|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 5 December 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Chandra Perera's proud record - 5 wins in Tour-de-Lanka! Just as much as the 'Tour de Lanka' has come to stay as the biggest cycling event in Sri Lanka, so is the name of a champion rider Chandra Perera, whose deeds in the past have been unmatched. The racing cycling specialist Perera has won five times the racing event at the Tour-de-Lanka. Chandra won the racing event in 1961, 1962 but missed the 1963 Tour de Lanka as he led the four cycling team to GANEFO Games, in Jakarta, Indonesia. However Chandra proved his class on his return, winning the racing event at the 1964, 1965 and 1966 Tour de Lanka. He was the proud owner of the Raleigh Trophy which he won outright in 1966 having clinched the title of Ceylon's best racing cyclist for three years in succession. Chandra was a student of Dharmarama College, Ratmalana. He took to cycle racing in 1958 and came seventh in his first big race. He teamed up with Maurice Coomaravel and joined the Spartan Wheelers and after hard training began winning regularly. His success as a racing rider, winning the National Cyling Championships in 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964. He represented Paragon Pedallars later. He had the honour of winning all the major cycle races in Sri Lanka than any other rider in racing cycling. He joined the Royal Ceylon Air Force as a Leading Air-Craftsman in 1961 and Chandra commended both then Flight Lieutenant Raja Wickremasinghe and Wing Commander Noel Fernando for extending him with all necessary assistance to continue in the two-wheeled sport and bring honour to Air Force and the country. Chandra has represented Sri Lanka at several international cycling championships. In 1963, he was placed 6th out of 96 riders at GANEFO Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. 'Our riders and Indian riders rode on ordinary cycles compared to the advanced cycles riden by foreign competitors. Perera also rode at the 1967 Asian Cycling Championships in Manila, Philippines and took sixth place in the 190 miles race. He also participated at the All-India National Cycling Championships 145 miles race in Bangalore and came third. In the 1962 Tour-de-Lanka Chandra set a new record at hill climb at Kadugannawa 'clocking' 9 minutes 22 seconds to beat the previous time of 14 minutes lead by L. Navaratne, a postal peon in 1960. Chandra was presented with Rs. 1,000 by E.L. Senanayake, Mayor of Kandy Municipal Council. Then on World Cycling Tour (East-West tour) sponsored by Hunter & Company Limited, Perera rode on a Raleigh Standard Cycle. Then Sports Minister V.A. Sugathadasa was a tower of strength to Chandra. The rider received all assistance for the trip from Sugathadasa. He covered 8,950 miles in four months, braving the sandstorms on the overland route through Afghanistan and Iran. He covered India, Pakistan, Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia. In Austria heavy snow prevented him from moving any further. So he left for London and left his cycle with a relative there and came back. Chandra was picked as the Cyclist of the Year 1966 in the contest organised by 'Daily News' and the Observer. In the Sports Star of the Year Contest 1965 organised by Daily News, Chandra was runner-up. The 62-year-old Perera, who have up cycling in 1976, is married to Kusuma Liyanage, a versatile basketball player of Holy Family Convent Dehiwela. Chandra has three daughters-formerly of Bishops College - Samanthi (Air Lanka), Deepani (USA) - the Public Schools winner in the 100 and 200 meters and Eranga (Australia). L. F |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
