|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 22 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Shuttlers who live in glass houses ! Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera People in glass houses should not throw stones. This exactly fits a handful of shuttlers for talking out of turn and making various allegations against the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) and some of its top officials. In certain aspects, I feel that they are correct. However, they must first discuss these matters with the SLBA authories, before going public with the allegations. One of their grouses is that they have not been included in the national pool, and that they have to pay for using courts for practices and for the shuttles. According to the SLBA, players should peak at 18 years and be able to be right on top till they are 25 years. Rudy Hartono, the former All-England champion hailing from Indonesia retired at 26 they cited as an example, and even India's Prakash Padukone who too is a former All-England champion. The players concerned are in their 30s and one is in the late 20s, who was sent by the SLBA for a two-year training course to Indonesia in the late 1990s, but on his return to the country failed to win a single title at the National Championships. The SLBA feels that these players do not have the potential to improve and felt that they should work on others who have the potential to improve within the next two years. Some of the men's players who have made these allegations against the SLBA were not regular at practices just prior to the last SAF Games in Pakistan in March-April. The courts available at the SLBA indoor stadium are limited (just two doubles courts and one singles) and difficult to issue free to shuttles for each and every shuttler. MUST BE WORTHY The SLBA says that these disgruntled players who also include the reigning national women's champion, Chandrika de Silva, have been told that they could utilise the courts whenever they are not in use. These players are all employed and doing very well and one has a sports goods shop too and can well afford to pay for using the courts and buy shuttles. The SLBA says that if these senior shuttlers are yet in the national rankings, they will be called for trials three months prior to the SAF Games now scheduled to be staged in Sri Lanka in 2005, and will be given a good training, but that they have to prove themselves. The SLBA formed national pools for both men and women comprising eight each, and have been told that they are not permanent and will be dropped if not good and also regular attendance will be another criteria. The oldest player in this pool is 27 years and youngest 16. However, some of these players, mostly women, have not attended regular pool practices and have been dropped, but may be considered for trials for SAF Games provided they are within the top rankings. Their vacancies have been filled from what is termed the "Feedor Pool". The criteria for selection to the national pool should be under-25 years and based on national ranking. SLBA COUNTER ALLEGES The SLBA in turn has also made an allegation. It says that there is an agreement with Yonex since 1997 where they sponsor equipment (racquets, T-shirts, shoes, socks, track suits, bags) to the national pool (seniors and juniors and both boys and girls). There is a certain quota given to these players for a year, and the SLBA laments that most of it ends up in shops. DIDN'T PLAY Chandrika de Silva the reigning national women's champion, has been requested by the SLBA to come and coach at Rs. 10,000 per month. She is 31 years and employed at a private bank. This was about one year ago, but she declined the offer. The SLBA maintains that she was sent to play in two tournaments on the European Circuit last year (2003), but that she did not play a single tournament. The SLBA also alleges that she refused even to practice with a much younger player. She had even occupied a room at the SLBA headquarter's for over 10 years free of charge and even the SLBA paid the electricity bills. There are eight rooms at SLBA, and the one occupied by de Silva earlier is now being occupied by three players who are in the national pool. De Silva came to Colombo from Anuradhapura when she was 19 years and won her first national singles title at 24 years and that too when Kaushalya Rodrigo (nee Dissanayake) hung up her racquet. On the allegations made against Niluka Karunaratne (the reigning national men's champion) that he is getting favoured treatment from the SLBA, the SLBA says that they have nothing to do with Karunaratne's programme which is being funded by the Sri Lanka Badminton Foundation formed by the late Lalith Athulathmudali when he headed the SLBA. The Foundation is now headed by Lt. General Dennis Perera, a former Commander of the Army and a respected personality. The National Savings Bank (NSB) too is funding Karunaratne's programme to a certain extent, while Kingsley Nallathamby is the national pool coach who gets Rs. 15,000 per month from the SLBA and Rs. 10,000 from the Foundation for coaching Karunaratne too. He was sent to the Padukone Academy for two months to learn the latest training methods to put in place when he returns to the country. On the topic of the Sri Lanka Badminton Foundation, the SLBA, does not know about the finances at the Foundation despite several inquiries. This is a funny state of affairs as the SLBA is the controlling body and should be informed about the financial situation of the Foundation. Perhaps, even at this juncture, it should be put correct. FUNNY SIGHT!! What a funny sight indeed to see the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ms. Leelawathi Kodikara walking in the march past with the Sri Lankan team (national flag held aloft by overall captain Susanthika Jayasinghe, who announced she had an injury only on arrival) at the opening ceremony at the Olympic Games now in progress in Athens, Greece. How could she walk in the march past is the million dollar question. LONDON EXPAT THE PHYSIO!! Another question that is being bandied about is Srimal Wickremasinghe's accreditation to the Olympic Village as a physiotherapist to the Sri Lankan team. He lives in London and had travelled straight to Athens. Are there not any qualified physiotherapists attached to the Sports Medicine Unit of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports? NOC GOES FUNNY Funny things seems to be occurring regarding the Olympic Games starring the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka. Now they are to ammend their constitution too. Kindly put your house in order. This request goes out to the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), who were even taken to courts by the CR & FC for the first time in its long history. Some members of the SLRFU staff were forced to leave, including its CEO, Chandrishan Perera. Now comes the news that one of the SLRFU former presidents, Anton Benedict, is to take over from Perera. How long he will last is left to be seen. Benedict, a straight person takes no nonsense from any quarter. CALTEX DISAPPOINTED Caltex, who are sponsoring SLRFU's tournaments, are also disappointed. They had made all the arrangements to give away the Caltex League Trophy to Kandy Sports Club at Nittawela, but were unable to do so due to reasons well known. The SLRFU finances too have come in for criticism, but why does not the SLRFU come clean on these issues. CONGRATS ISIPATHANA Congratulations Isipathana College and its OBU for conducting an International Schools 7's tournament. The inaugural competition was in 2002 and the second will be concluded today at Longden Place. The organisers have been successful in attracting plenty of sponsors and even the IRB and ARFU too have complimented the organisers. Well done Isipathana OBU and particularly Dilroy Fernando. All I can say is continue with this tournament in future too. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
