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| Sunday, 22 February 2004 |
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Disabled soldiers show grit and determination... by LAL GUNESEKERA It was a creditable performance by three disabled soldiers from Sri Lanka when they bagged 10 trophies in three Wheelchair Tennis Tournaments in New Zeland and Australia earlier this month. They returned to the country last Tuesday. Jayalath Manatunga won the 'C' division singles at the New Zealand Open in Christchurch and also the 'B' division doubles partnered by Bertie Silva. Then at the Sydney Open, Manatunga won the 'B' division singles with Bertie Silva as the runner-up, while the two combined to win the 'B' division doubles too. Manatunga and Bertie Silva once again fared well at the Australian Open in Melbourne. The former won the 'B' division singles and then partnered the latter to win the 'B' division doubles too. Upali Rajakaruna was the third member of the side. Earlier at the World Cup Team Championship in New Zealand, Sri Lanka, lost to both Slovakia (0-3) and Malaysia (0-3) in Group II. About 120 players from 33 countries took part and apart from Sri Lanka, the other countries from Asia were Thailand, Japan, China and Malaysia. Sri Lanka received a "wild card" entry. Speaking to the Sunday Observer the three soldiers said that they were grateful to the President of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA), Suresh Subramaniam, who gave them US dollars 300 each for this tour. The Sri Lanka Army, too gave them US dollars 25 per day, while the Vijayaba Regiment of Bertie Silva and Manatunga gave the two Rs. 20,000, while Singha Regiment has promised Rajakaruna Rs. 10,000. They also praised the Sri Lankan community in Australia who assisted them a lot with food even in New Zealand, while they also received clothing to be given to their children. They said: One Joseph, had taken one week leave and was with us during our stay in Sydney. They also said that Major General C. J. Ranaweera and Colonel Chris de Silva gave them every assistance, but were surprised and hurt that the Ministry of sports only approved of the tour, but gave them no financial assistance at all. Sri Lanka's wheelchair tennis players have also fared well at the Thailand Open in 2002 where they won the 'D' division. Rajakaruna and Jayatissa were second and third in the singles, while Rajakaruna and Balasuriya won the doubles where Bertie Silva and Jayatissa were runners-up. Then at the French Open last year (2003), which was in the 'C' division, Rajakaruna won the singles with Bertie Silva as runner-up. At the Malaysian Open also last year, which was in the 'B' division, Bertie Silva was third in the singles while combining with Wasantha Balasuriya were third in Doubles too. Bertie Silva (37) who hails from Mirigama is attached to the Vijayaba Regiment and lost his right leg at Mulativu in 1996. He is married to Deepika Damayanthi and have two children Kanchana Kumudini (10) and Savin Thiranjana (5). Jayalath Manatunga (33) is from Mawathagama and attached to Vijayaba Regiment. He lost his left leg in 1998 at Kilinochchi. He is married to Dilani Nilmini Kumari and has one son Thushara Thilina Kumara (3). Upali Rajakaruna (28) is from Kekirawa and attached to the Singha Regiment and lost his left leg at Weli-Oya in 1997. He too is married to Shanika Dilrukshi Aponso and they have a three-year-old daughter Roshini Madushika Kumari. It was also disclosed that Sri Lanka are eligible to send two players for the Para Olympic Games to be staged in Athens, Greece in September, while the SLTA, has also received invitations for the Malaysian Open and Singapore Open to be staged in June. There are 129 tournaments in the ITF/NEC Wheelchair Tennis Circuit. |
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