HE'S GOT THE MIDAS TOUCH - EVERYTHING TURNS TO GOLD - Sri Lanka Olympic
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December 2019 HE’S GOT THE MIDAS TOUCH EVERYTHING TURNS TO GOLD
December 2019 HE’S GOT THE MIDAS TOUCH EVERYTHING TURNS TO GOLD
41 st
Await
the most prestigious school cricket
awards ceremony of the year.
Recognizing talent, inspiring greatness.
CONTENTS
Official Publication of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka
December 2019
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President: Suresh Subramaniam
Secretary General: Maxwell De Silva
Immediate Past President:
04 Foreword by Suresh Subramaniam, Hemasiri Fernando
Dream 2028 -- Every Practice Session Vice-Presidents: Joseph Kenny
Asanga Seneviratne
is a Match Maj. General (retd) Palitha Fernando
Senior DIG (retd) Sumith Edirisinghe
Treasurer: Senaka Ranasinghe
06 NOC News Assistant Treasurer:
Nishantha Jayasinghe
Assistant Secretary: Chandana Liyanage
Members: Chanaka Hashantha
08 Dillai’s painting handed over to
Fazil Hussain, Ajith Thamel,
IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach Niluka Karunarathne
GOODSPORT
Editor-in-Chief : S R Pathiravithana
12 Sports in Sri Lanka entered a new
Susil Premalal
plateau after 1991
IMAGES
Thusith Wijedoru
16 South asian games - 2019 Thishan Dissanayake
Kandula Yatawara
thepapare.com
18 The 13th SAG A journey of destiny for GRAPHICS/DESIGN
Sri Lanka’s athletes Strategic Alliance (Pvt) Limited
MARKETING
Strategic Alliance (Pvt) Limited
100 Closing ceremony heralds a
PRINTING
new beginning!
Quality Printers (Pvt) Limited
CONTACTS
106 Ethir’s vision for the future Please send your feedback to:
GOODSPORT, Olympic House,
100/9F, Independence Avenue,
Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
109 Olympic jumper Manjula Kumara bids
Email: info@olympics.lk
adieu after 18 years natolcom@slt.lk
Tel: +94 11 2684420/21/22/23
Web: www.olympics.lk
112 Modern Pentathlon Climbing the
GOODSPORT is published by
pyramid the National Olympic Committee of
Sri Lanka. The articles published do not
necessarily reflect the opinions of the
118 Educating coaches recipe for National Olympic Committee
success! of Sri Lanka. No articles may be
reproduced without the permission of the
NOC Media and Communications
124 the last shot Department.
2 December
FOREWORD
Suresh Subramaniam of malfunctioning in the engine of
sports development in our country.”
Though these exasperations were
competition has increased by
several fold and the results are
evident. Tennis in Sri Lanka is in its
President, National Olympic Committee
aired way back in 2011, the situation ascendancy.
in 2018 when I took office was not
Dream 2028 -- Every Practice Session is a Match far off. At the last Commonwealth For perfection, you must cover all
Games in Brisbane, we had a few aspects of the challenge at hand
I
was always curious to know Olympic silver medals arrived in “The bitter truth is that authorities weightlifting and boxing medals, and I term it as “Every practice is a
about the ascendance of Lanka’s Sri Lanka fifty years apart. Even have failed to find immediate but, the 2018 Asian Games once match; so every match will become
sport in general; may be because in a lesser scale like Asian Games reasons behind these miserable again was old Mother Hubbard’s – a practice”. This is my ‘Manthra’ for
I initially had my roots in local tennis. and Commonwealth Games level, failures in the field of sports and we ended up with an empty basket. success in any field.
At every local meet I used to see the achievements are declining in have not done anything to rectify Being a former National tennis
flag waving fans hovering around alarming proportions. those mistakes or wrong doings player I am well used to serving The reality is that now in athletics
the stadiums followed by their which have resulted in the said volleys and receiving them. Since I how many competitions do they
bellowing on how someone broke Even my predecessor Hemasiri mediocre performances by our took over the reins of the NOC SL, face per season? – May be one or
the existing national record of a Fernando during a serious athletes. I learned how the clock ticks and two the most. This is a sorry state of
given event especially in the field of assertion on the decline of in which direction the athlete runs affairs that has to be addressed.
athletics. There was indeed a sense performance of our athletes in “The current trend in merely when the track is laid out. I feel the volume of local competition
of euphoria and everyone wanted the international arena lamented participating in international and must go up several fold while there
to know when the next Olympic “Except in Cricket, Sri Lankan regional ‘games’ or ‘championships’ Now, I have got the assistance of should be international exposure at
medal was forthcoming; yet, it used sportsmen and women have by our sportsmen and women Olympic Gold medallist Susanthika least once a month; while giving the
to simmer to a whimper across failed to perform satisfactorily at will continue in the same manner Jayasinghe to act in the capacity opportunity for some of the leading
of Director of High Performance in athletes to do their training overseas Photo:
our shores. Nonetheless, overseas international and regional multi- unless swift and drastic action NOC SL President Suresh
Sri Lanka’s achievements are few disciplined sports festivals for the is taken to arrest the aforesaid our development team and in turn in a systematic manner. Subramaniam with Abraham
and far between, and even the two last so many years. situation and address these issues is looking to get further assistance I learned that an average Tolentino, President
from personalities in the calibre of international athlete engages in at Philippines Olympic
Tony Campbell; who churned the least at fifteen international meets Committee
Lankan mare to a medal winning per year – this count to more than
running machine. one competition every month.
This is one ploy that I think that I I presume this is ‘the volume of
have circled to cast my point. The activity’ that we have to look at if
next is, I have taken a cue from our we are to be competitive akin to
own local tennis. The SLTA now the international demands and be
has recognized that competition on par with the rest of the athletic
inbound and outbound is the only community by at least year 2024
solution to our present predicament. Olympic Games in Paris.
Now at the SLTA the volume of
Photo: Photo:
With Mr Wong Po Kee MH, With Reza Salehi Amiri, President
Deputy Secretary General of the National Olympic
Olympic Committee Hong Kong Committee of Iran
Photo:
Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee President Suresh Subramaniam met the President of the Qatar National
Olympic Committee President Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, recently. Also in the picture is Secretary General
Olympic Committee Maxwell de Silva
4 December December 5
Dr. Chula Netballer Mellony loses Three lasses off to Singapore for TT
Senaratne her bout with Leukaemia
appointed to FIBA
Three young Table Tennis players were identified and given
support and scholarships by the Foundation of Goodness and
Medical me. Often I have heard good NOC SL with the assistance from Singapore National Olympic
Council to go to Singapore. They will stay there for a short period
Commission
things being spoken of her and
with players of that calibre I for further training.
felt the game of netball in Sri
Lanka was in safe hands.”
Tharjini was also of the view,
that she would have been
another player who could fit
into the Australian professional
circuit in the future just like
Secretary General of Sri Lanka the opportunity that she got
Basketball Federation, Dr. Chula purely owing to her height and
Meeting of the titans
Senaratne has been appointed Mellony came very close she
Sometimes time is too little.
to the Medical Commission feels. All in all Mellony’s loss is
Definitely for 17-year-old
of the FIBA international for a loss for the whole nation.
Mellony Wijesinghe it was sadly
the term of 2019-2023. It is At her demise she was a
Mr. Suresh Subramaniam - the President of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka and true. She was a youth national
a rare achievement to get an student of Visakha Vidyalaya,
the Secretary General Mr. Maxwell de Silva met the International Olympic Committee's President player with a dazzling future;
appointment into a professional was earmarked as one of the
Dr. Thomas Bach today in Doha. The 24th Association of National Olympic Committee's General often spoken about bigger
commission of FIBA next big netball stars in the
Assembly was held in Doha, Qatar. 204 National Olympic Committees and International Sport ascendancies, yet, tragically
International from South Asia, country after representing
Federation and over 1000 delegates took part in the assembly. it was all taken back from the
especially in a sport dominated Sri Lanka at the 8th Netball
maker of all things itself.
NCDs future programme
by America and Europe. World Youth Cup back in
Dr. Chula Senaratne works at 2017, playing with and against
One of the brightest stars in the
the Colombo South Teaching players 4-5 years her senior.
netball horizon, she was still a
Hospital Kalubowila. His Mellony was a part of the
student at Visakha Vidyalaya
Basketball career spans around Sri Lanka Development Pool
when she fell victim to the
40 yrs where half of this as a before being named the vice-
vicious cancer of leukaemia and
player and the other half as an captain of the Sri Lanka Youth
this left the Sri Lankan netball
administrator. Team back in June this year.
community in shock at her
demise. The dominant Goal Shooter
He is a Member of the
was a major part of Sri Lanka’s
Central Board of South Asian
It was said that Mellony had successful campaign in the
Basketball Association (SABA)
fallen ill during the All Island tournament where they finished A power packed NOC SL team made a visit to Kathmandu to finalise
and also serves in the Medical
Schools Netball Championship 3rd behind Singapore and arrangements to the 13th South Asian Games. On behalf of Sri Lanka
Committee of the National
back in August. Malaysia. Team Mr. Maxwell de Silva, Secretary General of NOC Sri Lanka,
Olympic Committee of Sri
Lanka. He was appointed as Mr. Asanga Seneviratne, Vice-President of NOC Sri Lanka,
It was none other than the world A star on the court as well as Maj. Gen. (Retired), Dampath Fernando, Chef-de-Mission, Mr. Gamini
the Chef-de-Mission of the
renowned Sri Lankan netballer in her studies, Mellony passed Jayasinghe, Deputy Chef-de-Mission, Mr. Dhammika Muthugala
Malaysia. Vice President of the Sri Lankan Contingent at the
A four-day training course was Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, her G.C.E. Ordinary Level Director General Sports, and Mr. I.P. Wijeratne Director of Sports,
Youth Olympic Games held in Tharjini Sivalingam who played
hosted by National Olympic and Sudan took part in the NOC SL Mr. Joseph Kenny was examination with flying colours
Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018. a heart-rending tribute about the Ministry of Sports, Roy Fernando Medical Unit, Ministry of Sports and
Committee of Sri Lanka under course and the session was the chief guest at the closing last year and was studying for
He was the Chairman of the loss of her team mate. “I was Accountant, Ministry of Sports, participated at the meeting
the auspices of Olympic facilitated by the Programme ceremony and all participants A/L’s in the Bio stream with
National Selection Committee so very much senior to her in
solidarity at Olympic House, Director and one of the were conferred with aspirations of becoming a
for Basketball for 7 years in the ranks as a Senior National
Sri Lanka. Fourteen National Course Directors certification of participation. doctor in the future.
the past, apart from his other Netball player, but, somehow I
participants from Bangladesh, of the Olympic Council of
positions on the Sri Lanka always felt a closeness - may be
Basketball Federation. at 6’ 3” she was catching up on
6 December December 7
Photo: Photo:
Painter Ms Dillai Joseph with Secretary General National NOC SL Secretary General Maxwell de Silva (Left) President NOC SL Suresh Subramaniam handing over ‘Reef painting’ to International
Di ll ai’s
Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, Maxwell de Silva Olympic Committee President Dr. Thomas Bach. Also in the picture is Pere Miro, Deputy Director General NOC relations
There the Lankan duo handed over a essence of this endeavour in my
painting done by Sri Lankan artist Ms. painting. It is no longer sufficient to
Dillai Joseph depicting environment ‘conserve’ coral reefs; rather it is to
sustainability done under the theme go one step further, where pro-active
‘Give the reef another chance’. NOC human intervention is needed to
p a i n t i ng h an d ed o v er t o Sri Lanka initiated this environmental
sustainability programme in Polhena
restore the reefs. The painting depicts
a human hand giving out colour blobs
I O C P re s i d e n t D r. Tho m a s Ba ch on June 25, 2019. to bring back life to somewhat dead
corals (some parts of the coral is
In that initiative, Joseph was also part white). The stance of the human hand
T
he President of the National of the programme and took a very is also to have resemblance of the
Olympic (NOC) of Sri Lanka serious responsibility of creating its famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel
Mr. Suresh Subramaniam and information centre. Joseph designed ‘The creation’ and drawing a parallel,
its Secretary General Mr Maxwell de all the visual materials and contents where we as humans have the ability
Silva met the International Olympic for the centre to educate the public to give life back to coral reefs not
Committee Chairman Dr. Thomas on the importance of the coral reefs. merely to stop at conservation.
Bach during the 24th ANOC Annual Artist Dillai Joseph says, “I, as an I have tried to depict the bright colour
Assembly in Doha, Qatar recently. artist, have tried to capture the scheme underwater and texturized
the corals to give a better effect.
Photo:
The NOC Secretary General and President in conversation with Dr. Bach
8 December December 9
Photo: ‘Humans have the power to It is a very dear painting to me and I
NOC SL give life back’ “I wish to gift this wanted to part with the original as I
Secretary
General Maxwell painting which is Acrylic on canvas believe this can inspire many beyond
de Silva (60cmx80cm) to the International borders. We need to do this for the
explaining the Olympic Committee as a token to generations to come so that they too
‘’Reef Painting”
to Dr. Bach celebrate Olympic values and the will enjoy the planet and value it.”
while NOC SL remembrance of this work done
President Suresh in Sri Lanka with the NOC team
Subramaniam
looks on. to encourage how we can work
together to bring back what was lost
and it is not too late to keep trying.
10 December
South Sports in Sri Lanka entered
Asian a new plateau after 1991
Games By Susil Premalal
T
he South Asian Games (SAG) Therefore the Olympic Committee decided to stage the first ever South
was held in Sri Lanka in 1991 of South Asian countries decided Asian Games in 1983. However,
and 2006. The first one was to have a regional competition hosts Bangladesh could not hold
the fifth edition of the SAG Games similar to the South East Asian the inaugural event as planned that
which was then known as the South Games which began in 1959 also in year because of political instability.
Asian Federation (SAF) Games. It Bangkok with the participation of 11 Then it was decided by the
was transformed as the South Asian countries. South Asian Olympic Council to
Games in 2006 for the first time and hold the first ever SAF Games in
continues to this day. For the South Asian competition, Kathmandu, Nepal in 1984. It was
there were seven countries namely held from September 17 to 23 with
The idea behind having an exclusive Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, competitions being held for five
event for South Asian countries Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the sports - athletics, boxing, football,
was because the performances of Maldives. Afghanistan joined the swimming and weightlifting.
the region sunk to a disappointing South Asian Games recently.
low at the Asian Games held in It was in 1982 during a meeting held In the Nepal SAF Games Sri Lanka
Bangkok, Thailand in 1978. in Dhaka, Bangladesh that it was came second overall winning 7
gold, 11 silver and 3 bronze medals. point in the history of sports in
Swimmer Julian Bolling, athletes Sri Lanka.
Simone Van Heer (100m),
Ramani Mangalika (200m) and With the full backing of the
Ruwan Chandratilleke (400m) state resources, it gave a fillip
won individual gold medals. to sportsmen and women in the
The men’s 4 x 400m relay team country generating a new sporting
comprising Chandrathilleke, E.K.C. culture and patriotic feeling.
Gunawardena, George Sunil Rodrigo This was the first multi-disciplined
and Ranjith Aluvihare also bagged sporting event ever hosted in
the gold medals. Sri Lanka.
The right to host the Games was Late President Ranasinghe
selected according to alphabetical Premadasa ensured state patronage
order thereafter. Originally it was for the Games taking a personal
decided to hold the event annually interest to ensure the success of the
but it was held once in two years event.
thereafter.
Former Sports Minister Nanda
This is the third time that Mathew, former NOC chief late Roy
Kathmandu hosted the Games with de Silva, NOC Secretary General
the 13th edition of SAG being held Prema Pinnawela, Education
from December 1 to 10. After 1984, Ministry’s Director of Sports Sunil
the SAF Games was held in Nepal Jayaweera, Sports Ministry Deputy
in 1999. Director Capt. Tilen Perera, and top
level officials of all state institutions
Sri Lanka hosted the Games for the were members of the higher
first time in 1991 at the Sugathadasa organizing committee.
Stadium. The Games was a turning
12 December December 13
colombo
univers
ity
st josep
h's colle
ge
colombo
univers
ity
bolgoda
lake
President Premadasa left no stone There were 10 sports when Sri Amarasekera, Damayanthi However, on the flip side of the coin,
unturned to make the Games a Lanka hosted the SAF Games Darsha, Chinthaka Soysa, Sugath the success of 1991 SAF Games
success looking into the needs in 1991. They were athletics, Tillekeratne, Rohan Pradeep, also spawned the evil menace of
of participants and organizational basketball, boxing, football, rifle Ranga Wimalawansa and Olympic doping in sports especially athletics.
aspects almost on a daily basis. shooting, swimming, table tennis, medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe Sri Lanka hosted the South Asian
The area around and within the tennis, volleyball and weight lifting. emerged during this era. They Games for the second time in 2006
Sugathadasa Stadium complex Sri Lanka secured a total of 118 made gradual progression after after a gap of 15 years. However, Sri
received a major facelift with the medals including 44 gold, 34 silver winning medals at the SAF Games Lanka could not repeat the success
decision to host the Games in and 40 bronze medals. and went onto shine at the Asian they achieved when they staged the
Sri Lanka. Athletic Championships, Asian games in Colombo for the first time
The host nation emerged Games, Commonwealth Games, in 1991.
Significantly in conjunction with the champions in athletics for the first and World Championships
SAF Games, Colombo also hosted time in the history of the Games culminating with Susanthika There were a record 20 sporting
the SAARC Summit which was a winning 15 gold medals as against Jayasinghe crowning herself with disciplines at the 10th edition of the
resounding success with heads of 12 by India. Sri Lanka also became glory at the Sydney Olympics in Games held from August 18 to 25.
the states of all the participating the first winner of the women’s 2000. Sri Lanka won a total of 178 medals
countries gracing the occasion. volleyball gold medal defeating (37 gold, 63 silver and 78 bronze
Even the international media which India in 1991. The resurgence of sports in Sri medals) but was placed third
attended the event, endorsed Lanka after hosting the Games behind South Asian giants India
the 1991 SAF Games as the best The momentum of success in 1991 also permeated to non- and Pakistan. Sri Lanka’s athletes
ever organized sporting event achieved at the Colombo Games Olympic sports as Sri Lanka won won the most number of 33 medals
in all spheres especially in the in 1991 continued until 2000 in the cricket World Cup in 1996, including 14 gold, 12 silver and 7
hospitability as a host nation. The all sporting disciplines especially while the netballers emerged Asian bronze medals with Susanthika
countries which hosted the South athletics. Star athletes such as champions while winning laurels in Jayasinghe announcing her arrival
Asian Games thereafter took the Sriyantha Dissanayake, Jayamini rugby football as well. by bagging a triple gold in the 100,
Colombo Games as a yardstick Illeperuma, Ineka Cooray, 200 and 4 x 100m relay.
and tried to emulate Sri Lanka Dhammika Menike, Sriyani
thereafter. Kulawansha, Prasanna Sampath
14 December December 1516 December December 17
The 13th SAG A journey of destiny for Sri Lanka’s athletes By S.R. Pathiravithana I t’s a landlocked country on top of Asian Games which was held in the cities counts to around a quarter of the world’s a mountain range—the Himalayas. of Kathmandu, Pokhara and Janakapur. population. Obviously the result would be wintry Thronged in this location were athletes conditions in December and heavy from the South Asian nations – Bhutan, Individually there were many winners, but clothing – your guess is right; we were Bangladesh, the Maldives, India, Pakistan, as for sports; the ultimate winner was talking about Nepal and the 13th South Sri Lanka and the hosts Nepal, which sport as a whole, because it displayed 18 December December 19
oneness and amity through individual enthusiasm of the Nepalese public Yes, They were a cut above the rest.
and team sport, proving the subtle point said that they were there to make an May be had women’s marathoner Hiruni
“Participation is the biggest achievement”. impression. Then after the first quarter Wijaratna had competition, she could have
Medal tally wise the highest achievers of the competition it was the Nepalese been coaxed to run faster and broken
were giants India whose athletes were athletes who were heading the table, while some records, but ironically even she did
responsible for bringing home 173 India was charging their dynamo for the not know where her competition was –
gold medals and a final tally of 311. latter half of the competition. Initially it was apparently nine minutes later. At the end
Hosts Nepal made the maximum of a tussle between Sri Lanka and Pakistan of the race she was all in her wits may be
home conditions ending up with a very for the third position. could have run to catch the bus home had
impressive 51 gold medals in a tally of 206 she lived there in Nepal.
medals. The final outcome was more or less
predictable. Once, Sri Lanka with their Likewise golfer, Grace Yatawara too was
However the most impressive full complement of athletes came out incomparable with her “Club Art” and
performance came from islanders Sri with an all-out performance especially would have been more competitive with
Lanka who ended up with 40 gold medals through track and field event they finished more meaningful competition. The third
83 silver and 128 bronze medals by far with a memorable tally but, one still was Mathew Abeysinghe—the seven Gold
the biggest haul by a collective effort in wonder should we go overboard with this wonder in swimming. Yet, the stark truth in
a single sports gathering. Reason is the performance or should be vigilant and their success is that they all live and train
Lankan athletes competed in somewhat make this the springboard for greater in the United States of America where
alien conditions, considering the clime achievements and come in par with the sport is a different bar of reality. “There
that they live in. Yet, competition is rest of the athletic world. you have to be good to be competitive.”
competition and you must learn to play
straight on any wicket. Making the narration in a positive manner Finally judoka Chamara Dharmawardena
we must ask ourselves did we really has had the Olympic exposure and
The games got under way with volleyball achieve in a broader sense of the word. the NOC SL has also given him many
– men and women on November 29, It was more than a secret that India and opportunities to better himself and he
but the games proper were flagged on Pakistan held back some of their prize obliged that by bringing home a rare judo
December 1 at the Rangashala Stadium at horses in the stable? Did our own athletes gold.
Dharmashala in Kathmandu. come out with exceptional personal
achievements which could take them to
As expected it was a roar of a success. the borderline of international maturity?
The pomp and pageantry and the
20 December December 21Athletics
Dazzling Hiruni
spurs Sri Lanka’s
gold shower
S
he is petite and lithe and she in 2hrs 41 minutes and 24 seconds while more gold in Javelin Throw, 800 men and
sailed like the wind. It was still the lass from Nepal came in with a timing women, and 4x400 men and women relay.
morning in Dasharath Rangasala of 2hrs 50mts and 11 seconds. The men’s marathon runners disappointed.
Tripureshwor when the crowd that Sri Lanka’s Pradeep Dhammika (2:28.31)
thronged went agape with a woman in A beaming Hiruni looking just normal said: finished fifth while Sisira Kumara (2:29.32)
rhythmic motion striding past the main “Only my feet are hurting a little and other was placed sixth while Nepal’s Kiran Singh
gate of the stadium. than that I am okay. This is my first gold for won the gold medal (2:21.17). India’s
my country and will promise there would Rashpal Singh (2:21.57) and Shre Singh
At that point she was nearly nine minutes be many more. At the same time records (2:22.07) claimed the silver and bronze Photo:
Marathoner Hiruni Wijayaratne
ahead of her closest rival Pushpa Bha did not cross my mind at all; all what I medals respectively. leading her way to the SAG Gold
of Nepal. There were no signs of fatigue wanted do is to bring home a gold medal.”
and she looked as if she just has started Sprinters Aruna Darshana and Dilshi
the 42km195metre course. Then after a Spurred by this omen the Lankan women Maheesha, hurdler Lakshika Sugandi
victory lap the Lankan woman marathoner build its athletic castle, the athletic and triple jumper Hashini Prabodha won
Hiruni Wijayaratne whizzed past the post contingent closed its curtains adding 5 gold medals, to put Sri Lanka back on
22 December December 23Photo:
Dilshi Kumarasingha
Photo:
Legendary Olympic
Silver Medallist
Susanthika Jayasinghe
admires Aruna
Dharshana’s medal
the saddle in track and field events the runners to finish the race in
among South Asian nations. 0.53.40 seconds. India’s Priya
Habbanath won the silver medal Photo:
Sri Lanka started off Day 5 with a finishing behind Dilshi at 0.54.31 Himasha wins his battle
gold medal from Lakshika Sugandi, seconds, while Sahib Asra claimed
who edged out India’s Aparna the bronze medal with a timing of
Roy to win the Women’s 100m 0.54.38 seconds.
Hurdles event. Lakshika won the
gold medal with a timing of 0.13.68 Sri Lanka enjoyed another one-two
seconds, with a quick run in the finish in the Women’s Triple Jump
final few metres to push back Roy, event, as the favourite in the event
who clocked 0.14.37 seconds, to and gold medal hope, Vidusha
second place. Sri Lanka had the Lakshani was bettered by her
possibility of claiming a top two compatriot Hashini Prabodha. She
finish, but Ireshani Rajasinghe failed achieved 13.21 metres in her third
to dominate over the Indian silver attempt, after failing twice, and the
medalist, and claimed the bronze leap was sufficient to give her the
medal clocking 0.14.18 seconds. gold medal, over Lakshani, who
Sri Lanka won three back-to-back jumped 13.14 metres. Out of six
gold medals in the Men’s 400m, jumpers, besides the two Lankan
Women’s 400m and Women’s Triple jumpers, others failed to hit the
Jump stealing the limelight, before 13metre mark. India’s Bharabi Roy,
noon. Aruna Darshana, Sri Lanka’s who claimed the bronze medal,
favourite and medal prospect, jumped 12.77 metres.
made a perfect run to claim the Hurdler Roshan Dhammika and
gold in the Men’s 400m final after triple jumper Safreen Ahmed added
clocking 0.46.69 seconds, while the remaining two bronze medals
Lakmal Priyantha followed in close for Sri Lanka taking the entire
to claim the silver with the timing of count to nine from the fifth day
0.46.79 seconds, sealing a Lankan in athletics. Dhammika clocked
dominance. India’s K. Jeevan won 0.14.42 seconds in the Men’s
the bronze medal after finishing the 110m Hurdles to win the bronze
run at 0.47.42 seconds. medal, finishing behind gold winner
Muhammad Naeem of Pakistan
Sri Lanka claimed another gold in (0.14.30sec) and India’s Surendhar
the Women’s 400m final, with Dilshi Jayak (0.14.37sec) in a close finish. Photo:
Maheesha dominating the rest of The SAG athletic contingent
24 December December 25Safreen Ahmed gave Sri Lanka a – Pakistan (Sahib E. Asra, Aneela
bronze medal in Men’s Triple Jump, Gulzab, Rajiha Ashiq, Najma Parveen)
with a clearance of 15.95 metres, 3:41.74, Bronze – India (Priya
which he achieved in his fifth attempt. Habbathan, Vijayakumari, Manisha
He was bettered by India’s Karthik Kushwaji, Nancy) 3:41.81
Unnikri, who won the gold medal Men’s Javelin Throw: Arshad
Photo: after clearing 16.47 metres and Nadeem (Pak) 86.29m (NMR), Silver –
Roshan Dhammika Mohammed Salahudin, also of India, Shivpal Singh (Ind) 84.16m, Bronze –
who claimed the silver with a jump of Sumedha Ranasinghe (SL) 74.97m.
16.36 metres.
Photo:
Aruna Dharshana and
Then after Hiruni’s dazzle came the Men’s 400m: Gold - Aruna Darshana
Lakmal Priyantha
Men’s 800m: Gold – Indunil Herath (SL) 0.46.69, Silver – Lakmal
(SL) 1:50.52, Silver – Mohammed Priyantha (SL) 0.46.79, K. Jeevan
Afzal (Ind) 1:51.25, Bronze – Som (Ind) 0.47.42
Bahadur (Nep) 1:51.44 - Sri Lanka’s
Rusiru Chathuranga finished fourth Women’s 400m: Gold - Dilshi
1:51.51. Maheesha (SL) 0.53.40, Silver – Priya
Habbathan (Ind) 0.54.31, Bronze –
Women’s 800m: Gold - Dilshi Sahib Asra (Pak) 0.54.38
Kumarasinghe (SL) 2:06.18, Silver –
Gayanthika Abeyratne (SL) 2:08.52, Men’s 100m Hurdles: Gold –
Bronze - Lily Das (Ind) 2:08.97 Muhammad Naeem (Pak) 0.14.30,
Women’s Javelin Throw: Gold – Silver – Surendhar Jayak (Ind)
Photo:
Nadeesha Lekamge (SL) 55.02m, 0.14.37, Bronze – Roshan Dhammika
Hiruni Wijayaratne
Silver – Nadeeka Lakmali (SL) (SL) 0.14.42
54.41m, Bronze – Kumari Sharmila
(Ind) 53.63m Women’s 110m Hurdles: Gold –
Lakshika Sugandi (SL) 0.13.68, Silver
Men’s 4x400m: Gold - Sri Lanka – Aparna Roy (Ind) 0.14.13, Bronze –
(Aruna Darshana, Senira Gunaratne, Ireshani Rajasinghe (SL) 0.14.18
Rajitha Rajakaruna, Lakmal
Priyantha) 3:08.04, Silver – India Men’s Triple Jump: Gold – Karthik
(Jeevan Karekopp, Santhosh Kumar, Unnikri (Ind) 16.47m (3), Silver –
Angrej Singh, Jabir Madari) 3:08.21, Mohammed Salahudin (Ind) 16.36m
Bronze – Pakistan (Umar Sadat, (2), Bronze – Safreen Ahmed (SL)
Mehboob Ali, Abdul Mueed, Nokar 15.95m (5)
Hussain) 3:08.24
Women’s Triple Jump: Gold – Hashini
Women’s 4x400m: Gold – Sri Lanka Prabodha (SL) 13.21m, Silver –
(Omaya Udayangani, Gayanthika Vidusha Lakshani (SL) 13.14m,
Abeyratne, Kaushalya Madushani, Bronze – Bharabi Roy (Ind) 12.77m.
Dilshi Kumarasinghe) 3:41.10, Silver
Photo:
Sugandi Lakshika
Photo:
26 December Waruna Lakshan December 27Photo:
Mathew Abeysinghe
Swimming
He’s got the Midas
touch; everything
turns to gold
By S.R. Pathiravithana
R
epeating an astounding works and trains consciously with a certain
performance akin to winning seven goal in mind rarely deviating from it. The
gold medals in an International plus point in this endeavour is that he
meet is rare and awe inspiring. When one belongs to a swimming family and that art
does attain that feat it goes to prove what is a way of life. He swims because he was
sort of international star he/she is and born to do it and other achievements that
how that person’s metabolism ticks. come along with it are the fruits of his sweat.
Sri Lanka’s swimming star Mathew At the 13th SAG, competing under alien
Abeysinghe is one such individual whose conditions compounded with real pitfalls
metabolism works in that manner. He like an underdone swimming pool and
28 December December 29Photo:
Ramudi Samarakoon
insufficient training facilities; he stood out like a beacon and a
cut above the rest; thus he proved that he is blessed with the
Midas touch.
We started our little conversation asking Mathew about his
impressions of the 13th SAG swimming, as he emulated his last
SAG performance in India last time out. Mathew spelled out Photo:
his impressions in this manner. He said: “I think the conditions Bhakthi Karunasena
weren’t ideal, being Nepal naturally the altitude, the weather
conditions and the pool not being ready played a vital role in
the final outcome. I think me and the team we did our best with
what we could; those were not perfect conditions. Yet, I am
Photo:
happy with the final result.”
Ganga Senevirathne
Obviously the following question was ‘what’s next’? Mathew
explained, “the next step for me is the Olympics and qualifying
for it. That is going to be my target in life for the next eight
months starting with a training camp in Hawaii. From there my Photo:
The contingent
coaches along with my father Manoj Abeysinghe we will plan
out different meets that we are going to participate in. Some
of those meets do have qualifiers, so we have to work towards
that.”
Then in reply to our query on what is the status of our game
at present Mathew Abeysinghe explained that he feels that
swimming as a sport is in safe hands and the bar is constantly
being raised. He said: “For this question my answer has always
been, Sri Lanka swimming over the past few years has been
improving. If you look at the national records – the national
records between the years 2010 and 2019 it’s not the same. Photo:
A lot of people in the SAG team looking out for Gold medals Aniqah Gafoor
but failed only by a whisker. But, I think the team was extremely
good and it’s a good omen for Sri Lanka swimming.”
Then GoodSport asked the question – after you, the Akalankas
and Rahims-- does this mean that Lankan swimming possesses
the necessary ingredients to move on at the present pace.
Mathew said: “When I moved to Colombo in 2010 the national
record for 50metre free style was 24.7secs done by Heshan
Unamboowe who was considered really good at that time, now
there at least 25-30 swimmers in Sri Lanka who could attain that
feat. The National record at present is at 22:5 – 2.2 seconds in
ten years is unheard of.”
Explaining the upsurge of Sri Lankan swimming Mathew said:
“I think people like my dad Manoj do possess the talent to spot
talent and develop them. My family moving to Sri Lanka played
a big part in the improvement of Sri Lanka swimming; before,
it was like a kind of stagnant where competition was concerned,
but now with me and my brothers and some others setting the
bar so high, the younger kids are also trying to achieve that and
to get there and they have to work at it. As the level of the top Photo:
end people like me and others get higher the others have to Sandu Savindi
emulate us to keep with bar that is set.”
Photo:
Mathew Abeysinghe
30 December December 31Photo:
P.G.H.C. Madusanka
Photo:
M.A.S.U. Jayasingha
Taekwondo Photo:
the catalyst N.I.S. Mendis
By S.R. Pathiravithana
B
y The 13th South Asian Games in as we are concerned this performance Besides, the gold by the end of the first
Nepal well could be the catalyst as is the turning point of Taekwondo in day, the Lankan team were displaying 5
far as Taekwondo is concerned in Sri Lanka, now it is up to us to make it silver and 5 bronze medals too.”
one meaning than one. After two dry days work and become a regular feature all He feels that was the bar that they set in
of medals, Taekwondo opened Sri Lanka’s programmes.” for the rest of the contest. At the same
gold rush producing three in one day. The time all the players also reciprocated by
other is that from rather a ‘nonentity’ pre- Alahakone explained as to how they giving their maximum to the cause. On
game reception, the public as well as the broke the ice. He said: “In our very first the second day of events, he said our
officialdom have taken a step back and outing we won a gold medal which was players finished with three medals in four
begun to take notice of this discipline with brought home in the individual men’s outings with silver and two bronze. In the
respect that is due. under 17-23 Poomsae event by talented third day of events Sri Lankan players had
Ranuka Prabhath. That set our bar for the medals in all our matches including gold in
Team manager Sampath Alahakone was entire game. Every Sri Lankan player who a fighting competition which was won by
beaming after the event. He knew his followed Ranuka wanted to emulate that Chalinda Liyanage in the 62kgs and under
boys and girls have backed the sport performance.” category.
that they are a part of and have made
it more meaningful to be a part of. He Alahakone added that this gold being “All these signs add up to a healthy future
said: “Prior to our departure some of the Sri Lanka’s first at the games also had a for the game of Taekwondo in Sri Lanka.
officials had doubts about how the game huge impact on the players and definitely We must make sure that we maximise the
of Taekwondo is being run in Sri Lanka in they were pumped up. He added: “So awareness and edge that we have worked
somewhat a critical tone, but they were much so by the end of the first day’s on. I am sure that our young players would
the very people who then shouted their events Sri Lanka had three gold medals take this as a stepping stone for bigger
voices hose singing all the hosannas in in their larder and they were the only ones deeds in the International arena. Besides
praise of the achievement. Yet, as far who had gold under their belts by then. all their achievements also go into their
individual international grading.”
32 December December 33Photo:
R.D.M.T. Jayaweera
Men’s 63 Kg Men’s 87 Kg
Gold - Chalinda Liyanage Bronze - Charma Tharindu
Photo:
Men’s Individual Poomsae (17-23) Years Women’s 73 Kg Photo: R.A.D.N Rajapakse
S.U.S.B. Wijewickrema
Gold - Ranuka Prabhath Bronze - Sachitha Pramodini
Pair Poomsae (17-23) Years Men’s 87+ Kg
Gold - Isuri Suhara Mendis Nammuni & Ranuka Prabhath Bronze - Balapatiyage Bless
Pair Poomsae (23-29) Years Men’s 74 Kg
Men’s Team Poomsae 23 Years Above Bronze - Darshana Kumara
Gold - Nishanka Jayasinghe, Lakshman Ilandarige,
Krishantha Weerasinghe Ilangan Weeragedara Women’s 62 Kg
Silver - Thilakshika Jayaweera & Nissanka Jayasinghe Bronze - Maneesha Samarajeewa
Men’s Individual Poomsae 29 Years Above Women’s 53 Kg
Silver - Lakshman Ilandarige Bronze - Dasuana Nimesha
Photo: Photo:
Women’s Individual Poomsae (23-29) Years Women’s 73+ Kg N.I.S. Mendis M.P.D.R. Prabhath
Silver - Thilakshika Jayaweera Bronze - Nuwanthi Lakmali
Men’s 54 Kg Women’s 46 Kg
Silver - Anura Bandara Bronze - Ishara Piumali Samarakoon
Women’s 49 Kg Men’s 68 Kg
Photo:
Sliver - Irangani Pushpa Bronze - Tharanga Lakmal
J.A. Nishshanka
Women’s Team Poomsae 23 Years Above Women’s Team Poomsae (17-23) Years
Silver - Ranpatipura Dewage Madhavee, Thilakshika Bronze - Isuri Suhara Mendis Nammuni, Sanjeewi
Jayaweera, Shalini Upekha Sithumini Bandara Udyogya Jayasinghe, Hashihni Chapa Madusanika Photo:
I. Lakshman
Wijewickrama, Dhanusha Nayanangani Rajapakse Pahalagedara
Arachchige
Women’s Individual Poomsae (17-23) Years
Men’s Team Poomsae (17-23) Years Bronze - Isuri Suhara Mendis Nammuni
Silver - Ranuka Prabhath Menik Pedi, Durayalage
Amila Sahan Isuru, Nimesh Viranga Mallawa Thanthirige Women’s Individual Poomsae 29 Years Above
Bronze - Gayathri Sandamali
Men’s 58 Kg
Bronze - Ramesh Jeewantha Thikarathna Men’s Individual Poomsae (23-29) Years
Bronze - Nishshanka Jayasinghe
Men’s 80 Kg
Bronze - Suranga Dihan Pair Poomsae 29 Years Above
Bronze - Laxman Ilandarige & Gayathri
Mehenchiarachchige
Photo:
I. Lakshman
Photo:
I.W.K. Weerasinghe, I. Lakshman, J.A. Nishshanka
34 December December 35Wrestling
Lankan Wrestlers
take home 14 medals
overall
G
.G. Ayomi Senaratne and W.M. Women’s overall: Men’s overall
Deepika Weerabahu shone at Women’s 72 Kgs G.G. Ayomi Senaratne Men’s 92 Kgs Walpitage Salitha (Silver)
the 13th South Asian Games (GOLD) Men’s 79Kgs W.S. Fernando (Silver)
Wrestling Championships by bringing Women’s 65kgs W.M. Deepika Weerabahu Men’s 74kgs W.M. Madushanka Wijesuriya
home two gold medals at Janakapura,
(GOLD) (Silver)
Nepal.
Women’s 76 Kgs Shanika Weerasinghe Men’s 70kgs K.K.G. Anil Munasinghe
(Silver) (Silver)
Besides the two gold, the Lankan
women were able bag four other silver Women’s 68kgs R.A. Mala Rupasinghe Men’s 65kgs Chamara Weerasinghe (Silver)
and a bronze making it a tally of seven (Silver) Men’s 57kgs Gayan Chathurangana (Silver)
medals over all. Women’s 62Kgs M.W. Mahira Priyangani Men’s 61kgs Udara Fernando (Bronze)
(Silver)
In the men’s competition the male Women’s 50kgs S.P. Sriyakanthi Nirohashini
competitors were behind the women’s (Silver)
with no gold, but finished with seven Women’s 53Kgs Sanika Madushani (Bronze)
Silver and a bronze tally of also seven
medals.
36 December December 37Photo:
Weightlifting
J.A.C. Lakmal
Two gold
for Lankan
weightlifters at
Pokhara
By S.R. Pathiravithana
I
n the mix of Sri Lanka international The weightlifting competition was
sports, weightlifting is definitely a conducted in the city of Pokhara more than
medal yielding exercise especially a hundred kilo metres away from the main
when it comes to contests in the calibre city of Kathmandu.
of Commonwealth Games and South
Asian Games. Upon the return of the Lankan weightlifters
GoodSport took time to share a narration
In the 2019 South Asian Games, the on what transpired with co-lifter Thilanga
Lankan weightlifters once again proved Palangasinghe; incidentally a silver
their mettle by contributing to the medal winner at the games. He said:
Lankan cause with eleven medals which “It started with the ladies 45kgs event
consisted of two gold, eight silver and followed by men’s the 55kgs and 61kgs
one bronze. and women’s 55kgs contests. During the
38 December December 39Photo:
Chathurika Priyanthi
Photo:
Chathurika Priyanthi
day’s proceedings we ended up with
gold and two silver medals. Samarakone
won ladies silver in the 45kgs class,
the other silver was taken by Hansani
Gomes in the 49kgs category while Y.D.I.
Kumara became the first Gold recipient
in the 55kgs category, then I followed it
Photo: with a 61kgs men’s silver . Then R.M.N.
Indika Dissanayake Rajapakse also won silver in the men’s
55kgs category.
“In the following day; opening with the
73kgs category Indika Dissanayake lost
medal opportunity by seeking the gold
lift, but, evergreen Chinthana Vidanage
managed a Bronze. This was followed by
Chaturika Priyanthi who won a bronze.
In the final day of weightlifting Himali
Haputenne made another gold winning
effort in the 85kgs and over category
while Eshan Charuka in the over 109kgs
category won a silver.”
Palangasinghe finally said in spite of a few
logistical issues, the overall scenario was
quite impressive and they were very proud
to have contributed to the Lankan cause
in this manner.
Photo:
40 December The SAG 2019 Weightlifting squad December 41Wushu
Thilini and Anuradha
bring home Gold medals
S
ri Lanka’s Wushu players answered the country’s clarion call by bagging gold in the men’s and women’s
categories at the 13th South Asian Games in Kathmandu. In the men’s division Namal Anuradha won the
gold in the Taolu Taiji Jian category while the women’s gold was won by Thilini Gunasekera in the Taiji Jian All
Rounder category.
Besides these achievements Sri Lanka also bagged five silver and six bronze medals during their remarkable show.
42 December December 43Men’s Taolu Taiji Jian Sansou Women’s 56 Kg Men’s 52 Kg
Gold - Tharindu Namal Anuradha Silve - W.P.M.M. Madumali Bronze - A.G.M. Chandika
Women’s Taiji Jian All-Rounder Women’s Chan Quan Thaulo Sansou Women’s 52 Kg
Gold - Thilini Gunasekara Silver - P.H.G. Wathsala Bronze - S.V.P.R. Dilhani
Men’s 65 Kg Men’s 56 Kg Nandao All-Round
Silver - K.W.A. Nipun Shanika Bronze - S.R. Kumara Bronze - Sanju Kumari
Men’s 75 Kg Men’s 60 Kg
Silver - Puspa Kumara Bronze - P.N. Balawardana
Men’s 85 Kg Men’s 70 Kg
Silver - W.R.M.T. Madusanka Bronze - S.G.R. Rumesh
44 December December 45Volleyball
Red carpet
performance by
Beach volleyball
spikers
I
t was a rare all Sri Lankan gold and The speciality of this win was that during
silver clash for beach supremacy the entire championship, both teams
in Beach Volley at Pokhara at the stayed unbeaten and only the women’s
13th South Asian Games. Finally the team even dropped one set during the
teams -- Asanka Pradeep and Ashen proceedings.
Kumara men’s and Deepika Jadera and
Madushani Weerasinghe women’s took It’s worth showing off the dominancy. In the
home the gold while the duo of Tiron men’s opening tie, the Tiron-Sanuja pair
Jayatilleke Jayan Sanuja (Men’s) and beat Man Bahadur and Dil Sunar of Nepal
Tharuka Lakshini and Dinesha Prasadini while Asanka Pradeep Kumara and Ashen
pocketed the silver title. Kumara beat B.K. Raju and Sanju Shah
also of Nepal.
46 December December 47In the women’s first outing the pair
of Tharuka Lakshani and Dinesha
Prasadini beat Kopila Upreti and
Manisha Choudhari 2-0 while
Deepika Jadera and Madushani
Weerasinghe beat Birita Budakothi
and Nebika Chudhari 2-1. In both
games the opponents were from
Nepal.
In the second encounter Deepika
and Madushani met opponents
from the Maldives – Aminath
Rudhaina and Ibrahim and beat
them 2-0 while Lakshini and
Dinesha beat Moosa Zeeniya and
Aminath Rudhaina – Rudhaina
being involved in both matches in a
losing cause 2-0.
In the men’s second outing, Tiron
and Sanuja beat the Bandladesh
duo of Mohammed Imran and
Shaikh md Samy 2-0 while
Pradeep and Kumara beat Hossain
Md Monir and Ali md Shjaha
(Bangladesh) also 2-0.
In their third set of games, the
Maldivian pair of Tiron and Sanju
beat Abdulla Zayaanth and Ahmed
Mohammed 2-0 while Pradeep and
Kumara beat Adam Naseem and
Mohaammad 2-0.
Tiron and Sanjua’s next outing was
with a pair from Pakistan. There the
Pakistan duo of Khan Zasrnab and
Khan Afaq also lost at 2-0.
From there in the last round Tiron
and Sanju beat B.K. Raju and Sanju
Shah of Nepal while Pradeep and
Kumara beat Abdulla Zayaan and
Ahmed Mohammed 2-0.
48 December December 49Golf
Graceful
Yatawara,
guides Lanka
to two gold
medals
A
s expected Grace Yatawara’s golfing ladies became
darlings of the ‘club sport’ by bringing home two
gold that was meant for ladies individual and the
Ladies team event at the Gorkarna Forest Golf Resort at the
13th SAG.
On her way to that achievements, Yatawara who broke the
course record on day one maintained her lead over the next
three days and made sure of a ladies golf individual gold for
the very first time in SAG history.
Her contribution along with her compatriots Thuhashini
Selvaratnam and Tania Minel Balasuriya powered their way
to give Sri Lanka second gold in the Ladies Team event.
Thuhashini Selvaratnam played steady golf to clinch the
Ladies individual bronze.
The men’s team had to face stiff competition from Nepal
and Bangladesh who made a last two day rally and that saw
them losing both Gold and Silver and had to be content
with only the Team bronze.
Speaking to GoodSport Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU)
Photo:
Secretary Nishan Navaratne explained: “Sri Lanka started
Grace Yatawara
their preparations as early as February 2019 when the
ministry of sports informed our national federation to form
their pools for training.
“They did their high altitude training along with physical and
mental preparation was done to give the athletes the best
training. At the same time, in a fine gesture Sri Lanka Golf
50 December December 51Photo:
Tanya Minel
Balasuriya,
Grace Yatawara,
Thuhashini
Selvaratnam
Photo:
Tanya Minel Balasuriya
Photo:
Grace Yatawara
Union was able to obtain the necessary equipment ahead against Zakiya Sultana of Bangladesh and
and replace aging golf equipment too. Then the one shot ahead of Thuhashini and was assured of
pool was reduced to 6 male athletes in August and an individual silver too, but proving the proverbial
to 4 in November while two female athletes Grace “a slip between the cup and the lip”, Tania’s poor
Yatawara and Thuhashini Selvaratnam trained course management saw her ending up with seven
in the United States of America and joined Tania strokes to putt the final hole and losing a silver and
Balasuriya to form the three woman Ladies team.” also the bronze which was within her grasp. Golf is
Thuhashini Selvaratnam led the Ladies team and such that Bangladesh was virtually gifted the Silver.
Chanaka Perera led the men’s team. Chanaka
Perera is incidentally a National Olympic Final Medal tally
Committee Scholarship recipient. NOC SL can be
proud of nurturing such an athlete who led from Grace Yatawara Ladies Individual Gold with a total
the front with four days of good golf. But alas it 296 in four days. Gorkarna Course record broken
was not enough as Bangladesh made a strong on day one 69 Gross by Grace Yatawara.
comeback to clinch individual silver and the team
silver. Sri Lanka men’s team had to content with Thuhashini Selvaratnam Ladies Individual Bronze
bronze. 318.
Navaratne also added that the final day’s highlight Ladies Team Gold With a lead of 32 points Grace
was the ladies individual and team as Sri Lanka Yatawara, Thuhashini Selvaratnam and Tania
lost the opportunity to clinch the ladies silver. Balasuriya
At one point Tania Balasuriya was three strokes
Photo:
52 December The SAG Golf contingent December 53Badminton
Thilini a gold and
two silver
I
n an all Sri Lankan women’s doubles final Sirimannage, Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli Samanthika
Thilini Hendehewa and Kavidi Sirimannage had will go down in history of creating the landmark
the better of their team mates Achini Ratnasiri occurrence of two teams competing against each
and Upuli Samanthika Weerasinghe as they to other in a final of a SAG competition.
bag the respective gold and silver medals at the
SAG in Pokhara. The two Lankan Women’s Doubles teams took very
little trouble in outdoing the much fancied Indian
The women’s doubles bronze was an all Indian pairs, which comes as welcome news for a squad
affair. There Meghana Jakkampudi and N. Sikki that had to face unforeseen odds, besides the cold
Reddy beat Kuhoo Garg and Anoushka Parikh. weather and appalling conditions.
The feat of Thilini Hendehewa, Kavidi
54 December December 55In their run up to the final, Thilini Hendahewa
and Kavidi Sirimannage paired up to beat
Meghana Jakkampudi and Sikki Reddy of India
in straight sets while Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli
Samanthika, the other Lankan Women’s pair,
India’s beat Kuhoo Grag and Anoushka Parikh,
also in straight sets, to book a berth in the final.
Photo: Besides the gold, Hendehewa was also featured
Buwaneka Gunatilleke
in a silver effort when she paired off with Sachin
Dias to take charge of the mixed doubles Silver.
There they lost the final to Dhruv Kapila and
Meghana Jakkampudi of India.
In the third medal won by Hendaehwa, she
became of the women’s team that won
the Silver. Besides Hendahewa , Hasini
Ambalangodage, Kavindika de Silva, Dilmi Dias,
Achini Ratnasiri, Kavidi Sirimannege, Upuli
Weerasinghe and Hasara Wijeratne.
The other silver was won by the men’s team
that comprised – Chrishan Danushka, Lochana
de Silva, Sachin Dias, Maduka Dulanjana,
Buwaneka Gunatilleke, Chanaka Hasitha,
Dinuka Karunaratne and Santhushka Sasindu.
Photo:
Thilini Hendahewa
Photo:
Sachin Dias
Photo:
The SAG 2019 Badminton Squad
Photo:
Dinuka Karunaratne
56 December December 57Boxing
Gutty Sandakelum
brought home the 40th
gold for Sri Lanka
R
umesh Sandakelum (Men’s Light Heavy 81kg) brought Sri Lanka their 40th and
final gold medal for Sri Lanka as the 13th South Asian games came to an end
amidst raucous and ornate closing ceremony at the Dasrath Stadium, Rangashala
in Kathmandu.
The Lankans pugilists ended the day with gold, silver and 4 bronze medals the boxing
matches took place at the Satabado Stadium, also in Kathmandu.
58 December December 59Photo:
Rumesh Sandakelum
and Aubrey Peiris
Photo:
Boxing squad with their medals
Rumesh competing in the 81kgs category beat
Nepalese counterpart Pradhan Ganesh to take
the gold. The boxing silver was won by Ayoma
Dulanji in the Women’s Feather 57kg category
while the four bronze medals were won by
Buwaneka Eranda (Men’s Super-Heavy +91kg),
Lasindu Eranda (Men’s Fly 52kg) and Nissanka
Jeevantha (Men’s Light 60kg) while Nilmini
Athauda a bronze in the Women’s Fly 51kg
category.
The Lankan pugilists progressed in silence. The
first the days of the proceedings were quiet
and almost without incident in spite being a
boxing affair, yet, by the penultimate close the
bouts finished with two possible gold and a few
other medals.
However on the final day Sandakelum broke
the impasse by bagging the 81kg gold while
Ayoma did justice to the 57kgs women’s silver.
60 December December 61Judo
Olympian Chamara
bags Judo gold
for Lanka
Photo:
Chamara celebrates his
golden performance
I
n his day-to-day demeanour he is too had a mean reputation. Lo and behold
affable and unassuming. Yet, when the bout lasted only a few seconds and it
Olympian Chamara Dharmawardena was all over.
sets foot on to that fighting square he
means business in a very clinical manner. At this point his friends said: “Sir, this
The opponent does not even have the weight class is ours you can confidently
time to settle in as the bout is already write down the result. And the delivery
over. was prompt. First in the semi-final bout
the Pakistani opponent looked taller and
This afternoon Chamara stood up to that better set. But, the result was the same
lethal reputation. First it was his India as before— before we could say ‘Jack
opponent. Prior to the bout he said that Robins’ and the game was over.”
he was a bit hesitant because the Indian
62 December December 63Photo:
Chamara in action
Photo:
A Ladies bout
Photo:
The Judo team celebrating the gold by
Chamara Dharmawardena Photo:
Shalani Lakshika
The third bout was for the gold and was against a
partisan crowd and a Nepalese opponent. Yet, his
friends were remarking “More noise and pressure,
Chamara begins react more menacingly”. So ended the
story of the day and how Chamara added yet gold to
the ever increasing Lankan larder.
The two silver medals came from Buddhika Premaratne
and Chamila Dilani while Shalini Liyanage, Yameena
Refas and Lakshika Maduvantha added the bronze
medals.
Buddhika Premaratne bagged the silver medal in
the Men’s 60kg Extra Lightweight category, while
Dilani’s silver medal came in the Women’s 48kg Extra
Lightweight category. The three bronze medals came
from Liyanage, who competed in the Women’s 57kg
Lightweight, Rifaz, who competed in the Women’s 63kg
Half Middleweight and Maduwanthi, who competed in
the Women’s 52kg Half Lightweight categories.
64 December December 65Photo:
Nuwan Kumara
Photo: Photo:
Dulakshi Weerasinghe Nuwan Kumara
Triathlon
Eranga wins the
Duathlon Gold
S
ri Lanka made their mark by The Lankan gold was won by Eranga
winning gold and three silver at Dilrukshi in the women’s Duathlon event
the Triathlon event at the South while the bronze was won by Udaya
Asian Games in Pokhara. In this year’s Kumari. The silver of this event was won by
competition Duathlon which consists Humi Magar of Nepal.
of only running and cycling was also
introduced. The third bronze won by the mixed relay
team in the Triathlon event. This team
The inclusion of the Duathlon stood comprised – Puvini Kahandawela, Hasanka
in good stead for the Lankans. There Nilaweera, Gayani Dissanayake and
they won a gold and the bronze in the Chalaka Wickremaarachchi.
Photo: women’s event while winning a bronze in
Puvini Kahandawela
the men’s event.
66 December December 67You can also read
