Sri Lanka's Asian Games effort every inch a FLOP in Incheon
 The 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea was by all accounts
every inch a grand success, although there were as usual the little
hiccups. Hiccups in Games of such magnitude cannot be avoided.
The Organising Committee of the Games can certainly take a bow. The
opening and closing ceremonies were spectacular and magnificent. Every
event was worked out with great precision and timing and not a murmur
was heard from the participants.
Watching the action on Television it was simply fantastic. Every
gold, silver and bronze medal was not easily won. Every nerve, sinew and
muscle had to be stretched to the maximum when looking for the all
important and to be treasured medal.
Once again CHINA topped the medal table with 151 gold medals 109
silvers and 83 bronze. South Korea came second with 79 gold, 71 silvers
and 84 bronze and Japan were third with 47 golds, 76 silvers and 76
bronze. Congratulations to them and all other individuals and countries
that tasted victory and carried away the medals.
Every medal won, all details every other incident and the atmosphere
prevailing in Incheon was vividly described by our man on the sport,
Sports Editor of the 'Daily News' and Editor in Chief of the 'Sunday
Observer' Dinesh Weerawansa who was exclusive and brilliant with his
descriptions which were well received and giving his sponsors Dialog,
Ceylinco and Office Max good exposure.
As for the Sri Lankan team the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South
Korea to say the least was a calamity. True we won a gold medal and a
bronze in men's and women's Twenty20 cricket but that was nothing much
to caw about.
But we must be thankful for small mercies and our congratulations to
the men's and women's cricket teams. As for the men's tournament, it
took away the gloss and it was one way street for the Lankan team led by
Lahiru Thirimanne in the absence of India and Pakistan who refused to
send their teams.
When it comes to the Asian Games and the Olympic Games the events
that evoke interest and excitement and are keenly followed are
athletics, swimming, hockey and boxing. Athletics are the events that
provide the fastest man and woman in Asia.
Having said that we now move on to the large Sri Lankan contingent
that flew out to contest the medals. Putrid is the appropriate word to
describe the calamity that befell all our sportsmen and women barring
the cricketers.
First to athletics: It was a no show with our athletes only
impressive facing the starter and being on the blocks. A medal, be it a
gold, a silver or bronze was the bottom line. Running in 4th, 5th or 6th
is nothing to caw about. Accepted that our losing athletes returned good
times etc. But that's no big deal.
Not wanting to bash the losing athletes, because after all they tried
their best, which best was not good enough when running against the
better trained and more talented athletes, we would like to pose the
question.
Where are the champion athletes we produced in the past? Names that
come to mind are the Whites, Gooneratnes, Greros, Rosas, Dissanayakes,
Ethiriveerasinghams, Wimaladasas, Gunawardenes, Badras, Manikes,
Jayasinghes, Jinadasas, Darshas, Kulawansas, Premachandras, Khans,
Karunanandas, Tillekeratnes and a host of others whose names don't come
to mind. These were athletes who put Sri Lanka's athletics on the Asian
and world maps. Oh for their likes again.
In swimming too, Sri Lanka had classy swimmers in the Bollings,
Chanmugams, Smiths, Francis, Rahims and Abeysinghes. It is time that
those in charge of swimming look for talent and not let swimming drown
in the deep end.
In hockey, we showed our prowess with the magic wand and held our own
against even India and Pakistan who dominated hockey in that era. Where
are the Mylvaganams, the Fernandos, Rayens, Wijekoons, Whites,
Abeysekeras, Kretsers, McIntyres, Assissis, Martins, Rupesinghes,
Jayatissas and Kottunkaduwas to mention a few who were magicians with
the hockey sticks?
Our boxers too failed miserably. Where are the Alberts, Johns,
Handunges, Grays, Raymonds, Bulners, Liyanages, Weerakoons, Pereiras,
VanCuylenbergs, De Zilwas, Mohammeds, Karunaratnes, Jaroofs, Marzooks,
Lewkes, Ekanayakes, Jayasunderas and Azwers?
The above mentioned were exciting and a treat to watch. They were
scientific with the gloves and boxed not swinging wildy, but showing
superb footwork and boxing skills.
Those were the days when even schools like Royal, Zahira, St. Mary's
Dehiwela, St. Sylvester's Kandy, St. Peter's, St. Michael's Polwatte and
S. Thomas' Mount Lavinia produced classy pugilists. Boxing at the
Stadium in Bambalapitiya, Police ring and YMCA used to draw thousands of
boxing fans. That was the era when boxing was at its best.
The flops that were the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games has
only gone to prove that we are living in a fool's paradise or a land of
make believe. It is time these flops must make the officials who are
keen to hold office year in and year out to enjoy the perks and the
trips and the good times that go with it to work for the sport and
unearth talent or in the name of sports to GET LOST instead of further
demeaning the game and all the good it stood for and stands for.
Illegal bowlers being hounded out
The International Cricket Council must be admired for its stand in
fumigating and banning bowlers with suspect or illegal actions from
international cricket.
But what is inexplicable and intriguing is that while bowlers called
are banned from bowling in international cricket they have been given
the license to continue their illegal bowling in domestic cricket and
add to their bowling records.
The latest two bowlers to come under the hammer are Sunil Narine of
the West Indies and Mohamed Hafeez of Pakistan. Earlier Saeed Ajmal of
Pakistan was banned. Apparently the actions of especially off spinners
come in for scrutiny and question is when they decide to deliver the
doosra.
There are several Cyclops who are questioning the ICC as to their
hurry in banning bowlers with suspect actions what with the 2015 World
Cup a few months away. What these cyclops want is to allow bowlers in
their countries to continue throwing and throwing out other countries
from the World Cup. But there must be no letting up by the ICC.
It is shocking to note that there are nearly 60 schoolboy bowlers in
Sri Lanka with suspect actions. All probably trying to copy the bowling
action of Muttiah Muralitharan who had been cleared. As long as the 'doosra'
is allowed to be bowled, bowlers bowling this delivery will have their
actions queried and under scrutiny.
The ICC is not likely to play the spoil sport and ban this delivery.
Enjoy life now. It has an expiry date on it.
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