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| Sunday, 2 October 2005 |
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Great commitment brought rich rewards for Jayasena by Upananda Jayasundera - Kandy Sports Special Corr. Asoka Jayasena is a policeman who has contributed much to rugby football as a player and official. He has represented Police at rugby football from 1989 to 1996 and Kandy Sports Club from 1996 to 2004. That was not all. When his playing days were over, he did the next best thing - he is in the committee of Kandy Sports Club doing behind the scene activities in a bid to uplift the standard of rugby football in the country. So, it has been an eventful period for Jayasena for whom the game of rugby football has been somewhat of a daily routine. During his playing days, Police were on top, winning the triple crown if local rugby-John Player League, Knock-out and Sevens Tournament in the years 1989 to 1991 . That was not the end of his rugby. He has represented Sri Lanka at the Rugby Asiad in 1990 (Sri Lanka), 1992 (Korea), 1994 (Malaysia), 1996 (Taiwan), 1998 (Singapore) and 2002 (Japan). He first was inducted to the Sri Lanka side in 1989 when Priyantha Ekanayake was the captain and was a regular member of the national side till 2002. He played as a second-row forward and in the No. 8 position. Having played the game for a long period of time, Jayasena had the honour of captaining the national team from 1998 to 2002 and under his captaincy the team had an unbeaten spell. The Lankans beat Taiwan in both rugby 'Tests' held in Sri Lanka in 1999. beat Australian Northern Territory side in the two 'Tests' in 2002, beat Thailand at the World Cup qualifying match held here in 2001 and won the 'Neighbours Cup' tournament held in Malaysia for Sri Lanka in 2000. Being in the police service teaches anyone strict discipline and this 6 ft 4 inch tall player was perfect forward any team would have liked to have. When he joined the Police in 1989, it was the opening for a superb career, both as an officer and rugby player. It was coach Daya Jayasundera who first took on Jayasena in the team and he was quick to learn the finer points in the game and then Anton Benedict took over the coaching of the Police, Jayasena went on to represent the country. Dedication and commitment are two essential qualities that one needs in any sphere of life to do well and these two qualities Jayasena has in plenty and it was no wonder that he made rapid progress in the game of rugby football. |
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