Chef de Mission Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando confident:

Eighty Lankans search for GOLD

Dinesh Weerawansa reporting

The greatest sporting extravaganza of the Asian Continent, the Asian Games will be staged in Incheon, South Korea from Friday (19) with the participation of all 45 countries in Asia.

Sri Lanka will field a strong 111-member contingent, including 80 competitors and 31 officials. They will compete in nine disciplines - Athletics, Boxing, Cricket T20 men and women, Beach Volleyball, Hockey, Rugby 7s, Sailing, Wrestling and Weightlifting.

Champion weightlifter Chinthana Vidanage has been named as the overall captain of the Sri Lanka contingent, which comprises several medal prospects. The inclusion of men’s and women’s T20 Cricket in the Asian Games proper has given Sri Lanka fresh hopes of a Gold medal after Damayanthi Darsha (women’s 400m)and Susanthika Jayasinghe’s (women’s 100m) golden feats at the Busan 2002 Asian Games when South Korea last hosted the Asian version of the Olympics. But Sri Lanka had a lean run at the last two Asian Games in Doha 2006 and Guangzhou 2010.

Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando, the well-known Naval Officer turned sports administrator has been bestowed the rare honour of functioning as the sports ambassador from Sri Lanka at the all-important 17th edition of the Asian Games.

An alumni of the International Olympic Academy having successfully completed the prestigious MEMOS Program which is considered the most eloquent course of training offered to sports administrators across the world, Rear Admiral Fernando will be in the first batch from Sri Lanka to leave for South Korea today.

Fernando is confident that the Sri Lankan contingent is well groomed and focused to keep the Lion Flag fluttering high at Incheon 2014.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer prior to his departure for the delegation registration formalities, Rear Admiral Fernando said, that he will commit himself to lead the ‘Team Sri Lanka’ and will create an atmosphere that inspires, empowers and supports as well as an environment that is enjoyable for Sri Lankans to compete under the Lion Flag with pride.

Q - How do you take the challenge of being appointed as the Chef- de- Mission(CDM)?

A - It is indeed an honour and a privilege to be appointed CDM of Sri Lanka. I take with me 80 Sri Lankan elite sportsmen and sportswomen who exemplify the finest the country can provide, every one of them a champion in his or her own right.

Q - Can you tell us briefly about the Sri Lankan contingent?

A - Well, there are 11 athletes who will take part in Track and Field events including the Men’s Marathon, four well- groomed Boxers, both Men and Women T20 Cricket teams that have brought many laurels to the country, Hockey Men, the famed Rugby 7s team, the Men’s Beach Volleyball team and one each from the disciplines of Sailing, Weightlifting and Wrestling.

Q - Are they in good nick?

A - Yes, they all have been properly groomed and are capable of reaching great heights. They are committed to the herculean task and are well-focused. I expect all of them to reach their utmost at this quadrennial sports spectacular.

Q - Have we won medals in the past at the Asian Games?

A - We have won quite a number of medals – 10 Gold, 10 Silver and 22 Bronze medals. All ten Gold medals have come from Athletics. Legendary Nagalingam Ethirweerasingham is the first Sri Lanka to win a Gold for the country in Tokyo in 1958 clearing a height of 2.03m in High Jump. This feat also made him the first Sri Lankan to establish an Asian Games Record.

Q - Who are the other winners of Gold medals?

A - S.L.B. Rosa in the 5000m and 10,000m at Bangkok 1970, W. Wimaladasa in 400m and Sri Lankan 4x400m Relay team comprising of A. Premachandra, Kosala Sahabandu, Sunil Gunawardena and W. Wimaladasa in Teheran 1974, Sugath

Thilakaratne in 400m and Damayanthi Darsha in 200m and 400m in Bangkok 1998. The last Gold medals won were at Busan 2002 by Susanthika Jayasinghe in the 100m and Damayanthi Darsha in the 400m. Boxing, Tennis, Cycling, Yachting, Golf and Karate are the other sports in which Sri Lanka had won Asian Games medals in the past.

Q - Any medal prospects in Incheon 2014?

A - Well, Sri Lanka always eyes the Continental Games and Commonwealth Games as the stepping stones. We have won medals in the past. Our team has the potential to do just that and no effort has been spared to bring them to peak performance. They take with them the hopes of all Sri Lankans as well. Yes, we should win medals at Incheon.

Q - You have successfully managed Sri Lankan teams to the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games and can you describe what sports means to you?

A - Sports encourages the balanced development of physical, moral, intellectual, cultural and artistic qualities harmoniously. Sports means taking part in a blend of art, education and cultural activities. This philosophy is epitomized in any Games through the athletes’ attitude and achievement and through their presence which provides a unique means of uniting people from different cultures in peace, harmony and friendship.

Q - Any remarks on team officials?

A - Well, they are ‘Officers and Gentlemen’. Most of them are household names in Sri Lanka’s sports fraternity. I will have the services of the likes of Dian Gomes in Boxing, Jayantha Seneviratne, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Champaka Ramanayaka in Cricket Men, Roshan Iddemalgoda in Cricket Women, Dervin Perera in Athletics, Rohan Chinthaka of Rugby, Mahen

Obeysekere of Weightlifting, Air Vice Marshal Rohan Pathirage in Beach Volleyball, Rear Admiral Sarath Dissanayake in Hockey and Captain Senaka Senevirathna from the discipline of Sailing.

Q – Eighty athletes, 30 Officials, nine Sports disciplines and 16 Days of stiff competition, how will you meet this challenge?

A - I have been provided with experienced managers and coaches. Besides my deputy Upali Kumarasiri, a past athlete and a DIG in the Police, possesses a wealth of experience. The team doctor Dhammika Senanayake is fully committed, Dilema Peterson is conversant and young Olympian Conrad Francis is determined to do his best.

Q - Any tributes on behalf of the ‘Team Sri Lanka’?

A - Yes, I would like to salute all stakeholders – parents, family, friends, teachers, coaches, National Federations for their invaluable contribution. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Minister of Sports, Anura Jayawickrama, Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Mrs. Ranjani Jayakody, Director General of Sports for their continued support to develop sports in the country. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to Hemasiri Fernando, President of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka and Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia and Maxwell de Silva, Secretary General NOC for their unstinted support all along the journey to Incheon.

Q - What is your final message to the 80 athletes in your Contingent?

A - To the athletes I say, “You are standing at the threshold of greatness, an opportunity to make history, do not be afraid to dream”.

Q - What is your message to the youth of Sri Lanka?

A - I would like to share with them the words of the great Muhammad Ali, “Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision”. Rear Admiral Fernando possesses a Master’s Degree in management from the Sir John Kotelawala Defence University of Sri Lanka. Besides, he is the first Sri Lankan sports administrator to obtain a Master’s Degree in Sports Management from the world renowned Louvain University in Belgium.