Queen Sirikit golf shifted to Japan because of security concerns
By Lal Gunesekera
GOLF: The security situation prevailing in Sri Lanka at the
moment is proving to be damper to many international tournaments to be
staged in the country. The Singer Rugby Asiad in Colombo last November
saw a few countries not competing. Then came the Asian Division I
Championship which is now to be worked off in Chinese Taipei. Then it
was the International Rugby Board (IRB) not giving IRB Satellite status
for the 10th Singer-SriLankan Airlines International 7's to be staged at
Nittawela organised by Kandy Sports Club in September this year.
The latest sport to be affected by the Security situation prevailing
in the country is the 30th Asia Pacific Ladies Invitational Team and
Individual Golf Championship (Queen Sirikit C'ships) scheduled to have
been staged at the picturesque Victoria Golf and Country Resort in Kandy
from March 1 to 5. This is now to be held in Japan on May 28, 29 and 30.
According to a spokesperson of the Organising Committee, the Queen
Sirikit Secretariat based in Bangkok, Thailand had indicated that due to
the security situation in Sri Lanka it was "best" for the venue to be
shifted from Kandy to Japan as many countries were "reluctant" to send
their top amateurs who are mostly teenagers.
The Sunday Observer understands that New Zealand were the first
country to pull out from the prestigious women's tournament, while many
other unions from various other countries had sent E-Mails to the Queen
Sirikit Secretariat asking whether Sri Lanka "was a safe country" to
send their players as the parents of players were "concerned" about
their children.
The spokesperson further told the Sunday Observer that the Sri Lanka
Golf Union (SLGU) were informed about the decision of shifting the venue
to Japan last month (January) and that the local governing body were
"really disappointed", but their hands were tied.
The SLGU found the sponsors with Central Investment and Finance
Limited (CIFL) as the main sponsor with Aspic as co-sponsor and all
logistical arrangement like accommodation, food, internal travel etc
finalised.
Sri Lanka last staged the Queen Sirikit Cup event at Nuwara-Eliya
Golf Club (NEGC) Course in 1982 and were represented by Tiru Fernando
(who later turned professional and distinguished herself). Yuonne
Abayaratne and Mira Lobo. The tournament was inaugurated in 1979 in
Thailand and Sri Lanka competed regularly upto 1984, but did not vie for
honours from 1985 to 2003 due to the lack of good players.
Fourteen countries had confirmed their participation at the
tournament which was to have been staged at the Victoria Golf and
Country Resort next month (March). They were Australia, New Zealand,
China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, South
Korea, India, Philippines, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
The SLGU may have to conduct further "trails" to select their team to
Japan in May, but now, Sri Lanka's best amateur, Thuhashini Selvaratnam,
may not be able to compete. The Sunday Observer understands that she was
available to represent the country in March, but whether she will be
able to play in May is the big question.
The other Sri Lankan amateurs vying for berths include Niloo
Jayatilleke, Dhanushki Senadhira, Jackie Dias and Maleena Awn.
Four for Dhaka
Two men and two women have been selected to represent the country at
the Bangladesh Amateur Open Championship to be staged in Dhaka from
February 27 to March 1. The two men (Tissa Chandradasa and Mithun Perera)
were scheduled to leave the country yesterday (Saturday), while the two
women's amateurs (Nilee Fernando and Dhanushki Senadhira) are scheduled
to leave for Dhaka on Tuesday (February 26). Mithun Perera and Tissa
Chandradasa were in Sri Lanka's team that won the Team Championship at
the 9th SAARC competition held in Nepal in November last year (2007),
where Mithun Perera had the best gross score among the individuals.
Niloo Fernando won the 47th Pakistan Amateur Women's Open
Championships at Lahore where Dhanushki Senadhira was runner-up.
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