Late Denzil Fernando will be remembered forever!

ATHLETICS: A requiem mass was held at St. Anthony's Church, Colpetty yesterday for Denzil Fernando an outstanding athlete and coach of Sri Lanka who passed away recently.

To pay tribute to his memory leading athletes who participated along with him and also those who were coached by him marched in solemn procession to the church representing the Ace Athletic Club, The CR & FC, Royal College, Ladies' College, Bishops College, and Methodist College carrying their respective flags with them.

This was an unique event where one saw Sri Lanka's leading athletes who broke records here and abroad and beat world champions in meets abroad. This was also a tribute to them as well. The athletes participated for the love of the sport and were never sponsored or paid for their performances.

Achievements

Veteran athlete Denzil Fernando has a number of records under his belt, winning many gold, Silver and Bronze medals on a number of occasions. He not only excelled in long distance but made a name in long jump and high jump too.

He created a record in the 800 metres and went on to break the record in the 1,500 metres too. While improving on his own record in the 800 metres and being the first Sri Lankan to run the 800 metres in under 2 minutes he was adjudged the winner in the Triangular Meet in Bangalore. On his return from India, he came first in the 3000 metres Steeplechase.

At the Army Championships, once more in Bangalore in 1960, he was the winner in the 800 and 1500 metres events. While on this winning and record-breaking spree, he also won the 400 metres hurdles at the Mercantile Championships.

He was very interested in helping others to achieve great heights, just as he had done. He has followed summer training camps in Coimbatore, India in 1967. He was successful in the coaching course conducted by the AAA specialising in running, jumping and throwing. He was also successful in courses conducted for referees and judges.

Denzil underwent training under the American coaches Brayton Norton, Joe Yancy, Bob Mathias, and the West German coach Wolfgang Linkman.

He was appointed coach for Methodist College, Bishop's College, Vidyodaya University, Ace Athletic Club and Ladies' College.

He was also a member of the Coaching Committee of the AAA and the Physical Training Instructor of Royal College cricket and Rugby and Physical Training Instructor to the Board of Control for Cricket in 1987. He was also a guest at the Australian Institute of Sports where he was given instruction on the extensive use of Audio Visual facilities.

About his participation in 1988 he won a gold medal by creating the Asian Record in the 400 metres Hurdles at the third Asian Veterans Championships in Singapore. In the same year, Denzil won Silver Medals in the 400 metres Hurdles and the 800 metres in the First Masters Games held in Toronto, Canada. In 1986, he won a silver medal in the 400 metres at the fifth Asian Championships in Taiwan. He then won a gold medal in the Long Jump in the first Australian Masters Games in Tasmania. Denzil was appointed to officiate at the Olympic Games in LA by the Sri Lanka Amateur Athletic Association in 1984.