New athletic boss Palitha to take country forward!

By Ranjan Anandappa

The new Sri Lanka Athletic Association Chief-Major General Palitha Fernando is eager to see the country’s athletes back in the medal winning streak after a disappointing run in the recent past.

Major General Palitha Fernando who held the top athletic post in the country previously, wanted to forget the past and look positively towards the future, having some new strategies for the betterment of athletics.

He was prepared to compensate athletes who have obtained over 1,050 IAAF points and IAAF World rankings with the help of the Sports Ministry.

The boss of Sri Lanka athletics said that they should explore the possibilities of finding athletes of the calibre of Duncan White, Susanthika Jayasinghe, Sugath Tillekeratne and the other top-athletes. “You could find only one Susanthika Jayasinghe, Duncan White or a Sugath Tillekeratne in a life time. But there are many talented youngsters who could bring glory to the country. Unlike in the past, the present day generation in schools lacked the stature to compete at international level.

Spotting talent important

The harness of spotting talented youngsters like in any other sport should begin at grass root level. After doing so it is sad to say some give up half way due to various reasons, and the task becomes more difficult in the search of youngsters.”Palitha Fernando said. He said, however, everything was not lost. The following meets could bring back the medal winning ability which has been drawn for the years 2013 and 2014.

The first and second phases of The Asian Grand Prix are scheduled to begin on May 4 to 8 in Thailand and on May 12th the third phase will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka where 23 Sri Lanka men and women athletes will be seen in action. Two hundred and forty eight athletes from twenty two countries, including Australia will take part in the competition.

The Sri Lankans will also get the opportunity to see the 2012 Olympic women’s 100m gold medal winner Australian Sally Pearson in action during the Sri Lankan ‘leg’ of the meet on May 12.

In addition, there are four more International meets for the year 2013. On July 10 to 14 the IAA Youth Championships are to be held in Ukraine. Four of the country’s athletes have already reached the qualifying levels for this meet. From August 10 to 18 the IAAF World Athletics Championship will be held in Moscow. The second Asian Youth Games will take place from August 16 to 24 in China and the Asian Championships will be from July 3 to 7 in New Delhi. The two most looked forward meets - the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow ,England and the Asian Games in Korea will take place in 2014. The Asian Games is the biggest spectacle in the Asian region and Sri Lanka has done well to win many medals in the history of the Games which began in 1951 in New Delhi. In the thirteen Asian Games held so far , Sri Lanka has not failed to win at least one medal except for the last one which took place in China in 2010 November where the Islanders were unable to win a single medal which is a great disappointment.

Lankan performances improve

After winning a solitary silver medal for pole vault by M.A. Akbar in the inaugural Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951, the Lankans have at least won more than one medal in the remaining Games. In 1954 in Manila, H.P. Jayasuriya and C.P. Jayasuriya won a silver and bronze for boxing (bantam and light weight). In 1958 in Tokyo, Japan. N. Ethirveerasingham (High jump) -Gold 2.03m (New Games Record). B.L. Pinto and Rupert Ferdinands (Tennis. Men’s doubles) -bronze.

1962 in Jakarta, N. Ethirveerasingham (High jump) Silver – 1.98 M, Nirmala Dissanayake (200m women) bronze 25.8 sec.- Ranjani Jayasuriya (Tennis-women) bronze.

1966 in Bangkok: S.L.B. Rosa 5,000m (Men) Bronze. 14:52.6 and 10,000m (men) bronze 31:56:6.

Trevor de Silva Cycling 800m. Bronze Cycling 1,600m Bronze

Ranjani Jayasuriya and Wendy Molligoda - Tennis doubles Bronze

1970 in Bangkok: S.L.B. Rosa 5,000m (Men) gold. 14.32.6 sec. 10,000m (men) gold 29.55.6 (New Games record). W. Wimaladasa. 400m (Men) Silver 46.7 sec. Ray Wijewardene and Ekendra Edirisinghe (Yachting) Silver.

1974 - Teheran: W. Wimaladasa – 400m. Gold 46.21 secs.(New Games record). 4X400m relay Gold. A. Premachandra, Kosala Sahabandu, Sunil Gunawardene and W. Wimaladasa. 3.07. 40sec (New games record).

1978 - Bangkok: H.S. Caldera Boxing. Bantam weight. Bronze. R.D. W. Nimal Perera. Boxing. Fly weight. Bronze

1990 - Beijing, China: S.S.A. Dissanayake 200m (Men) -Silver - 21.17 sec. S.S.A. Dissanayake 100m Bronze 10.64 sec. Nandasena Perera (Golf) Silver. 1994 Hiroshima - Japan- Susanthika Jayasinghe - 400m (Women) – Silver - 23.57. Damayanthi Dharsha 200m (Women). Bronze. 23.61

1998 - Bangkok: Sugath Tillekeratne 200m – Gold- 44.93 sec. Sugath Tillekeratne 200m – Bronze - 20.69 sec.- Damayanthi Dharsha – 200m (Women) - Gold 22.48 sec. (New Games record) Damayanthi Dharsha 400m – Gold - 51.57 sec., Sriyani Kulawansa- 100m hurdles (Women) bronze - 13.08 sec. Lalin Jirasinghe and W.P.K. Janaka – Yachting. Bronze.

2002 - Busan: Rohan Pradeepkumara – 400m (Men) Bronze – 45.67 sec. 4x400m relay (Men) Bronze Rohan Pradeepkumara, Sugath Tillekeratne, Prasanna Amarasekera, Ranga Wimalawansa 3.04.37

Susanthika Jayasinghe - 100m – Gold - 11.15 sec. Damayanthi Dharsha 400m – Gold 51.13 seconds(NGR). R.A. Aruna Shantha (Golf)- Silver. R.J. Edward (Karate) Bronze.

2006 – Doha: Susanthika Jyasinghe – 100m Silver- 11.34 sec. Susanthika Jayasinghe – 200m – Bronze 23.42 sec. 4x400m relay .Bronze- 3.06.97 secs. Rohan Pradeepkumara, Rohitha Pushpakumara, Prasanna Amarasekera and J.A.M.K. Jayasundera.

2010 – China- No Medals.