Judokas will face stiff challenge from India and Nepal

by Leslie Fernando

Sri Lanka will face a stiff challenge in Judo from India and Nepal in Judo Competition to be held from August 26 to 27 at S. Thomas' College Indoor Stadium, Mt. Lavinia. "But we are ready as the judokas are on the right track for the South Asian Games," said Sarath Kasthuriarachchi, Secretary of Judo Federation of Sri Lanka.

Lanka's main problem on kits and mattresses have been solved by the Sports Ministry. Furthermore, Japanese International Corporate Agency (JAICA) has provided us with a coach from Japan. Miyako Ichino, a well known judo coach, is in charge of our players", said the Secretary.

The local judokas also went to Thailand recently for international judo tournament. They also trained for two weeks with Thai national judo players and were able to improve their skills, style and techniques on the game.

Kasthuriarachchi said that 70 judokas were in the first training pool from last year and in February this year, the pool was reduced to 30 and the final selection was made on June 17 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. Altogether 11 judokas, 6 men players and 5 women will represent Sri Lanka.

Judokas train under V. Susantha Perera, National Coach at the Judo Hall, next to Sugathadasa Stadium. In addition, some others train in Gampola and Anuradhapura. The 11-member judo team is helped by the Judo Federation. They have been provided with all facilities. They will join together at Judo Hall in Colombo and continue training till August 24. All judokas will be found board and lodging facilities while in Colombo.

Kasthuriarachchi who has represented Sri Lanka from 1980 to 1990 and is 3rd Black Dan and International Referee. He said that although judo events were earlier scheduled to be held at Colombo Campus, now they have been shifted to S. Thomas' College, Indoor Stadium in Mount Lavinia.

Judo is also included for the first time in Sri Lanka at the SA Games. Lankan judokas last participated in the discipline in 1995 in Madras and won 2 silver and 3 bronze medals. India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan together with Sri Lanka will participate in judo events in Colombo.

"We will definitely win 2 gold medals in addition to silver and bronze medals", said Kasthuriarachchi.

Sri Lanka team: (Men) Madura Milan (Navy), under-60 kg weight class, M. G. J. Banda (Navy) under-66 kg, S. K. Happuarachchi (Police) under-73 kg, R. D. K. P. G. Gunasekera (Police) under-81 kg, U. Bambaradeniya (Air Force) 90 kg, M. Pushpakumara (Police) under-100 kg.

Women - Chamila Wijeratne (Jinaraja School Gampola) under-48 kg, Niluma Idemawatta (Jinaraja School Gampola) under-52 kg, Harshani Kumari Herath (Wewathanne MV Gampola), 57 kg, Chandimali Gunasekera (Army) 63 kg, Lakmini Weerasinghe (Air Force) under-70 kg.