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| Sunday, 9 February 2003 |
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Coach from Indonesia to train shuttlers for SAF Games by LAL GUNESEKERA A top badminton coach from Indonesia who is presently in Malaysia is to be sent to Sri Lanka on February 15 for a short assignment to train the local shuttlers for the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games to be staged in Islamabad, Pakistan in March-April as well as for the Sudirman Cup World Championship to be held in Holland also in March. The President of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA), Riza Jumar told the 'Sunday Observer that the Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) had decided on two coaches - one from Malaysia and the other from Indonesia, but has finally decided to send the Indonesian to Colombo soon after the Chinese New year. The 21-member national pool comprising 12 men and nine women are now attending a residential training camp at the SLBA headquarters' under head coach Kingsley Nallathamby who is being assisted by K. Gamlath and Pradeep Welagedera until the arrival of the Indonesian coach next week. The final team to Pakistan and Holland will comprise eight men and six women. Jumar said that Sri Lanka's participation at the Sudriman Cup World Championship depends on the finances. He said that the SLBA needs Rs. 1 lakh 10,000 per person if they are to compete, and that the SLBA have not given up hope". He further disclosed that the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Johnston Fernando, is yet in the process of negotiating with the Chinese government to get down a top coach to Sri Lanka for a period of three years. The Minister had discussions with the Chinese Ambassador who has now left for Beijing to take up another appointment. However, the Ambassador, has promised the Minister to pursue the matter and send a coach to Sri Lanka after April. Jumar also said that Vietnam, malaysia and Indonesia, too, will compete at the Satellite Championship to take place at the Royal College Sports Complex from February 26 to March 1. The other countries who had confirmed earlier were India, Pakistan, Maldive Islands, Chinese Taipei and hosts, Sri Lanka. This is an IBF-ABC event and there is prize money totalling US $ 10,000. He further said that the Commercial Bank who have been the main sponsors of the SLBA for the last five years where they have been pumping Rs. 1.7 million per year, have reduced it to Rs. 1.5 million this year (2003), but the SLBA are negotiating with the bank authorities to increase the sponsorship and Minister Johnston Fernando has also requested the Commercial Bank to increase the monies to Rs. 2.5 million. |
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