Lankan team in true Olympics spirit -Rear Admiral Fernando

By Dinesh WEERAWANSA

Sri Lanka contingent for the 2012 Olympic Games will leave for London on Tuesday morning, hoping make their presence felt - at least with a few new Sri Lanka records. The main aim of Lankan Olympians is to better their personal best.

While the two swimmers and the two athletes look forward to improve their timings, rifle shooter Mangala Samarakoon targets his career best personal score in London. Badminton players Niluka Karunaratne and Thilini Jayasinghe

All seven Sri Lankan competitors, representing sports disciplines athletics, badminton, shooting and swimming are determined to achieve their brilliant best, team manager for athletics and shooting, Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando said yesterday.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer, Rear Admiral Fernando said that Sri Lanka team will compete at the London 2012 edition in the true spirit of the Olympic Games.

Rear Admiral Fernando, who is also President of the National Shooting Sports Federation (NSSF) and Secretary General of the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka (AASL), assured to enforce strict discipline at all times and said performance should be coupled with dedication and discipline to make a complete athlete.

Fernando, a former Royal College Public Schools athlete and respected sports administrator is no stranger to the task having successfully led Sri Lanka teams to 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, 2003 IAAF World Junior in Sherbrook 2006 Asian Games in Doha and 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man.

Here are excerpts from his interview:

Q:How do you feel about your selection to lead National Teams of Athletics and Shooting to Olympic Games?

I am pleased and delighted and consider it a rare honour especially to manage 2 disciplines. I am reminded of the words of the great Olympic athlete Jesse Owens, “Everybody should have a dream. Everybody should work towards that dream”. I feel that it should be the spirit of any athlete or official dreaming to represent the country at Olympic Games.

Q:Are the athletes in the Sri Lankan Contingent in a proper frame of mind?

Yes, certainly. We expect them to do their brilliant best in London. Their aim should be to epitomize the Olympic Motto, ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ meaning ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’.

Q: Any medal prospects for Sri Lanka?

As you know, Sri Lanka so far won only two Olympic Medals - Duncan White’s Silver in 1948 London Olympics in 400 m Hurdles and Susanthika Jayasinghe’s Silver in 200m at 2000 Sydney Olympics. All 7 athletes selected to represent the country have achieved high standards in their respective events selected as and justify their selection but it will be very tough for them to reach medal standards.

Q: How do you rate marathon runner Anuradha Cooray?

I am amazed with his commitment to remain with an event like Marathon for a considerable period. I am truly proud about his achievement in 2004 Olympics in Athens where he secured the 30th position. Also, I am impressed with his current form and admirable performance at the famed London Marathon where he gained IAAF approved Entry Standard for Olympics. Marathon being the longest running event in Athletics schedule, it is an opportunity for all London based Sri Lankans to cheer him.

Q: How would hurdler Sonali Christine Merrill perform in London?

She will be the only Sri Lankan blessed to run in the majestic Olympic Stadium. She earned her berth in the team as the best female athlete in Sri Lanka. She is the National Record holder for 400m Hurdles and her Personal Best is 56.83 secs. Her event is very competitive at Olympic Games but she is young and determined and we expect her do well.

Q: What is your new role as Secretary General of the AASL?

We were elected at a crucial juncture with the 15th Asian Junior Athletics Championships to be conducted in just 30 days. It was a challenge yet we were able to execute the operation smoothly and efficiently winning the admiration of the IAAF, Asian AA and the entire athletic fraternity in Sri Lanka. Securing an all time best of six medals by Sri Lankan athletes certainly boosted up our untiring efforts. We are determined to steer Track and Field in the correct course for the glory of the sport.

Q: Is rifle shooter Mangala Samarakoon in a proper frame of mind?

Yes, of course. He has been properly trained by the Sri Lanka Army and geared to reach greater heights in 50m Rifle Prone event.

He is committed to the task and well focused and earned the Quota Place for Olympics based on his performance. Samarakoon won a Gold Medal in his pet event at the 15th South Asian Games in 2006 and I expect him to bounce back and do well in London.

Q: How do you feel about your new role as the President of the National Shooting Federation?

It is equally interesting as athletics. Shooting is a thrilling sport that requires instant decisions and quick reflexes and a popular sport discipline in the armed forces. Within a short span we have put shooting back on the target.

Q: How do you achieve commendable results in your numerous sports assignments?

My approach towards all tasks is through sheer dedication and commitment, the harder way. Always, I strive to set goals and endeavour to achieve those with a clear vision. I am totally committed to serve sports in the right manner and in true spirit.

Q: Salute on behalf of the contingent?

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage deserves the highest appreciation for his vision to make Sri Lanka the strongest Asian Country in sports, Director General Sports Development Ranjani Jayakody for her enthusiasm and commitment and of course NOC President Hemasiri Fernando for his untiring efforts.

Q: Any final comments?

I wish to share the verses on ‘Peace’ and ‘Honour’ of the founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin’s famous ‘Ode to Sport’: O Sport, you are Peace! You forge happy bonds between the people by drawing them together in reverence for strength which is controlled, organized and self-disciplined.

Through you the young of all the world learn to respect one another, and thus the diversity of National traits becomes a source of generous and peaceful emulation.’

‘O Sport, you are Honour! The titles you bestow are worthless save if won in absolute fairness and perfect unselfishness.

Whoever succeeds in deceiving his fellows by some ignoble trick, suffers the shame of it in the depths of himself and dreads the dishonourable epithet whim will be coupled with his name if the fraud from which he prospers should come to light.