34 days to go...:

Who will be champs at SAG in Dhaka?

by Leslie FERNANDO

South Asian Games: With the passage of time, the day will soon dawn for the Olympics in South Asia. The 11th SAG - January 29 to February 8 will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Who will come on top as sports superpower in the region? All eight countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are gearing for the event. Every country will draw experience from its previous participation in the event and will plan well for the event, said Hemajith Fernando, Head of the media unit for National Olympic Council for the 11th SAG.

Hemajith Fernando - a work ‘horse’ (who thrives in the business of getting of things done.

Fernando is performing his duties in an exemplary manner and his work has been appreciated by everyone.

As the media officer, Fernando is mainly responsible for the publication of the South Asian Games News Bulletin from last month. The bulletin includes all important information on the 23 disciplines for the Games.

Fernando said that India who have been on top in all other ten games, is doing well in sports and this time too the Indians will not leave anything to chance. India's athletic team is training hard and the team is being assisted by a German coach who holds an IAAF certificate. India has packed its athletic team with 10 national level athletes who have set their eyes on the Asian standard. Among the athletes are Jues Kumar and Sunil Kumar who are eyeing short distance titles. Recently at Patiala National Sports Training Centre, a technical training session was held in connection with the Asian Games that too helps India's SAG preparations.

India is expected to do well in archery. The Indians have already won silver and bronze medals in athletic championships held recently in Japan and China. They will face the 11th SAG with confidence.

Cricket and Handball first time

Cricket and Handball make their first appearance at the SAG this time. Indian websites mention that India will not have big challenge in those disciplines as well.

An under-21 Twenty-20 cricket team is already at practice. India has already qualified for the football World Cup and according to analysts Maldives and Pakistan may pose a threat at the SAG.

So Sri Lanka are out. A Sri Lanka women's football team too is training in Rajasthan and Hyderabad.

Handball is a new experience for many countries, including Sri Lanka. To tell the truth it was included following a proposal from India. Handball is a popular sport in India with certain States actively taking part in it.

Kabaddi is a national level sport in India, and hence India can pose a strong challenge to other countries. Sri Lanka is not in a position to go beyond a silver medal. Presently, the Indian Kabaddi teams are in training in Patiala and Rajasthan.

It is pertinent to talk about India's and other countries' preparations for the games in the future issues, too, said Fernando.

Fernando who has closely worked as media co-ordinator since the 1984 inaugural games, is highlighting the progressive work on the 11th SAG. Fernando is a work-horse from his day and had his education at Thelijjawila Central College, Matara, Nalanda College and Aquinas University, Borella. He was employed at Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) for 33 years as an announcer, producer, commentator and senior organiser Sinhala programmes unit.

He was the first producer of sports division of SLBC together with late Carlton Seneviratne, a former Daily News Sports Editor. The sports programme was very popular among the listeners around the country. All sports were covered in Colombo as well as in the outstations.

6th SA Games in Dhaka-1993

The SA Games returned to Bangladesh capital after eight years as Dhaka hosted the event for the second time from December 20 to 27 1993.

In 1985, the 2nd SA Games was held in Dhaka. Unlike Pakistan's show in 1989, and that of Sri Lanka's in 1991, Bangladesh could not excel as the hosts finished a poor fourth with only 11 gold medals, just two better than their feat as the 1985 hosts.

India ended on top with 60 golds, followed by Pakistan (23) and Sri Lanka (20), 24 gold medals less than the 1991 games held in Colombo. Sri Lanka won 24 golds in Colombo Games. India's Bahadur Prasad won three gold medals in athletics men's 1,500 metres, 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres while Sri Lanka's K.A. Karunaratne and V.K.L. Samarasinghe won the marathon gold and silver respectively.

Despite the 200 metres gold, Sriyantha Dissanayake lost his 100 metres title to a hero from the host nation Bimal Chandra in one-hundredth of a second.

There was some joy for Sri Lanka at Damayathi Darsha won her sprint double at the Games. She clocked 11.78 seconds in 100 metres and 23.84 seconds in 200 metres.

Nine years after their success as the inaugural hosts, Nepal won the soccer gold in the 1993 Dhaka Games, beating India.

Bangladesh's failure enabled the hosts Sri Lanka team to bag its first medal of the SA Games a bronze. India made a clean sweep by winning all nine judo medals, that were on offer. They also won all seven table tennis titles.

Sri Lanka's other gold medal winners were: Sugath Thilakaratne (400 metres), Ranjith Subasinghe (800 metres), W. Chaminda Fonseka (110m hurdles), T. Benildus Fernando (Long Jump), Sriyani Kulawansa (100 m hurdles), R.K. Sumith Prasanna (boxing 63.5 kg).

Daya Rajasinghe (rifle shooting English match 60 shots), Sri Lanka Rifle shooting team-men (English match 60 shots team event), P. Ramanayake (Women Rifle Shooting - air rifle 40 shots individual), Sri Lanka Women's Rifle Shooting team (air rifle 40 shots team), Sri Lanka Women's Rifle Shooting (standard rifle 3x20 shots team).

Inthikab Sikkander (swimming - mens 100m breast stroke) Lihini Weerasuriya and Saranga Sangakar (tennis women's doubles).

Medals Table

India on top for the sixth consecutive time with 60 gold, 46 silver, 31 bronze - total 137: Pakistan in second position with 23 gold, 22 silver 20 bronze - total 65, Sri Lanka third - 20 gold, 22 silver, 39 bronze - total 81, Bangladesh fourth 11 gold, 19 silver, 32 bronze total - 62, Nepal - fifth, 1 gold, 6 silver, 15 bonze-total 22, Both Maldives and Bhutan failed to win a single medal at the 6th SAF Games.