddle in the previous two legs. Likewise two leg winner Pradeep Kumara was placed second on the Bangkok leg by arch rival Sugath Thilakeratne. Damayanthie Darsha who regained her winning tag at Sugathadasa Stadium maintained her position at Bangkok with a improved timing of 52.20 as against the 52.74 in Colombo but way behind from her best of 51.05. The two wins gives Darsha also a prize money of $ 6000. Sriyani Kulawansa lost her third successive race to Trecia Roberts of Thailand and had to be satisfied with second places. In Bangkok the Sri Lankans got two golds and with the completion of three legs the Sri Lankans have secured seven gold medals. Tomorrow the fourth and the last leg is scheduled to be held in Manila, Philippines. Trinity's
rugby revival At Trinity, rugby takes precedence over all other disciplines. In the process they have produced some of the finest rugby players at national level. Even their arch rivals Royal will admire them for their skillful and dazzling rugby. The likes of late Kavan Rambukwella, Denzil Kobbekaduwe, Nimal Maralande, Mohan Sahyam, Mohan Balasuriya, Glen Vanlangenberg, Y.C. Chang, Gamini Fernando, Jupana Jayawardena, Saliya Udugama, Ajit Abeyratne just to name a few. Last year, however, was one of the worst seasons in the annals of 'Lions' rugby history. The Old Boys section (rugby) was quick to move in and close the gap. Within one year with a concerted team effort they have moved in the correct path. The move was headed by Trinity Principal Breckenridge who assisted them in their endeavour to revive the game. Several hands joined the scrum to elevate their position. They were able to get the services of Geoff M. Garland, a foreign coach from Down Under , thanks to Dilip Kumar, an Old Boy who is the vice chairman of Australian Rugby Board. Geoff, a schoolmaster and a qualified coach planned out the strategy. He was assisted by Alex Lazarus. Garland played the role of a foster father to the players on and off the field. His son too may be joining Trinity and probably will turn out for the 'Lions'. If he turns out it will be a big thing for the lad to play away from home. The Trinitians led by Migara Maddumapatabendi, gave a fine display of cohesive rugby to the avid fans in their confrontation against the seasoned Peterites, who dominated the first half. They were helped two snap tries against the run of play. The Petes had a durable place-kicker. The Trinity kicker was inadequate and lost points. But he did well to put over the "decider" seconds before the long whistle to make it a thrilling 20 -all draw. They really ran the ball. There is no better way to launch the fightback to breach their opponents' defence. This gave Trinity fresh hope to come back to their own. In the process the gutty Peterites, who gave nothing away suffered by way of injuries to some of their key players. If the Hill
Capital side had any chinks in their armour, it was their fitness.
Even Alex Lazarus agreed. They should overcome this with better
training on their own. Even the staunch Peterite supporters commended their effort. They even deserved to win. But a draw was a fitting result. The Hill Capital school has come back to their own, after last season's misery. The future holds good thanks to the Old Boys Rugby Section. The Petes really, played their hearts out, but the 'lions' roared and kept them at bay. George Simpkin the National rugby consultant, who was an observer commended both teams. He had a word of praise for the Petes scrum half. He looks good. Trinity has brought back their lost pride. It's good for the game. Both teams shook hands and camaraderie prevailed in the end. It is a match to be remembered. |
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