South Asian Games: India and Sri Lanka battle for honours

by Leslie Fernando

Athletics from August 24 to 27, as usual, will be the cynosure of all events at the 10th South Asian Games. Sri Lankan athletes having fared well at several international meets and also at Asian Grand Prix this year, is fancied to win most of the laurels at the Sugathadasa Stadium track.

Derviin Perera, President Athletic Association of Sri Lanka said that 73 athletes 42 men and 31 women are training under their respective coaches at Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo Campus Grounds, Sports Ministry Grounds, Independence Square, Police Park and also in the outstations. "We, provide with residential training, medical facilities, sports gear. In addition, they are also being provided with nutrition. We also hope to bring the outstation athletes to Colombo to test their skill," Perera said. Yogananda Wijesundera is the Director of Coaching and Lakshman de Alwis is the National Coach. The athletic boss said that Brigadier Parry Liyanage has been appointed the Manager of athletic team for the 10th edition of the games to be held in Colombo.

Perera added that the final selections will be made after the Athletic Nationals to be held from July 14 to 16 at the Sugathadasa Stadium under floodlights. Anyway more than 10 gold medals are expected from the athletes said the athletic chief Perera.

Major General Palitha Fernando, Secretary, ASSL said that since the last SAF Games the 'Lankan' athletes had several successes at international meets and the athletes are to be provided with boarding facilities and sponsors are to be found for them.

At the 1991 SAF Games our athletes came on top with 15 gold but India won 14 gold. Our athletes are training hard and raring to go. Susanthika Jayasinghe, Damayanthi Darsha, Anne Mahesh de Silva, Rohan Pradeep Kumara, Prasanna Amarasekera, Manula Kumara, Sampath Weerasinghe, K. P. K. Jayasundera, Indika Bandara, C. Wijekoon, Ajith Bandara are expected to perform well according to current performances and win gold.

Brigadier Parry Liyanage manager of the Sri Lanka athletes said that Sri Lanka's main threat will be from India, the sporting gaint in Asia. But Sri Lanka athletes with their hard training and dedication, should reach a rich harvest of medals. At the last SAF Games in Islamabad, Pakistan in 2004 Sri Lanka won 12 gold, 9 silver and 8 bronze. india won 16 gold, 18 silver and 12 bronze. But come August, athletes are expected achieves better results.

"We could give a good run to the Indians as we have good sprinters, middle distance runners (both men and women). In the field events too, our athletes should be more prominent than athletes from Pakistan and India.

The events for men are : 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres 800 metres, 1500 metres, 5000 metres, 10,000 metres 110 metres hurdles, 400 metres hurdles, 300 metres steeplechase, high jump, long jump, pole vault, triple jump, shot putt, discus throw, javelin, marathon, 4 x 100 metres relay, 4 x 400 metres relay.

Women events are : 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres, 1500 metres, 5000 metres, 10,000 metres, 100 metres hurdles, shot putt, discus throe, Javelin, high jump, long jump, 4 x 100 metres relay, 4 x 400 metres relay.

Brigadier Liyanage added that athletes are disappointed as race-walking has been removed from the SAG. Although the relevant authorities were informed of this, there has never been a solution. Even in the previous Asian Athletic Championships held here as the host country, Sri Lanka included the event with the aim of providing our athletes international exposure. But it is very unfortunate that the SAG will not have race-walking, hence the athletes have lost a golden opportunity.

On completion of the National Athletic Championships, the selection committee of AASL will sit together with Yogananda Wijesundera - Director of Coaching, Lakshman de Alwis - National Coach, to finalise the events for athletes. The national level and district coaches will also be invited for their special attention on athletes they have coached in the outstation.

According to a senior official of the South Asian Games Organising Committee, the Sugathadasa Stadium synthetic track which was laid in 2001 in preparation for the Asian Athletic Championships held in August 2002 will be repaired. Local and foreign experts will assist in the matter.

The official also added that Swiss-timing systems will be installed for athletics. In addition, the Sugathadasa Stadium will be prepared for long jump, triple jump, high jump, shot putt, discus throw and javelin throws events.

The preparatory work will be over before the National Athletic Championships.

The South Asian Games Secretariat has requested the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka to submit the names of foreign officials who will function as referees. The AASL has said that around 200 officials will be needed to function as referees and foreign officials, payments and clothing for them have to be found.

The SAG Organising Committee and AASL also had discussions about the proposed pavilion to be built near 200 metre track at Sugathadasa Stadium. The Athletic Association officials said it is a futile exercise. They said a new gymnasium at the Marshalling room will suffice.