|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 21 November 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Sumane's daughters Ayesha and Nishanthi in women's race of the 'Big Tour' by Leslie Fernando The two daughters of three times winner of the Tour de Lanka A. M. Sumanaweera - Ayesha and Nishanthi will follow the footsteps of their father when both girls ride at the 14th Tour de Lanka. They will be seen in action in the Standard Race for women. The Tour-de-Lanka race is organised by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) and conducted by the Interim Committee for Cycling in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Police. It will be held next month. Sumanaweera will be a proud father to witness both his daughters Ayesha and Nishanthi making their debut in the Tour de Lanka. Ayesha and Nishanthi did well to become the winner and runner-up respectively at the recently concluded Cycle Cyclone 2004. Champion rider Sumanaweera is keen to see that both daughters emulate his deeds in cycle racing and will hit the top. The 57-year-old Sumanaweera, well-known as a 'hill-climbing' expert in cycle-racing made his debut in the 1984 Tour de Lanka representing Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. He won that gruelling event on three occasions 1984, 1985, 1986 also took part in the last Tour de Lanka held in 1996. 'Sumane' was 49 years old in 1996 and had the satisfaction of being placed 17th in the overall standings with a time of 17 hours 23 minutes 43.01 seconds, covering a distance of 601 kms held in three stages - Colombo, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura and back. Despite the awesome tyre punches and change of cycles, the veteran rider finished in all three stages of 601 kms. Maurice Coomaravel that stylish rider, is the first cyclist to win the Tour de Lanka three times in-a-row 1965, 1966 and 1967. Sanjaya Muttiah, the main co-ordinator Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka for Tour de Lanka said that the 900 kilometre race will be held under Union Cyclists International (UCI) rules together with the rules and regulations of Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka. There will also be a Standard Race for men while a Standard Race for women too is to be worked off. N. Karunaratne, Chairman, Technical Committee of Interim Committee said that the list of officers who will be officiating at this event will be released once the list is 'okayed' by DIG K. P. P. Pathirana Chairman Interim Committee for cycling. Karu, presently stationed in Anuradhapura, was a top rider, having won the 1982 Tour de Lanka Standard Event. Then in 1985, he was placed 3rd and 2nd in 1986 in the Racing Event. Karu is the only reputed cyclist to become a top administrator too in the now defunct Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
