THERE is a sense of poetic irony about Dian
Gomes today becoming ABA President for a
record fifth straight year. Four years in
the top seat of a sport is in itself
extraordinary by any measure, given the
vicious rivalry that characterises Sri
Lanka's sport administrations. The knives,
however, were never brought out during
Gomes' four-year reign; his immense
contributions to boxing ensured those sharp
weapons remained in the scabbards.
That his retention for four terms earned
unanimous acceptance, as will his fifth, at
today's AGM, tells its own story: the
members' continuing tribute to the part the
man played in transforming a ragtag,
washed-out association into a
financially-proud one run on corporate
lines.
Maximum period allowed
A fifth year, the maximum period allowed
under the Sport Law, however, is special -
and normally given authority's seal of
approval for what might be considered a very
valid reason. As far as memory tells, only
Suresh Subramaniam did a fifth consecutive
term in 2006, the year he was appointed
secretary-general of the powerful Asia
Tennis Federation. It was thought, and
rightly so, that Sri Lanka tennis,
potentially, would benefit from
Subramaniam's high office in the ATF - and
hence his entitlement for a fifth term. And
it did. His high office in the ATF and later
the ATT has raised the prospects of hosting
a series of professional futures events.
Gomes holds office in AIBA, though not quite
on a perch as lofty as his companion in
history sits. Gomes is secretary of AIBA's
marketing and business commission, the arm
tasked with the responsibility of enhancing
the sport's position globally. But his
status overseas is hardly the reason why he
deserves a historic fifth year. It was he,
who, some eight years ago, dared to dream of
an Olympic boxing medal for Sri Lanka. And
as that dream now appears to have a chance
of becoming true, it is only appropriate
that Gomes does a fifth year, which, through
a piece of poetic irony, happens to be the
year of the Olympics as well.
The dream
The dream took shape in 1996 when Sri Lanka
cricketers' brought home the World Cup.
"When our cricketers became world-beaters,
it proved one thing: as a people we are not
second to any other in the world -
providered our athletes are given the same
sort of opportunities that champion
countries provide theirs," Gomes once told
me. Those opportunities, he laid before the
boxers: from employment, to all-year
residential training camps, with
professional Cuban coaches in attendance to
plentiful foreign exposure, six
internationals per year at least.
As a first step, though, he wanted the
boxers and the boxing public to share in the
dream. At major meets, on a giant screen,
video clips of some epic achievements of
past Olympics were shown: the "Human
Torpedo" Mark Spitz's seven golds in Munch
in 1972; an 18-year-old Cassius Marcelllus
Clay punching his way to golden glory in
1960, Rome; and of later vintage, the deeds
of Carl Lewis and Cuban boxer, Teofilo
Stevenson who, in 1980, achieved the unique
distinction of becoming the first heavy
weight to win three gold medals. These
videos were from Gomes' personal collection;
their showing intended 'to inspire the
boxers' as well as to get the public to
"dream about an Olympic boxing medal."
His mission
If cynics then laughingly scorned at those
rather far-fetched intentions, it has to be
said that, but for the ABA president's
unswerving belief in that Olympian mission
and his commitment to invest in anything and
everything on accomplishing it, Rathnayake
would not be one of among only 28 boxers in
the world competing for four flyweight
medals, including two bronze, in Beijing.
The inspirational viewing of Olympics' epic
moments is just one among the many details
he paid attention to; lessons in yoga,
sessions with psychologists, hoisting
Go-for-Gold, Rathnayake hoardings
island-wide are some of the others - all
intended to inspire a medal in Beijing.
It will be wonderful to see Gomes' dream
fulfilled in August in Beijing. And should
this product of Peradeniya MMV and present
Slimline BC boxer climb on to the medals
rostrum, the ABA, after nearly a 100 years
of service, would have achieved its ultimate
goal - its first ever Olympic medal, and
only the country's third, after Duncan
White's silver in 1948, London, and
Susanthika Jayasinghe's bronze in 2000,
Sydney.
Gomes' likes to see the path to the medal in
simple terms: "All Rathnayake has to do is
to win just three fights and qualify for the
semifinals - that for sure will put bronze
in his pocket. For one who finished
joint-fifth from among world's best 32 in
(last November's) World Championship, the
prospect of winning three bouts (in
Beijing)
isn't exactly fantasy. It is a hopeful
proposition, though a lot will depend on the
draw. We'll just have to hope the draw is
kind to Rathnayake."
Most important event
That, though, is the view from behind
rose-tinted spectacles, which, at the
Olympics, can be so easily wrenched away. It
is after all the world's singly most
important sporting event, where four years
of sweating at the anvil of training will be
brought to bear - and hence, will not be the
place to find easy medals. It is a bringing
together of modern sport gladiators of the
world; a combat between the tough of the
toughest, physically and mentally.
For forty years, or ten successive Olympics,
Sri Lanka boxing never found one tough
enough to enter the Olympic ring. The last
one was H. K. Karunaratne in the 1968 Mexico
Games. Since, all of our hopefuls tried and
failed in Asian qualifiers, which is to say
they were miles away from the Olympics.
Against that history, Rathnayake's
successful qualification at the World
Championships, no less, is itself a
commendable achievement, and one that is
worthy of preservation for posterity,
giving Gomes' stewardship of the ABA a place
in history. A medal in Beijing, of course,
will relegate Rathnayake's Olympic to
insignifnance. But that remains a dream yet.
Not quite an impossible dream, though. The
story of Rathnayake's journey to the
Olympics is stuff of
Hollywood.
It is a remarkable saga of the 32-year-old's
battle from shame-to-fame. He spent two
years in the wilderness after AIBA detected
banned substance in his urine at the 2005
Commonwealth Championships, where he won
bronze.
In his first post-ban competition, he won
the best boxer's award at the Layton Cup in
July last year - a performance that earned
him selection for the country's historic
dual against Tanzania last September. There,
he produced a stunning performance, flooring
his Tanzanian opponent cold with a short,
sharp hook to the jaw in the opening seconds
of round 2.
World Championships
Then on to World Championships in
Chicago
last November where he won Olympic
qualification - all that after just two
competitions down the comeback road. "The
ban left him feeling down. He felt he had
not only let himself down but also the many
people who had helped him in his career,
from coaches to his employer," said Jehan
Jayasuriya, one-time Sri Lanka team manager.
"That, I think, drove him to make good, and
he committed himself to training during the
two-year ban as he would for competitions.
You cannot but help admire his resolve."
The boxer's resolve to atone for his 'crime'
has not subsided, Olympic qualification
notwithstanding. "Rathnayake speaks of the
Olympics only in gold - nothing less.
Honestly, we will be happy to settle for a
medal of any kind, but his ambitions are
higher, and it makes sense to encourage him
in that direction," said Gomes.
So, as Gomes addresses the membership after
today's AGM, he will no doubt dwell at
length the preparations for the country's
participation in the Olympics after forty
years. His reign, though, hasn't been one in
pursuit of Olympic goals alone. Development
of the outstations is apace with at least
three new regions brought into ABA's fold:
in Koggala, Thulhiriya and Biyagama. As well
as, under-16 and under-18 pools from
Central, North Western, Southern and Western
provinces are to be formed - each of which
is to be funded by the ABA, handled by
qualified coaches and periodically
supervised by the Cuban coach. "We've
focused a lot on junior development,
especially in the provinces - so that in
future we might not have to wait another 40
years to fight in the Olympics" said Gomes.
A fifth year to Gomes is well and good, but
there are the dangers that can come from
over dependence on an individual. Boxing
after Gomes is a worrying prospect. Of
course, after his five years, he would have
left his successor the legacy of a richer
and self-operating outfit. The job of the
future ABA president, though, will be made a
lot easier if Rathnayake strikes an Olympic
medal. Success can only breed success, as
young boxers try to emulate Rathnayake. The
myth that an Olympic medal is unachievable
would be exploded - and the impossible
dream that Gomes dared to dream would turn
true.
Kandy SC will aim high
By Hafiz Marikar
Kandy Sports Club the glamour boys of the
local rugby scene, will aim high this season
when they kick off in the inter club rugby
league - 2008 competition conducted by the
Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union.
SLRFU Head, DIG Nimal Lewke is going all out
to make this league tournament a successful
one.
No club has brought so much fame and honour
for Kandy as the Kandy Sports Club. In the
rugby tournament where the best in the
island clashed, Kandy SC has won 14 times
out of 17 in the league, and seven times the
triple in the recent past. With a
superlative record like this, they will vie
for the three trophies which are on offer
this year as well. The sevens have already
been won.
Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte the former Thomian
sportsman was re-elected as president of the
club, with ever green Iswan Omar as the
secretary.
In Kandy training has begun, so as to lay
their shands on the triple championship this
year, and working hard according to a well
laid plan.
Trustee Malik Samarawickrema should give the
team a collective pat on the back for a
wonderful season,
This time, Kandy SC well be led by the
brilliant third row forward Sean Wijasinghe,
easily one of the best third rowers in the
country.
Some of the forwards, who will play for the
club are last year's skipper Jeewa Galgamuwa,
Krishore Jehan, Anurang Walpola, Sumedha
Jayasinghe, Senaka Bandara, Imran Bastamin,
Dushan Leweke, Dilip Selvan, S. Thalagampola
Saliya Kumara will operate as the scrum half
and will pair off with Faisal Marija,
experienced scrum half P. Chaturnaga will
also be present, and the rest of the back
division players are Pradeep Liyanage,
Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Sameera Silva, Eranda
Weerakodi, Radika Hettiarchchi, Gayan
Weerathne, Kusal Rankothge, who are some
of the playerss at practices, under physical
trainer D.U.M Jayatilake. Their South
African coach Johan Taylor will arrive by
the end of next month.
A game of puppet master and his puppets
The letter below from an ardent follower of
Sri Lanka tennis takes an off-beat view,
bordering on humour, at the crisis that has
beset the sport recently. The tennis
fraternity might be familiar with the facts,
but for the benefit of our general
readership, we sketch in some of the
background. The AGM of the SLTA was to be
held yesterday, March 29 with a contest
between the teams of incumbent Janaka
Bogollagama and rival Suresh Subramaniam on
the cards. On the orders of the sport
minister, however, the AGM was postponed
indefinitely, allegedly at the request of
the incumbent's group- on the grounds of
some misrepresented facts to the minister.
That is not the end of the story. Having
secured postponement of the AGM, a plan to
concoct stories so as to discredit a key
figure in the rival group has been found,
the Subramaniam team claims. The letter
below answers some of those allegedly
concocted stories. All in all, the writer
provides comic relief, albeit with a sharp
tongue. from what has gotten to be nasty and
ugly crisis.
'Dear All,
So we live to fight a nother day - round one
to you. congratulations my dear fellow, good
job done. Now I urge you to execute plan B -
after all hasn't the puppet master told you
what to do - he has to only pull the
strings. Rome was not built in a day,
neither was the SLTA - it has withstood and
seen much skullduggery, but am sure you
must take the crown, because even in its
darkest days it has never seen this much
villainy.
Never in all its history has the AGM been
postponed - our predecessors must be
laughing. What with all this professionalism
and general air of sophistication the powers
that be can not get a set of papers together
to get the election going - damn shame. With
the services of a generously paid CEO, what
an appalling mess, don't you think. Now I
venture into enemy territory- I am dying to
be of help, I will give the answers to your
'course of action'. You question the
legitimacy of the SLTA representative, at
the ATF - did you not know that he was
recommended by your own association.
Silly to have missed that. You speak of a
father and brothers employed at SLTA - ask
Mr. K Subs - that benevolent man will give
you all the details and in fact may take you
to the minister himself. Old man Subs -
could not put his son into the Davis Cup
team, like another father did for his son.
The brother's shop at the SLTA - ask JB what
he was thinking of when he gave it to Gana
Subs - surely he knows better about conflict
of interest and not to abuse power. The
question about suspected deals from the
leasing of SLTA premises to lifestyle gym -
go ahead dig away machang.
You must, in fact ask Mike Chomley whether
he has a digging machine, ferrets like the
puppets and puppet masters usually can do it
themselves, Efficiently. Don't go during
ladies only time - can't have them screaming
that pervs are at work. You plan to contact
ATF head Anil Khanna ref. Suresh's right to
hold the job he does - probably he might
tell you to meet his man who is your man in
Colombo. You speak of outstation
development, struggling clubs, national plan
tennis glory, heard all this before. What
about the poor team which is going to sweat
it out next month in Teheran, nobody cares.
The show must go on, the posturing must go
on and the official must go on. So in the
end the election has to be postponed, Suresh
must be brought down, these are more
important things - who cares about Davis Cup
promotion or demotion. Your one on the hard
courts. I was waiting for that - poor
misguided fellow. Silly to have brought in
14 million smackers to build the 'hards',
should have given it to charity. After all
we could have played on clay and forgotten
about the rest of the tennis -playing world.
Things have to wait until Suresh is brought
down at any cost and put in his place. That
is both the vision and the mission of the
puppet group.
You speak of getting George Paldano to do a
plan for tennis - a plan that has been
sitting with the CEO for the last couple of
months. Just imagine George's dismay that
his plan is gathering dust at the SLTA and
all of you don't know anything about it -
bad form. Check on the validity /eligibilitys
of our man on the ATF and ATP- good thing to
do - we can't have masqueraders, con
artistes, saboteurs and cut throats sitting
with us and breaking bread. Shocking that we
did not think of that. Shocking that we did
not think that Gentlemanly behaviour was a
thing of the past. Funny that the puppet
master for all his cunning didn't run for
presidency. The puppets - must be feeling
the heat, searching for answers to the very
questions they posed in the first place.
Tennis Lover
Browns EXIDE PowerMart - SLMCC Rally
Browns EXIDE together with SLMCC organized a
motor rally on March 23, which was flagged
off at 8.00 a.m. This rally began from
Browns PowerMart which is located at
Havelock Road, Colombo 05 and was fully
sponsored by Browns EXIDE. Browns EXIDE is
committed to uplift and help the motor
sports activities in Sri Lanka
The Browns EXIDE SLMCC rally covered
approximately 150 k.m. The starting point
was from the new Browns PowerMart via Kottwa,
Hanwalla and Homagama ending at Berjaya
Hotel, Mount Lavinia
The first racing car which was ridden by no
22, Jagath Munasingha, was flagged off by
General Manager, Panduka Weerasinga,
altogether 24 motor cars, motor car jeeps
and seven motor cycles took part in this
event. Also present at the starters order
were (CEO ABM ) R. M. D. Bandara,
manufactures of EXIDE batteries
Ratmalana,Rodney Meshan (SLAS Stewart) and
starter Upulwan Serasinghe.
A number of prominent rally and racing
drivers took part in this event.
Interestingly, a number of ladies and
novices showed keen interest and
participated in the rally.
Champion Romero eyes Olympic gold
Double sport world champion Rebecca Romero
has set her sights on the Olympics after her
astonishing success at cycling's world
championships.
The 28-year-old won gold on Thursday in the
individual pursuit just two years after
switching sports from rowing.
Romero quit a successful rowing career
because of a back injury after winning a
silver medal at the 2004 Olympics and gold
at the 2005 world championships.
"Following that up is the tough part but
it's only upwards now" she said.
"If you ride with passion, if you start
with that, it feeds you."
Talking immediately after beating world
champion Sarah Hammer to take gold in
Manchester, Romero compared her achievements
in the two sports.
"Both (world championship gold) medals were
fantastic," she told BBC Sport.
"But this was more a personal battle rather
than a long-time thing with the rowing.
"I wanted that so badly. I am so knackered
and so relieved. I didn't think I was going
to do it. I was building up and up and up -
that's the most tested I have ever been
within my own mental capacity.
"Last year I was in the silver medal
position. Anything less than a step up, then
I'm going backwards.
"I've been putting pressure on myself by
going in at this level just six months after
learning how to be a cyclist.
Old Boys vs 2008 Pool
Scrummage is pleased to announce that the
Old Boys vs 2008 Pool match will be held
when a much improved 2008 pool will take on
the greats such as BNR, Puhpe, Haris Omar,
Sean Wijesinge, Kavinda Jayasena, Rajiv
Ganapathy, Dilip Selvam, Sean Wanigasekera,
Saliya Kumara, amongst others in a battle of
supremacy - The "Old vs New" on April 5, at
the CH & FC grounds starting at 4.00 p.m.
Come join the fun, bring your
friends,spouses and children. The event will
end with fellowship, food stalls, music,
etc.
Tickets will be priced at Rs. 500 which will
include a valuable gift pack to make you
ready for the season. Get your ticket fast.
For more details contact Nishantha - 0773
125 500 or Suren - 0773 171 727.
