Sports

Rugby sevens fiesta

By Ranil Prematilake 

The first of the three Singer Inter Club rugby sevens tournaments is all set to kick off at the Nittawela Rugby stadium in Kandy.

The 16 clubs vying for Cup, Plate, Bowl and shield honours are in for a bonanza as each and every participating club will get a cash award. The tournament starts on February 26 at 3.30 p.m. and on Sunday matches will be played from 8.30 a.m. with the cup final scheduled for 5.15 p.m. The cup champions will receive the Rs 100, 000 from the total prize money of Rs 436,000. The draw is as follows:

Group A: Kandy A, Navy A, CH and FC B, Army B.

Group B: CH and FC A, Havelocks A, Jawatha Lions, Kandy B.

 Group C: Police A, Army A, CR and FC "B", Old Zahirians B.

Group D: CR and FC A, Air Force A, Old Zahirians A, Navy B.

IRB Satellite 7's

The organisers of the Kandy Sports Club's annual international sevens tournament have been granted approval by the international rugby Board (IRB) and the Asian Region Football Union (ARFU) to conduct the Asian Region IRB satellite event for the year 2005. This tournament will be held on September 9, 10 and 11 2005 in association with the main sponsor Singer and Sri Lankan Airlines.

Although the IRB have informed the organisers to select 16 teams out of the 23 member nations registered with the ARFU, the organizers have forwarded a counter proposal whereby 12 teams will be invited from the Asian region whilst the balance four will be from the European segment. Already invitations have been sent to Portugal, Georgia, France, Kenya, Fiji and Samoa.

However, the organisers should seek formal approval from the IRB to allow the players of the nations participating in the main IRB sevens series to feature in the Singer Sri Lankan Asian region IRB satellite sevens tournament. The Manager IRB circuit sevens Mark Egan, the person behind such authorization has been very supportive of this idea and the organisers are optimistic of the chances of succeeding in this request.

SLRFU AGM

As forecast the top seats are to be taken over by Priyantha Ekanayake and Dilroy Fernando as President and Secretary respectively. However, the post of treasurer sees a battle between incumbent Shantha Kurumbalapitiya and Wimal Perera, an accountant by profession and the vice president of the Sri Lanka Referees Association. The seven council member posts will be contested by 11 candidates. The annual general meeting will be held on February 26 i.e. the coming Saturday.

Meanwhile, the 2nd and 3rd stages of the Singer Inter Club sevens bonanza has been scheduled for March 12 and 13 in Colombo and on August 20 and 21 in Galle, the venue of which may be shifted due to the tsunami destruction.

Maiya withdraws

Dr.Maiya Gunasekera has withdrawn his nomination for the post of a council member. Dr. Gunasekera told The Sunday Leader that he withdrew his nomination due to the ministerial appointment of Chairman of the selection committee. The Ministry of Sports had indicated to Dr. Gunasekera not to get involved as a council member as it would come into conflict with his current appointment. However, Dr Gunasekera thanked the Central Province Rugby Football Union for nominating him.

Donald Steel Trophy 2005 begins at VGCR

Victoria Golf & Contry Resort  is located near Kandy, the hill capital of the island, rich in history and tradition. The Donald Steel designed course has been very highly rated as being amongst the world's most beautiful venues, hosted the sixth consecutive Donald Steel Trophy yesterday and the game will be continued today, with over 85 golfers participating.

Measuring 6945 yards at its full championship length, Victoria's Par 73 layout, has five Par 5 holes of which three are over 500 yards long. There are four excellent Par 3 holes ranging from the very short, but tricky 4th of 116 yards, to the testing 210 yard 12th hole, a great Par 3 by any standard For more information on the course refer www.srilankagolf.com

A 36-hole amateur Scratch Stableford Competition will be played for the sixth annual Donald Steel Trophy. The tournament will be played over two days, with all competitors playing one round each day. The Ebert Pot will be decided on the36 hole Handicap Stableford scores over the same two rounds as the DonaldSteel Trophy. The Ladies will play the same format for the Pam Fernando Cup (Scratch) and the Victoria Bowl (Handicap). The competition will be played under R & A rules.

Sponsors for the event are Carlsberg, Sri Lankan Airlines, Mahaveli Reach Hotel and Earl's Regency Hotel.

Why Suresh must stay for a fourth term 

By T.M.K. Samat 

IT'S the time of the year for a change of guards in the country's national sports bodies. A few decades ago, though, it was the sports bodies' prerogative to choose the date and time of their elections of office-bearers. The laws now specify AGMs should be over and done with before March's end.

There was also a time, before the era of the common man, when the seats of power were the preserve of those from a privileged background, which, by today's definitions of a just society, would quickly be put asunder as being discriminatory. Back then, it was a mutual deal: the ''privileged" would play the part of sport's benefactor, who, in return would have the chance of rubbing shoulders with the country's rich and powerful.

It's not that ambition to hobnob with the rich and famous isn't nurtured now. But, as much as the era of the common man ushered in much good, so did it the bad. The negatives it brought to sport are too many to enumerate here, but it is fair to say that the Sport Act of the early 70s recognized that more than a few held office to help themselves than help sport _ and intended to deter them. This was the time, it has to be remembered, when jetting off overseas wasn't as easy as it is now. Then, you might have had all the money to roam the globe, but without government's exit permit in hand; Katunayake was as good as out of bounds. And exit permits weren't issued for the asking; requests were closely scrutinized.

One reason for travel that was subjected to less scrutiny was to represent the country in sport. Not surprising then that office-bearers of old were reluctant to surrender the reins to others - until the Sport Act was enforced and forced them out.  The term of office, by statute, came to be restricted to a maximum of two years per official, unless under special dispensation by the Sport Minister, as was the case with the extended stay of Thilinga Sumathipala as cricket chief. But Sumathipala's influence with the once powerful minister S B Dissanayake was no secret - lesser mortals, though, didn't have look in after the prescribed two years. But that's another story.

The point to make here is, there were some credible reasons why the constitutionally-imposed two-year limit for sport bodies' office bearers came into being - despite some arguments that two years is hardly enough to effect any significant change to sport.

Happily, that argument has held water with the Sport Ministry as far as tennis is concerned. At the request of the SLTA's general committee the Sport Ministry last year granted president Suresh Subramaniam a third year. Now the committee wants him for 2005 as well. " There is provision under special Sport Ministry dispensation for an office bearer to serve five years provided the association unanimously wants that official," said SLTA CEO, Lionel Almeida. "The development work undertaken under Suresh is bearing results - and it makes sense for him to stay until the crucial projects he started are completed." A third-year extension to secretary, Maxwell de Silva, is also being sought. Spared of the vicious in-fighting and rivalry that is common in other sport bodies, ministry approval for the extension of the duo's term is considered a formality.

It has to be admitted, though, the results that CEO Almeida speaks of during Subramaniam three-year stewardship are not breathtaking. Subramaniam himself admits so: "Unless we've arrived at the point where we can compete on equal terms with countries at least within Asia, then our developmental tasks remain unfinished. I would be dishonest if I said we've got to that point - we've taken but only a few steps in the long journey ahead. The job before us is enormous,"

Yet, relatively, the achievements are commendable. To better appreciate the gains one needs to go back a bit in time.  The game had fallen into moribund state for much of the 90s - content to remain at a recreational level. "So long as the old men had their daily knock on the courts, that's all that mattered. This sort of leisurely recreation yet continues, but back then it was this old brigade who held office - and so long as their interests were catered to, that's all that mattered;  anything else was relegated to an any other business item," said an official on condition of anonymity. "The 90s, or much of it, wasn't worth writing home about."

Indeed, there wasn't. Domestically, the calendar had at one point only three ranking tournaments. Now, the 42-tounament calendar includes 18 ranking tournaments. Inevitably, the neglect shown at home was reflected in our overseas competition: from being a Group 2 Davis Cup country in 1990, we slid to Group 3 in 1993 and then to Four, the lowest, in 1996. Last year, however, Sri Lanka's team - of Renouk Wijemanne, Rajiv Rajapakse, Franklin Emmanuel and Rohan de Silva - performed exceptionally in the eleven-nation Davis Cup tie in Jordan. They went through the tournament unbeaten, conceded a solitary singles match and won promotion to Group 3.

"It's nice to be a Group 3 country, but frankly the difference between 3 and 4 is only slight -the same lot of countries traffic between the two groups. The quality is far superior in Group 2 and the real challenge is to get there, '' says Subramaniam. "Our 2005-mission would be to get Group 2 - where once we were."

The mission has already been embarked upon. Since last December the Sri Lanka Davis Cup squad has been under the care of Enrico Piperno, the top Indian coach who fashioned the success of Mahes Bhupathy, Leander Paes and the current sensation Sania Mirza. For match experience, the SLTA are funding the participation in ATP tournaments of senior squad members, Wijemanne, Rajapakse, Rohan de Silva and Harshana Godamanne. The same is being done for Oshada Wijemanne in the Junior ITF circuit. Emmanuel is in a US university on a tennis scholarship, and hopefully, would be available for selection for the next Davis Cup tie, in June in Hong Kong.

Bar Rajapakse and de Silva, the other Davis Cup players are in the 17 to 22 years age group. "The idea is not to make the mistake of the 90s when, with the departure of leading players like Arjun Fernando and Umesh Wallooppillai we fell into hole because of a lack of suitable replacements - largely because the administration didn't invest enough to upgrade the available talent," said Subramaniam. "This time round, equal emphasis is placed on the seniors and juniors - the aim is, to ensure continuity of success." In other words, to become a Group 2 Davis Cup country and remain there or improve than plummet to the lowest level, as did happen in the 90s.

The finest success story of the past three years, Subramaniam's years, has been the remarkable achievements of the juniors. Three Sri Lankans won ITF under 18 singles titles. Then, at the last Asia-Oceania Junior Davis Cup tie, Sri Lanka finished fifth, out of 17 nations - behind only world powers India, Australia and Japan and Chinese-Taipei. At the under 14 level, there were significant successes too. Emmanuel and S Nishendran represented the ITF Touring Team in 2000. In 2004, Jithmi Jayawickreama and Amitha Arudpragasam made the ITF u.14 Girls team. And this year was bonanza:  four Sri Lankan players won ITF recognition, Dineshkanthan and Indika Wettasinghe (boys) Jithmi Jayawickrema and Nilupul Gunasekera (girls).

Says Arjun Fernando, chairman selectors: "juniors haven't had it as good as this - never before. During our times it was an achievement to get to play in India. Now the juniors play all over Asia - Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines - and some in Europe as well. Our success at the junior level is clearly the outcome of the greater exposure given them, as well as broadening of the game into the outstations."

Clearly, the systems have been put in place. The buds of success are beginning to show, but whether they will flower; only time will tell. "I think the players realize that we are willing to make the investments to help achieve success for themselves and the country -investments on scale unknown before ," says president Subramaniam. "They now realize that it's up to them to go out and deliver."

Those might not be the most brilliant or inspiring words spoken by a chief of sport. But as a description of commonsense and realism, only Oxford or Webster's might do better. Carry on, Suresh.

West Indian players deny 'scandalous' sex claims

West Indies' players have lashed out at allegations that they paid more attention to women that to cricket during the recent VB Series. These claims were made by Richard Nowell, the representative of Digicel, the team sponsor. The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) has said that the accusations are "scandalous" and "unjustified".

The press release issued by Dinanath Ramnarine, president of WIPA, stated: "Those comments contained unjustified imputations on the character and behaviour of WI players who are all members of WIPA."

Nowell's memorandum had also accused players for being hostile and not being cooperative for interviews and photo shoots arranged by Digicel. WIPA countered: "The players association and West Indies Cricket Board concluded negotiations on a tour contract before the departure of the WI team for the VB series in Australia. The players have fulfilled all their contractual obligations as specified in the tour contract."

Ramnarine further stated that Digicel had made "unjustified demands" of the players during the tour, demands that were not covered by the agreement between the WIPA and the WICB. The players association had requested the board that Digicel should refrain from making such requests of their players while on tour.

He said WIPA was concerned with being described as a "terrorist association", and would be seeking legal advice on behalf of the players.

In a separate media statement released, Teddy Griffith, the president of the WICB, said that he was "in communication on the matter with Digicel chairman, Denis O'Brien, and the issues surrounding that publication will be among items discussed at Sunday's meeting in Barbados that will also consider tour reports from manager Tony Howard, head coach Bennett King and media liaison Imran Khan."

Catch the action at the 2005 Malaysian F1 Grand Prix

An event of excitement and thrill; glamour and prestige for 'cool' people, the Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix enters its seventh edition in 2005 and event promoters - Sepang International Circuit - is promising another hot racing event, the F1 Malaysian Grand Prix.

The 2005 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix would be held at Sepang F1 Circuit from March 18 to 20, and would incorporate the Formula BMW Asia Championship, Formula Malaysia and the Porsche Carrera Cup as its support races.

Making the event even more 'cool' and adding further excitement is an international concert, which would be held within the circuit immediately after the race and featuring top international and local artists.

As previously, the Formula One World Championship will open in Melbourne, Australia on the first weekend of March; giving fans worldwide a teaser of what the battle will be all about.

Sepang F1 Circuit is undoubtedly a landmark for the motoring fraternity. The general opinion of the motor sports world is that Malaysia has virtually set a minimum standard for future F1 circuits around the world, with the construction of Malaysia's Home of Motor sports.

When you first step into the circuit, you will pass through the Welcome Center, the gateway to the grandstand and the nerve center for the circuit's administrative activities. Apart from housing offices, the Welcome Center also houses a restaurant, a souvenir shop, and an automotive museum. The heart and focal point of the circuit is the Pit Building. Facing the main grandstand, all the racing facilities are housed here: 33 pits, race control center, time-keeping room, paddock clubs, and race management offices.

Pitting the world's best drivers in the most sophisticated and super fast machines, Sepang Circuit guarantees top class action and hotly contested on-track competition of close racing; daring maneuvers and an opportunity for racing fans to be 'cool' and join world class celebrities and corporate leaders at the world's most glamorous event.

Once again, Prime Destinations, the Leisure Wing of Hemas Travels, has lined up an exciting range of packages for all you racing fans to be part of the action at the 2005 Malaysian Grand Prix. For more details on this and other exciting holiday packages log on to www.hemastravels.com .

Royal-Thomian class of 1994

S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia and Royal College, Colombo have been two establishments synonymous with traditions and their own unique culture for well over a a century. The grandest of such traditions-the annual Royal-Thomian cricket match, which has stood the test of time to become in the minds of all who witness it, an unforgettable event!

The time is now ripe for yet another "tradition" to take its rightful place in the annals of history. This year, for the first time ever, the Class of 1994 of S. Thomas College Mt Lavinia and Royal College Colombo come together, in the true bond of fraternal friendship in "The Royal-Thomian Class of 1994 inaugural sixes", which will herald the "Battle of the Blues" itself. This unique event will take place on Saturday, March 5 at the Bloomfield Grounds at Reid Avenue.

The "Class of 1994" of both S. Thomas' and Royal call on all batch-mates to look lively and be present at a truly memorable event-the first of its kind, where filial bonds could be renewed, old friendships re-invigorated and a generally good time had by all!  

 Big match sans bands - By Pelham Juriansz

Isipatana go out favourites

Isipatana College Colombo go out favourites in their 42nd big Match with arch rivals Thurstan as they encounter them at the SSC grounds on February 25,26. The present tally stands at 5 wins to Thurstan and 4 wins to Isipatana and Isipatana plan to redress the balance. Thurstan's last win was in 1992 under Mackenzie Perera and Isipatana's last win under Krishantha Jayawardana in 1999. 

This season Isipatana have registered four outright wins with three of them being by innings and their greatest win by an innings at that coming at the expense of the strong Peterite outfit who just last week beat the Thomians, an equally strong side by 7 wickets.The only black mark against them is that they lost to D.S.Senanayake by 10 wickets.

Thurstan on the other hand have played 12 games and won only one against Maris Stella.

Isipatana no doubt will be looking to Tharaka Waduge, their most consistent allrounder to produce the goods.

In 12 matches this season he has scored 469 runs at an average of 27.58.  The others from whom good scores are expected are Liyan de Silva, who has scored 390 runs and Visuddhi Kaluwitharana, an explosive bat who notched up a superb century against Prince of Wales. In addition he has two half centuries against Royal and St.Sebastians.  The others to contribute with the bat are Gayan Wijesinghe, Gihan Dilruk, C.Wickramaratne, and Pubudu Viraj.

Even in the bowling it is Tharaka Waduge who heads the averages with 47 wickets at 13.14.

Dilan Anuradha leads the Isipatana side and Sithuka Gamage the Thurstanites. According to Priya Paranavithana of the organising Committee this is the first occasion that two brothers are captaining Thurstan. Sithuka Gamage's brother captained Thurstan in 2001.Also this year's "Big Match" will be without any form of entertainment as the Thurstanites and Isipatana boys will be showing the way in having a quiet "Big Match". 

Who's ..who.. hurstan college

1.         Sithuka Nameera Gamage [ Captain ]

A Fourth year player. A right hand top order batsman and has scored over 350 runs this year. His highest was 89 against St Sebasatian's College. He is also a right arm leg spinner. Much was expected of his spin bowling, but has had not the success achieved last year. His best figure being 5 for 53 vs Nalanda. A good slip fielder.

The first set of brothers to captain Thurstan. His elder brother Nisal Randika Gamage lead the side in 2001.

2.         Charith Wickramaratna [ Vice Captain ]

A Third year player. Right hand batsman who opened the innings at the beginning of the season but did not meet with success and now bats in the middle order. He has scored over 250 runs with highest being 55 vs D S Senanayake College. A useful Off spin bowler and a very good fielder.

3.         Shehan Perera

A Third year player, Stylish middle order batsman who continues to perform well under pressure He played a match saving innings at last year's big match. He has scored over 250 runs and the highest being 54 vs Maliyadeva College. He also bowls Right arm leg spin.

4          Heshan Galagoda

A Third year player. A tall left handed batsman but not lived up to his potential having scored little over 200 runs this season with 64 vs Nalanda being his best contribution. He bowls Right arm medium pace. A very good fielder at any position.

4.            Kanishka Elvitigala

A second year player. Opening bowler of the side and has taken the highest number of scalps with 29 wickets. His best bowling figure being 5 for 37 against St Joseph's College. He is also an aggressive  Right hand batsman with a highest score of 80 runs vs Maliyadeva College. He is in the fast bowling Academy of Sri Lanka Cricket

5.         Lahiru Gamage

A second year player. A very aggressive opening bowler, has taken 23 wickets with match a winning performance against Maris Stella where he captured 8 wickets for 37 in the 1st Innings which included a Hat trick which enable Thurstan to register their only win this season by 10 wickets. A powerful Right handed batsman who has scored over 300 runs. Obtained twin 50's in the match against St Sylvester's.

6.         Buddhi Samarawickrama

A second year player. Captained the under 16 team & the Colombo District team last year. A stylish middle order batsman who has not lived up to his potential. A very good fielder at any position.

7.         Ranga Nirosh Ratnayaka

A second year player. A very useful Right handed batsman. Easily the best fieldsman in the side.

8.         Azar Samsudeen

A second year player. Right hand attacking middle order batsman and a Right arm Off spin bowler. A very good fielder in any position.

9.         Hasitha Perera

A Fresher. The stumper of the side and has taken 25 victims. He opens the batting and has being the " find " of the season scoring  454 runs, easily being the highest run getter of the side. His best has being 72 vs St Sylvester's College. He has scored consistently in all matches

10.        Rishi Ukwatta

A Fresher.  A Left handed batsman and a Left arm orthodox spin bowler who has shown much promise and has captured two 5 wicket hauls, best being 6 for 70 vs St Sylvester's.

11.        Pubudu Niroshana

A fresher. A Right handed batsman. The reserve wicket keeper of the side

12.        Charith Gayan Perera

A fresher. A Left handed batsman

13.            Praneeth Jayasinghe

A fresher. A Right handed batsman & a Right arm medium pace bowler. A good fielder.

14.        Umesh Karunaratna

A Fresher. A Right handed middle order batsman who scored heavily in the Under 16 season last year but has not been able to perform at the higher level. Bowls Right arm Off spin

15.        Rasika Madujith Thilakaratna

A Fresher. Left hand batsman & a Left arm leg spin bowler

16.        Rizvi Jawad

A Fresher. Right arm Off spin bowler and very good fielder.

17.        Achala Ramanayaka

A Fresher. 

Who's..who.. Isipatana college

1.Dilan Anuradha (Captain)- third year player- Right hand no: 3 bat. A stylish player who has scored 325 runs this season. A very good fielder in any position.

2.Gihan Dilruk (V.Captain)- 2nd year player. Right hand hard hitting lower order batsman and a right arm off spinner. Has scored over 250 runs with a highest score of 76 against St. Benedicts.

3.Isuru Vindana -4th year player.  Right hand middle order batsman -Has scored 200 runs this season. Bowls right arm leg spin.

4.Tharaka Waduge- 2nd year player- One of the best all-rounders in schools this season. Hard hitting right hand opening bat and right arm opening bowler, who could be a match winner.

 5.Liyan de Silva - Second year player. Left hand top order batsman  and left arm fast bowler. A very useful allrounder. A good slip fielder. Has scored 375 runs and taken 12 wickets.

6.C.Wickramaratne -2nd year player bowls left arm leg spin and bats left hand. Has taken 40 wickets this season and scored over 200 useful runs. A good slip fielder.

7.Gayan Wijesinghe-2nd year. Right hand lower order batsman Wicket keeper of the side.     

8.Visuddhi Kaluwitharana-2nd year player. Opens batting with Waduge. An attacking batsman, who has scored a century against Prince of Wales and two fifties against Royal and St. Sebastian's.

9.Pubudu Viraj. Second year player- Right hand lower order batsman. Bowls right arm medium fast. Scored a fifty against St. Peter's. A safe fielder.

10.Sachith Jayasinghe- Fresher- Left hand bat and a right arm off spinner. Can bat in any position. An useful player.

11.Suren Dinendra- 2nd year player. Right hand batsman. Bowls right arm fast.

12.Arosh Janoda- Fresher- Bolws right arm fast.

13.Chirantha de Silva -Fresher and reserve wicket keeper. Left hand middle order batsman.

14.Amira Rabel-Fresher. Right hand middle order bat and bowls right arm off spin.

15.Lahiru Hapugoda-Fresher-Left arm fast bowler. Right hand bat.

Ariyadasa Memorial Championship

The Ariyadasa Memorial Open Badminton Championships will be held at the Royal College sports complex from February 21-25.The guest of honour at the finals will be Chitrangani Silva (mother of Jehan Mubarak) and niece of Ariyadasa Silva.

Ariyadasa Silva of Ambalangoda was a father of outstation badminton and was introduced to badminton by his brother, Mahinda Silva, a former civil servant.

Ariyadasa Silva then introduced and took charge of badminton at Dharmasoka College in Ambalangoda. Until that time badminton was the private concern of just a few Colombo schools.

In no time Dharmasoka started producing junior and later national champions. L.R Ariyananda won the National Title seven times whilst Namal de Silva won the Women's title at the tender age of 14 plus.

 In 1965, he was transferred out of Ambalangoda due to political reasons and the lucky recipient was Richmond College, Galle, who started winning all the junior and senior schools championships, in a record time.

Ariyadasa revolutionised the game of badminton and in 1970 when he formed the Sri Lanka Schools Badminton Association (then known as the Schools Badminton Association of Ceylon) and started introducing the game to every nook and corner.

The SLBA later with so many schools taking part at the junior level franchised the schools Association to run the junior Nationals on their behalf, giving technical and funding support.

Today, the junior Nationals records over 5000 entries, solely thanks to the efforts of this son of Ambalangoda, Ariyadasa Silva.

A grateful Association, after his untimely demise at the age of 58, conducts a tournament in his memory .This open ranking tournament is second only to the senior nationals.    - (P.J.)