Susanthika out - will not be fit after Chickungunya - NOC Chief
Hemasiri
by Leslie Fernando
Asian Games: Susanthika Jayasinghe, the star athlete, who is down
with Chickungunya and taking treatment at a leading hospital in Colombo,
is ruled out by the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka in
participating at the 15th Asian Games to be held in Doha, Qatar from
December 1 to 15.
Hemasiri Fernando, President NOC said that Susanthika, if she
recovers quickly may be fit to travel but to show top form will take lot
of time. So, Susanthika is ruled out.
The overall captain has to carry the Sri Lanka flag on December 1 at
the Opening ceremony and has to be in Doha by November 30, said
Fernando. In the absence of Susanthika, high jumper Manjula Kumara will
carry the Sri Lanka flag.
Derwin Perera, President Athletic Association of Sri Lanka had a
different version on Susanthika. Perera said that if she recovers in two
to three days time, she will go, as the athletes will leave on December
4 and their events start only from December 8. The question raised is
even if Susanthika recovers quickly, she may not have adequate time to
train and catch her lost workouts to be physically fit for her three
events 100m, 200m and the relay.
Susanthika's husband and local trainer Dhammika Nandakumara said that
Susanthika is suffering from viral flu Chickungunya and if she recovers
quickly she will definitely go to Qatar.
NOC chief Fernando said that Sri Lanka will field its largest
contingent of competitors numbering 149 for the Asian Games.
This is the first time that a big squad is participating. This is due
to the fact that all medal winners at the 10th South Asian Games are
being included.
"We took steps to include all the medal winners in appreciation of
their performances at the SA Games.
Furthermore, the players have been picked for chess, golf, sailing
and billiards events which were not included as disciplines for the
South Asian Games," the NOC boss said.
It should be mentioned that at earlier Asian Games, medals have been
won at sailing and golf. In billiards, late M. J. M. Lafir won the world
title in 1973 in India at the World Billiards Championships.
Fernando further added that it is not a big burden to the NOC for
sending this big squad. The organisers will provide board and lodging
for our contingent including the officials. Furthermore there is no
registration fee to be paid for our competitors.
Fernando said that it is not possible to forecast the medal winners
despite sending a large number of competitors. But I am certain there
will be several good performances. The main focus is for lesser known
individuals to gain more experience.
Sri Lanka will participate in 24 disciplines - athletics, archery,
beach volleyball, boxing, billiards, badminton, chess, cycling, golf,
gymnastics, judo, karate, rowing, squash, swimming, synchronised
swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, rugby, sailing, rifle
shooting, weightlifting and wushu.
Dian Gomes, President, Amateur Boxing Association of Sri Lanka and
Vice-President NOC will be the Chef-de-mission.
The Sri Lankan contingent will be sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom.
They have provided a sponsorship package of 8 million rupees.
Dian Gomes, Chef-de-mission said that all 24 sports bodies have come
forward to help and assist the respective players in their training
programmes at different venues. It is going to be a tough task for me to
perform as the chef-de-mission and hope all competitors and officials
will give their utmost support to complete the mission. Gomes said that
due to lodging problems in Doha, Sri Lankan contingent will leave in
batches. The first batch will leave on November 27, that will be Table
tennis, badminton players and gymnasts together with officials in
charge.
The competitors for 24 disciplines are as follows:
Athletics: R. D. U. S. Surendra, Rohan Pradeep Kumara, S. M.
Weerasuriya, P. S. Amarasekera, Suresh Abeynayake, W. M. C. Wijekoon,
Ajith Bandara, J. M. A. K. Jayasundara, Manjula Kumara, Nalin Priyantha,
M. H. S. P. Dharmaratne, C. S. Weerasinghe, K. H. K. Gunathilaka,
Rohitha Pushpakumara, M. Mudungedera, D. Priyasantha, H. M. Marasinghe,
Sujani Buddhika, Menaka Wickramasinghe, Chandrika Subashini, D. A. Inoka,
Dulanjali Ranasinghe, Tharanga Vinodani, M. N. D. Muthunayake, B. L. P.
N. Wijesundera, B. N. Nadika Lakmali, Anne Maheshi de Silva, P. P.
Nandani, D. O. P. Priyadarshani, N. C. C. Priyadarshani, P. P. D. Padma
Kumari, P. A. S. Lakmani, Lasanthi Deepika Jayawardena, P. S. M. D.
Soyza, S. P. G. Kusumawathi, D. H. M. Priyadarshani, Derwin Perera
(Manager), Palitha Jayathilaka (Assistant Manager), Coaches - Brigadier
Parry Liyanage, Lakshman de Alwis, Ananda Athukorale, Bandara
Gunawardena, Geetha Pathiranawasam (Lady Chaperon).
Archery: Yasodara Silva, Subashini Silva, Dilhara Salgado,
Manju Kodikara, Kesera Serasinghe (Manager), Sun He Jung (Coach).
Badmintion: Nadeesha Gayanthi, Thilina Jayasinghe, Dinuka
Karunaratne, Diluka Karunaratne, L. Karunaratne (Manager).
Beach Volleyball: P. L. Gunawardena, W. Vithanage Sanjeewa,
Jude Mahesh Perera, Dhammika Rohan Silva, Wasantha Silva (Manager).
Boxing: W. M. R. Wakedapola, Manju Wanniarachchi, Kamal
Sameera, Chamila Prasad Abeyratne, S. I. Kumara, Upali Bandara, Waseer
Samuraj (Manager). R. K. Indraratne (Coach).
Chess: M. K. Athula Russel, Anura Galapetti, Yasodha Gamage,
Lazman Wijesuriya (Manager).
Billiards: Mohomed Isam, K. H. Sirisoma, Prasantha Pushpa
Kumara, Susantha Boteju, M. Nasleem, Shabri Hazari.
Cycling: Upul Sanjeewa Lokuge, Dinesh Kumara, Sudira Nilanga,
Chaminda Meemanage Perera, W. P. Saman Kumara, W. K. Pushparani,
Sriyalatha Wickremasinghe, Madushani Sumanaweera, Krishna Gunatilaka, E.
A. Niluka Shyamalee, T. N. Perera, Hemantha Kumara, Nilantha Fernando
(Manager), Kamal Palitha (Coach).
Golf: P. Kandasamy, Mithun Perera, Amith de Soyza, Tissa
Chandradasa, Nirmal Hettiarachchi (Manager).
Gymnastics: E. M. Prasad Sameera, E. N. Dias Gunasekera, Asela
Dias Gunasekera, Uditha Kumara (Manager), Anura Prasad (Coach).
Judo: Harshani Kumari Herath, D. Chamila Wijeratne, A. M.
Susantha Kumara, Anura Silva (Manager).
Karate: Sanjeewani Ranasinghe, S. Vijayanthi K. Gunaratne,
Amali Eresha Perera, Chamal Suranga Silva, Vimukthi Chamara Gunaratne,
R. J. Edward, M. Niyas, Anura Abeygunwardena (Manager), Lalith Liyanage
(Coach).
Rowing: H. M. Amaradasa, Kamal Chandana, Gayan Jayaratne,
Lakmal Wickremage (Manager/Coach).
Squash: Tehani Guruge, Nirasha Guruge, Naveen Samarasinghe,
Eranga Alwis, Asoka Amunugama (Manager).
Swimming: Daniel Lee, Milinda Wickremasinghe, Heshan Unamboowe,
Mayumi Raheem, Miniruwani Samarakoon, Imara Fahim, Julian Bolling
(Manager), E. G. A. Wilson (Coach).
Synchronised Swimming: Dehara Katipearachchi, Elisha Gomes,
Shahil Gomes, Ruvini Illukkumbura, Gayani Warnapura, Dilini Kithsiri,
Hashani Warnapura, Deepthi Samarajeewa, Pasadhi Perera, Erandhi Perera
(Coach).
Table Tennis: Thilina Piyadasa, Rohan Sirisena, Deepika
Rodrigo, Ishara Madurangi, Namal Gunasekera (Manager/Coach).
Taekwondo: Gayani Sandamali, Ranjith Muramudalige, Priyangika
Gomes, Sugath Weraduwage (Manager/Coach).
Tennis: Harshani Godamanna, Rajeev Rajapakse, Sanka
Athukoralage, Dinusha Wijesuriya (Manager), Jayendra Wijesekera (Coach).
Rugby Football: Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Chamara Vithanage,
Anuruddha Dharmatilaka, Dushantha Leuke, Anjal Rukshi, Salitha Kumara,
M. Fazal Marija, Dilantha Wijesekera, Lalinda Rodrigo, Erandha
Weerakkoddy, Sajith Mallikarachchi, Aseen Carneli, Ashen de Costa,
Nadeesha de Silva, Sanjaya Fernando (Manager), T. Tulagage (Coach).
Sailing: Devinda Alwis Gunawardena, Radika Weerasinghe, Akshan
Weerasinghe, Priyantha Gunawardena, Upul Priyantha de Silva, Lalith
Weerasinghe (Manager), Alan Williams (Coach).
Rifle Shooting: M. Samarakoon, D. Senanayake, N. Ilangaratne,
Hemantha Wijesinghe, Devika Ranasinghe, Shamal Fernando (Manager),
Rohana Nanayakkara (Coach).
Weight Lifting: D. Kavinda Jayathilaka, Thusitha Ranjith
Kumara, R. M. R. B. Wickremasinghe (Manager).
Wushu: Lakshman Hettiarachchi, Prabath Manuranga, Asanka
Sujeevan Premaratne, M. Sujith Manju Kumara, Manel Dharmakeerthi
(Manager), Ruchira Bodinagoda and Vijith Edirisinghe (Coaches). |