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| Sunday, 14 September 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Sri Lanka Light Infantry overall champs at Disabled Games The National Sports Festival for the Disabled 2003, sponsored by Dialog GSM, concluded recently with at the Sugathadasa Stadium. The final award presented at the closing ceremony was the overall club title which was won by Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) Sports Club who had a total of 386 points to their nearest rival who had 230 points. Present at the closing ceremony for the awards presentation was the Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Johnston Fernando, CEO of Dialog GSM Dr. Hans Wijesuriya and President of the National Federation of Sport for the Disabled Maj. Rajitha Ampemohotti. Also present at the event was Dialog GSM's General Manager of Sales Nushad Perera. The final event of the 2003 games was the athletics championships which was the culmination of approximately 150 categories and events with the participation of approximately 700 athletes from 30 sports clubs. The 2003 Games closing ceremony was the culmination of two months of intensive competition amongst many military and civilian sports clubs. The Games began with an official kick off on 1st July 2003 but preceding this there was a logo revelation and sponsorship signing event held where Dialog GSM - a long time supporter and contributor to the Disabled Games - publicly announced their support of the cause. SLLI SC dominated the games from the outset after they won the Volleyball Championship and earned 15 points for that. SLLI SC's volleyball win was followed by a respectable second place to winners Gajaba Regiment SC in Table Tennis in which SLLI SC earned 24 points. The next event was Wheel Chair Tennis where SLLI SC shared a dual second placement with Gajaba Regiment SC with 3 points each. The winner of this event was Vijayabahu Infantry SC who won by an overwhelming 17 points. The next event was Cycling where SLLI SC re-emerged as winners with 8 points. The highlight of this event was the tremendous upset in the Cycling Championship when heavily favoured K.P.D.A. Nishantha of the SL Light Infantry Sports Club and W.A.S.C. Wanasinghe of the Gemunu Sports Club were beaten by D. Sumanasiri of the SL Light Infantry Sports Club who was taking part in only his second National Sports Festival for the Disabled and who had previously never won any medals. The Wheel Chair Marathon was also not a successful one for SLLI SC as they won no points in the men's divisions which honour went to Special Forces SC while the Women's Division was won by Spinal Injuries Association SC, SLLI SC then rebounded in their next sporting event - the Power Lifting Championship - with a strong second place overall with 27 points. The winner of this sporting event was Commando Regiment SC with a total of 30 points. However, there was glory for many clubs at this event as there were a total of 8 national records broken. New records were set in the following weight categories: 48 Kg weight category by Sadun Wasana Perera of the Nylander Sports Club by lifting 145 Kg; 67.5 Kg weight category by E.A.H. Soyza of the Commando Sports Club by lifting 155 Kg; 60 Kg weight category by D.J.P. Fernando of the Gemunu Sports Club by lifting 95 Kg, 75 Kg weight category by U.G. Jayalath of the Commando Sorts Club with a lift of 110 Kg, 82.5 Kg weight category by R.M. Rathnayake of the Commando Sports Club with a lift of 115 Kg, 90 Kg weight category by Cat. B.P.A.P. Thilakarathne of the Commando Sports Club with a lift of 125 Kg, 100 Kg weight category by W.J.A. Fernando of the Vijayabahu Sports Club with a lift of 115 Kg, 100 Kg UP weight category by S.B. Madurawa of the SL Light Infantry Sports Club with a lift of 102.5 Kg. Following the Power lifting events, there was Badminton where SLLI SC was again placed second with 30 points to the winner who received 35 points - Gajaba Regiment SC. SLLI SC also won the second largest championships of the Games which involved 150 participants - the Swimming Championship. SLLI SC swept the entire championships by receiving 69 points compared to the second placed Gemunu Watch SC who received 40 points. After swimming, SLLI SC went on to dominate the entire Games with decisive victories in Archery, Crutch Soccer, Air Rifle Shooting and Athletics with 21, 15, 21 and 153 points respectively. Their closest contender for the overall club title was Gajaba Regiment SC whose end total was 230 points and was placed second while Commando Regiment SC was placed third with a final total of 159 points. SLLI SC's overwhelming win was in part due to the 153 points it won in Athletics which was the landmark event of the Games with as many as 700 athletes from 30 sport clubs vying for victory in approximately 150 different events and categories with 22 new national records and 1 new Asian Record being set during the intensive two day competition. |
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