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| Sunday, 1 June 2003 |
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Susanthika aims for second GOLD in Grand Prix today by LESLIE FERNANDO The darling of the local track - Susanthika Jayasinghe looks set to bring out her Sunday best, despite a fitness scare when she runs in her pet 100 metres dash, the second leg of the showpiece - the Asian Grand Prix which is expected to draw the crowds to the Sugathadasa Stadium this evening. Susanthika, recovering from a bout of dehydration and indigestion which she developed soon after dazzling the Indian track in Hyderabad to take the women's 100 metres of the first leg last Wednesday, was cleared by doctors to run today where a certain gold would be in the bag. While Susanthika, who was relaxing in a room at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi, was expected to go better on her 11.15 secs in India, Sri Lanka was counting upto five gold medals at this mega event from emerging star, Rohana Pradeep Kumara, Damayanthi Darsha, Sriyani Kulawansa and new boy, A. A. Indika Kumara. There was also Susanthika Jayasinghe. Some 125 athletes from 16 Asian countries including Sri Lanka will bring the glitter when they burn the evening track into the night. "I feel fit and am confident of the gold tomorrow and then make it four-in-a-row in the remaining meets", predicted Susanthika, reminiscent of the legendary 'louiville lip', 'Mohammed Ali'. While Rohana Pradeep, who won the men's 400 metres with a timing of 46.4 secs relegating long time local hero, Sugath Tillekeratne into a backseat to signal his arrival, is a big shot draw before home fans. Great things are expected of hurdler, Indika Kumara, de Silva, a soldier boy whom his coach, S. M. G. Bandara looked to go one better on his silver medal timing of 14.37 secs considering India was his first big outing. Top foreigners There are many top foreign athletes who showed that they are capable of big things at the first meet in Hyderabad. The exact composition of the foreign teams for the Colombo event is not known, but it will be interesting to see whether Kazakhastan 100 metres men's champ at Hyderabad is in the squad in Colombo and all eyes will be on him too, to get another gold in the 100 metres event. The hurdles battle between Indika Kumara de Silva of Sri Lanka and the winner of the 110 metres hurdles event at the first meet Narongdech Janjai of Thailand in 14.14 seconds. There is also Indian athlete Naunidh Singh who came in third. The Thais seem excel in hurdles and among the women, Trecia Roberts did well to win the 100 metres hurdles event for women, in 13.22 seconds, thereby pushing Sri Lanka's Sriyani Kulawansa into second position. Sriyani's timing on that occasion was 13.22 seconds and she is such a gutty competitor that she is quite capable of giving the Thai girl all the competition once again. Sriyani Kulawansa is even capable of winning today. The one-day event which will come to life when Chief Guest, Tilak Marapana, Minister of Defence, Transport and Civil Aviation declares open the showpiece at 4.45 p.m., will be in the grandeur of a carnival dressing with cultural displays and the schools and services bands of the Army, Navy, Police and Air Force. The four leg championships will head for the 'third leg' to Bangkok on June 5 and the fourth in Manila on June 9. The order of events: (All finals) - 5.30 p.m. - long jump - men, javelin throw - men, shot putt - women, 110 metres hurdles - men. 5.45 p.m. - 100 metres hurdles - men. 6.00 p.m. - 800 metres - men. 6.15 p.m. - 800 metres - women. 6.25 p.m. - 100 metres - men. 6.35 p.m. - 100 metres - women. 6.45 p.m. - long jump - women, discus throw - men. 7.00 p.m. - 3000 metres - men. 7.15 p.m. - 400 metres - men. 7.30 p.m. - 400 metres - women. 7.45 p.m. - 4 x 100 metres relay - men. 8.00 p.m. - 4 x 100 metres relay - women. |
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