|
|
|
| Sunday, 16 April 2006 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
New President paints a rosy picture by Leslie Fernando Billiards and Snooker will hit the top in a couple of years as there is a good future for the game in Sri Lanka, said Mervyn Jayasinghe, the newly elected President of the Billiards and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka. The new President made known the billiards and snooker program and the year plan at an exclusive interview with the 'The Sunday Observer' at his office at Green Path. The BSASL has drawn up a wide-ranging programme to raise the standard of coaching, playing and umpiring upto the year 2009. It is a long-term plan for the development and upliftment of the game in this country. Jayasinghe, the Deputy Chairman/Chief Executive Director, The Finance and Guarantee Group of Companies is not new to sports administration as he has a vast experience in this subject. Jayasinghe also holds a record being the President of the Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka for the fourth term, President 80 Club and Exco-member of the NCC. He also holds several other key posts too. "My immediate task will be to refurbish the Billiards and Snooker Headquarters at Race Cource," said Jayasinghe. It will have a new look. The BSASL hope to have more tables for the cueists. The billiards and snooker boss Jayasinghe said that in addition to various tournaments to he held, (under-21 national billiards/snooker tournaments, all-island Lanka Plate, inter-district tournaments, inter-club tournaments, national pool tournament and national billiards and snooker tournaments). The BSASL also has planned to conduct workshops, for coaches, umpires, district-wise workshops for coaches and for administrative officers. Special attention would be focused on the Asian Snooker Championships to be staged in Sri Lanka in August this year. "We will be fully committed to this event and the BSASL would appoint a five-member committee to make this event a great success," added Jayasinghe. Cueists from 16 countries are expected to play in the Asian Snooker Championship and the association requires nearly 8 to 10 million rupees to stage the championships. "We hope the Sports Ministry will support us. Also we are looking for sponsors", added Jayasinghe. Jayasinghe said that it will not be a uphill task in organising and conducting the Asian Snooker Championships. I was able to have a successful 4th World Carrom Championships in Colombo in October 2004 with 'slicers' from 14 countries participating. Officials of the Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka assisted me in a big way to pull it off. The National Snooker Championships will get under way with 43 players vying for championship honours starting from April 21. The Championships will serve as a trial to pick cueists to the national pool in view of the Asian Snooker Championships. The National Championships is sponsored by the Sumathi Group. Jayasinghe added that a foreign coach is a must for our cueists and he has had discussions with two foreign coaches. Before the end of next month, Sri Lanka will be able to get the services of a foreign coach from a leading snooker playing country in the world. The BSASL is hopeful that the coach will be funded by the Sports Ministry. We have several young and talented cueists who should prove their class in international matches. There is lot of potential but lack foreign exposure. So I am determined to send up-and-coming billiards and snooker players to participate in tournaments conducted by Thailand, Hong Kong, England, Ireland and India. I think they will gain more experience and skills on the game when they are pitted top class foreign cueists," said Jayasinghe. Answering a question whether Sri Lanka could produce another World Champion, like late M. J. M. Lafir, Jayasinghe requested for time to get up a world class player. Jayasinghe who is the billiards, snooker and carrom boss said that his love was hockey but took a great liking to carrom and snooker, billiards come after joining Ceylinco Group. He started his early education at Dharmadutha College, Badulla after his early education he joined Dharmaraja College Kandy where he excelled in hockey. Jayasinghe played hockey for Badulla District and Kandy District. He got a big break joining Ceylinco Group. Jayasinghe with hard and dedicated service, has reached one of the top positions at Ceylinco Consolidated. Jayasinghe, speaking on the much trumpeted Fingara Cricket Academy said that it is a total flop. "We expected high revenue from this venture, but no profit have come from
this much publicised academy. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
