Drop in standards likely to deprive Sri Lanka of many medals- NOC Chief

By Ranjan ANANDAPPA

ASIAN GAMES: NOC President Hemasiri Fernando declined to comment anything extravagant with regard to the medal winning prospects of the Sri Lankans at the forthcoming Asian Games to be held in China from November 12 to 27, citing the drastic drop in performances in athletics in contrast to the previous years.

However, Sri Lanka could have their hopes flickering for some medals with people like Chinthana Vidanage and Sudesh Pieris (Weightlifting), Chaminda Wijekoon (1500m) and Shehan Ambeypitiya (100 and 200m), Mithun Perera (Golf), Chaminda Kumara (High Jump) who have shown promise in their events and won medals at previous international meets.

One hundred and four competitors, including 39 officials (managers and coaches etc) will take 'wing' to Guangzhou, China in batches (first batch on November 11) to take part at the 16th edition of the Asian Games.

Mithun Perera - overall captain

Golfer Mithun Perera has been appointed as the overall captain of the Sri Lankan contingent. Out of the 42 disciplines, Sri Lanka will take part in 22 with athletics taking top billing. There are 13 men and 7 women athletes. "In general we have to admit, besides, cricket the standard in other sports in the country has dropped drastically. In 1991 with ten disciplines, we won 44 gold medals at the SAF Games, after 15 years 2006 we pocketed 37 gold medals with 20 disciplines, after another four years with twenty three disciplines, we won 16 gold medals where there has been a steady decline in the standards of sports and shows a clear picture overall " said the NOC President Fernando.

He further said that he had a discussion with the President and the President fully understood the situation and had promised to restore things quickly.

"There is no point in just taking individuals without reaching the required standards to win a medal and squandering a colossal sum of money. It is better to get down foreign expertise and train our people." he said.

Around 14,000 athletes from 45-member countries and regions will participate in Guangzhou, China .

T20 cricket which has been extremely popular in the recent past, Dance Sport, Dragon Boat, Roller Sport and Chess have been introduced for the first time. There is a lot of interest in T20 cricket and Sri Lanka, will, most probably field a side with youth and experience with Test cricketer Jehan Mubarak leading the side.

The concept of the Asian Games was formalised in 1949 in New Delhi and the first Asian Games was held in 1951 in Delhi with only 11 countries taking part in six sports.

In the 1951 at New Delhi Games, Sri Lanka won her first medal when M.A. Akbar won the 'silver' for pole vault, clearing 3.38m. Thereafter the Lankans were able to win 10 Gold medals, 10 Silver medals and 21 Bronze medals in the 59-year-old history of the event.

Asian Games 2010 participating countries 45. Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Krgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian territories, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen.

Asian Games Sports 42: Aquatics (Swimming, diving, Water-Polo, Synchronized swimming, Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Bowling, Cue Sports, Canoeing\Kayak, Cycling, Chess, Cricket, Dance Sport, Dragon Boat, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Gymnastic, Handball,Field Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Karate, Modern Pentathlon, Roller Sport, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Sepaktakraw, Shooting, Softball, Squash, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Wushu.

Sports taking the first bow: Cricket, Dance Sport, Dragon Boat, Roller Sports, Chess.

Sri Lanka's medal tally

Sri Lanka's all time medal tally at Asian Games 1951 to 2006: 1951 Delhi: One silver. M.A. Akbar - Pole Vault (Men) 3.38m. 1954 Manila-Silver H.P. Jayasuriya - Boxing (Bantamweight) and bronze C.P. Jayasuriya - Boxing - lightweight.

1958 Tokyo, Japan: Gold. N. Ethirveerasingham - High jump (Men) 2.03m, Bronze. B.L. Pinto and Rupert Ferdinands. (Tennis-men's doubles).

1962 Jakarta. Indonesia: Silver N Ethirveerasingham (High Jump (Men) 1.98m. Bronze. Nirmala Dissanayake (200m women) 25.8 sec, Bronze. Ranjanie Jayasuriya (Tennis-women).

1966 Bangkok: Bronze. S.L.B. Rosa (5000m and 10000m). Bronze. Trevor de Silva (Cycling) 800m and 1600m, Bronze. Ranjanie Jayasuriya and Windy Molligoda (Women's tennis doubles).

1970 Bangkok: Gold Medals. S.L.B. Rosa (5000m.14.32.2 m and 10000m 29.5.6 m . New Games record). Silver: W. Wimaladasa (400M) 46.7 Sec.), Silver: Ray Wijewardena and Ekendra Edirisinghe (Yachting).

1974 Teheran: Gold. W. Wimaladasa (400m) 46.21 sec. (New Games record), Gold: A.Premachandra, Kosala Sahabandu, Sunil Gunawardena and W. Wimaladasa (4X400m relay) 3.07.40 NMR.

1978. Bangkok: Bronze. H.S. Caldera (Boxing, Bantamweight), Bronze. R.D. Nimal Perera (Boxing flyweight).

1990. Beiging China: Silver. S.S.A. Dissanayake (200m. 21.17sec, Bronze. S.S.A. Dissanayake (100m) 10.64 sec, Nandasena Perera (Golf) Silver.

1994. Hiroshima, Japan: Silver. Susanthika Jayasinghe (200m) 23.57, Bronze. Damayanthy Dharsha (200m) 23.61.

1998. Bangkok: Gold. Sugath Tillekeratne (400m) 44.93 sec, Bronze.

Sugath Tillkeratne (200m) 20.69 sec, Gold.Damayanthy Dharsha (200m) 22.48 sec.NMR, Gold.Damayathy Dharsha (400m) 51.57 NMR, Bronze: Sriyani Kulawansa (100m hurdles) 13.08 sec, Bronze: Lalin Jirasinghe and W.P.K. Janaka (Yachting).

2002. Bhutan: Bronze. Rohan Pradeep Kumara (400m) 45.67 sec, Bronze 4X400m relay Rohan Pradeep Kumara, Sugath Tillekeratne, Prasanna Amarasekera, Ranga Wimalwansa, Gold.

Susanthika Jayasinghe (100m) 11.15 sec, Gold Damayanthy Dharsha (400m) 51.13 (NMR), Silver. R.A. Aruna Shantha (Golf). Bronze. R.J. Edward (Karate).

2006. Doha: Silver. Susanthika Jayasinghe (100m) 11.34 sec. Bronze. Susanthika Jayasinghe (200m) 23.42, Bronze. 4X400m relay. (Men) Rohan Pradeep Kumara, Rohitha Pushpakumara, Prasanna Amarasekera, J.A.M.K. Jayasundera.