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| Sunday, 3 July 2005 |
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Sports |  |
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Go the full distance don't top half-way- Karu's advice by Upananda Jayasundera - Kandy Sports Special Corr. K.M. Karunaratne who won two Gold Medals securing first place in 200 & 400 metres and two Silver Medals securing second place in 100 & 300 metres hurdles in 65 to 70 age group at the Masters Athletic Meet held in February at Chennai, India. He has got a rare opportunity to be selected as the Manager-cum-competitor at the World Masters track & field games to be held from 22nd August to 3rd September 2005 in the city of Irun in Spain. Popularly known as 'Karu' among friends, so far he has won 41 gold medals, 26 silver medals and 12 bronze medals in National and International Masters Athletic Competitions. Some of the victories he has achieved are as follows: In 1994 at the Veterans Games in Sri Lanka representing 55 to 59 age group he won the 100, 200, 400 and long jump and set Sri Lanka records in all four events. In the year 2002 at the Veterans Meet held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia he represented 60 to 65 age group and won Gold Medals for 100, 200, 400 and long jump, and he also helped his team to win the 4 x 400 relay event. Presently he is the President of the Central Province Veterans Athletic Association. An old boy of Amunugama Maha Vidyalaya and Daskara Maha Vidyalaya, two rural schools, he joined Sri Lanka Army in 1961 where he climbed the ladder of success in sports such as Athletics, Swimming, Football and Basketball. After serving the SL Army, he concentrated only in Athletics in which he excelled and continued this sport in an outstanding manner. He says that the Army training and the discipline helped him to become successful in life and when the Sunday Observer asked what type of advice he would give to the present day youth he said that to continue in any sport one must go the full distance without stopping halfway. He said that the present day youth stop whatever sport they are involved in at the age of 35, whereas in most of the other countries age is not a barrier to do sport. Further he said that to keep himself fit he takes green vegetables and fruits. Karu is also anxious to find a sponsor for the World Masters Games. |
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