Seven wrestlers off to Thailand for training

Seven wrestlers selected to represent Sri Lanka at the 10th South Asian Games will leave for Thailand on August 1 for training and to fight against club wrestlers. Ten-day program in Thailand is expected to keep our wrestlers in good shape for wrestling events to be held from August 24 to 26 at the University of Colombo Campus said Thilak Perera, Secretary, Wrestling Federation of Sri Lanka.

The seven wrestlers selected to the final pool are from three armed forces. Grapplers are presently training at Welimada YMCA. They are at a residential camp said Perera.

The seven wrestlers are: A. A. S. D. Kumara (SL Navy) 55 Kg, R. I. Liyanage (Sri Lanka Air Force) 60 Kg, E. M. P. L. Priyankara (SL Navy) 74 Kg, L. W. W. Gunawardena (SL Navy) 84 Kg, M. S. C. Perera (SL Navy) 96 Kg, M. K. K. Fernando (SL Navy) 120 Kg.

The wrestlers have already received all requirements, they requested, lodging, nutritions, clothing, Dummies - the training equipment has been brought to Sri Lanka for the first time.

Furthermore three O' Jump mattresses used only for 2004 Olympic Games will arrive shortly. Perera said the Wrestling Federation of Sri Lanka has got the approval to use these mattresses from (FILA) World Controlling Body for wrestling.

Our wrestlers should fare prominently, especially Liyanage, Sanjeeva and Perera fared prominently at the Asian Wrestling Championship held in Kazakastan, Top wrestlers from Japan, Korea, Thailand, China, and Chinese Taipei participated. The wrestlers from India and Pakistan did not fight. Perera said that there will be seven weight categories same as for Olympic Games wrestling.

The wrestlers from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will fight each other in each weight category. It will be Nordic System but not on a knockout basis. For knock-out there should six wrestlers and over. It will be an disadvantage for our wrestlers on Nordic System as they have win against all on wrestlers.

At the 2004 SAF Games in Islamabad, Pakistan, no medals were won by Sri Lanka as our wrestlers did not have proper training and foreign exposure before the games.

India and Pakistan shared the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the 2004 SAF Games.