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| Sunday, 11 May 2003 |
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Shuttle star Niluka Karunaratne to attend Badminton Academy in Denmark The reigning national singles champion 18-year-old Niluka Karunaratne will attend a Badminton Academy in Denmark for an initial period of one year which is going to cost the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) at least Rs. 1.5 million. The President of the SLBA Riza Jumar, said that they (the SLBA) are negotiating with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to bear part of the cost and are also looking for other sponsors to meet the expenditure. Karunaratne is to be sent as "early as possible". Earlier, Sun Sports of Singapore the agents for Yonex had offered a one year coaching programme extendable for an additional year for two players (one boy and a girl), but now, the SLBA has decided on Denmark. However, Yonex, are yet keen to construct a stadium with a minimum of four to five courts with all other facilities in Colombo. Two blocks of land near the Royal College Sports Complex belonging to the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and the Ministry of Lands have been earmarked for this project which is going to cost Rs. 75 million for the initial stages itself. On the matter of getting down a top qualified coach to Sri Lanka for a period of at least two years is going to cost at least US dollars 1,500 to US dollars 2,000 per month as his salary alone, and all depends on the availability of finances. Jumar said that Minister Johnston Fernando was keen to go ahead wit this project and that he (Jumar) was certain that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will help the SLBA financially in this venture. Jumar further said that all the IBF and ABC events that were forthcoming have been put "on hold" due to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak. (L.G.) |
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