FOR all the rapturous scenes of jubilation that greeted Saman Silva's triumph over the four-time Russian world junior champion two Saturdays ago, any invading notion that an Olympic medal had been brought home is forgivable.

The last Olympics, as you know, were over and done with three months ago, and the hoped-for medal from Anuruddha Rathnayake never materialised. The disappointment and frustration borne of that failure last August ran deep, and required release, lest the public's attraction to the sport diminish - an attraction that had been dissipated away by 40 years of Olympic no-shows. and regained only this year, thanks to Rathnayake's qualification for the Beijing Games. Silva provided the escape valve for the Beijing frustration.

Posterity will, no doubt, pay respect to the southpaw, but there is more than historical significance attached to his extraordinary feat: it gives credibility to ABA's expensive search, grass root upwards, for the yet unachieved Olympic medal - a credibility that became doubtful after the Beijing disappointment.

Discovery

Silva, just 20 and a product of rural Peradeniya MMV, is a discovery of the ABA search that began just after the turn of the century. Given that it has been on for close to seven years, there is good reason to believe that more Silvas are in the pipeline. And Sri Lanka boxing's Godfather Dian Gomes' dream of an Olympic medal is beginning to look less like the proverbial pot of gold at rainbow's end that some think it to be; Silva has given the dream an apparent life of its own. 

Any assumption, however, that Silva is Olympic-medal candidate, in the light of his conquest of a world junior champion, is to plunge to conclusions more hastily than is wise. The Slimline BC feather weight won, 7/2, over the junior world champion, but the disparity between the two was never wide as the score line might suggest. It has to be remembered that Silva's five-point victory margin includes two penalty points conceded by his opponent for "holding." Those penalty points, in fact, were the first scored by either boxer in the bout - and having secured that advantage in the second round, Silva from then on fought with increasing self-belief.

It is that self-belief that helped Silva weather a ferocious knockout bid by his opponent in the final round. He took a shattering right on his left cheek that must have momentarily left him glassy-eyed, which is why the referee subjected the Sri Lankan to a mandatory standing-count of eight. The junior world champion, now sensing a knockout was near to hand, relentlessly bored into Silva, eyes radiant with blood-lust. "The win was in my pocket (when the final round began); all I had to do was stay on my feet. His only chance was a knockout and I wasn't going to allow him that chance,'' says Silva, "self preservation was my game (in the last round)."

Momentous

Silva's triumph, from a Sri Lankan perspective, was momentous, but the fight itself was far short of being memorable. Much of eight minutes resembled wrestling, with boxers locked in endless clinches, arms wrapped around each other. As one wag remarked, "All what was needed was a Spanish band - because the Spanish tango was already being danced in the ring.''

In defence of Silva, it has to be said that this wasn't a case of 'it takes two to tango:' the Muscovite was mostly responsible for the unending clinches. The taller Silva had the advantage of a longer reach, which meant he was always going to punch from a distance. The Muscovite's approach was the opposite: to wade in and punch from close quarters. Wade in he did, but his punches were going all over except where it should. Silva played smart: he was not to be sucked into the storm of his opponent's making. He stayed a safe distance away, content to avoid his opponent's punches and play the waiting game. With a round and half expended, neither boxer had managed to chalk up their first point. Given the Muscovite's increasing desperation - and the resultant clinching - a referee's warning against him looked imminent. The warning came late in the second round, brought Silva two bonus points - and the fight had seen its defining moment.

In isolated splendour

To suggest that Silva's performance was a flash in the pan would be unfair. Equally, it isn't wrong to say that Silva's superiority over the Muscovite was never clear-cut - so that, were the two to meet another time, another triumph by the Sri Lankan can't be presumed.

But let not such hypothesis spoil the glory of Silva's deed. After all, the conquest of a world champion, junior or senior, is an achievement no boxer in the 83-year history of Sri Lanka boxing has managed. Silva stands in isolated splendour. And that the southpaw achieved the feat in only his second international competition makes his future immensely promising. He was out-pointed, 14/21, in the international duel with Tanzania last year.

The long, painful journey to the Olympics, however, has only just begun for him. It took Rathnayake 22 years to get to the Games, and not until the 22nd year was he considered a reliable candidate. Until his Olympic qualification in the 2007 World Championship, his best achievements were only four SAF silvers in different years - but no medal of any texture beyond the boundaries of South Asia, whose boxing anyway, is under-12 in comparison to Olympics.

Having the scalp of the world junior champion under his belt at just 20, in Silva, the ABA has a worthy Olympic prospect - and how good a medal-prospect he is will depend on how usefully he takes advantage of the many opportunities that will be laid before him - overseas coaching and competition, personal attention of a Cuban professional at all times, medical care, motivation by psychologists, full-time training, the lot - all of which are conditions of employment if you are a sportsman-employee of Slimline, which Silva is, as production assistant in the Pannala factory.

His Olympics ambitions will, however, have to be put aside for awhile until he tries to sort out next week what is a stark anomaly in the fact-file of a world-beater: the absence of a national title (see accompanying story pg 19). His two previous efforts, in 2006 and 07, to become national champion were thwarted by Manjula Wanniarachchi, the undefeated bantam weight champion since the turn of the century. At next week's 2008 Nationals there will be no Wanniarachchi to contend with as Silva has stepped up to feather, where Kamal Sameera, confined to a hospital bed with dengue, won't be defending his title.

Heady expectations

Sameera, like Wanniarachchi, is a tough cookie, and will surely remain the world-beater's most serious domestic rival for some years ahead. Both are outstanding talents - one an established champion; the other, a rising star; both Olympic prospects. All of which make their future meetings mouth-watering prospects, which surely must inject local boxing with heady expectations, like it was in the days when the Marzooks and Gunasinghes, the vanCuylenbergs, Jaroofs and Hopes, the Bulners and Liyanages use to slug it out in a breezy stadium down by the sea at Bambalapitiya.

In the case of the Sameera v. Silva slugfests, however, it is cruel that one of them might be lost to international boxing: two representing one country in one weight class is not possible. Sad as that might be, it yet will go to make for a better-prepared Olympic candidate - and so better enhance chances of bringing home that dream medal.

Lokuge - a bull in a China shop!

By Lal Gunesekera

Sports and Public Recreation Minister  Gamini Lokuge, a former working director, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and head, UNP's Trade Union Wing, Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS), has become the laughing stock of the local sports scene going by his antics since his "cross over" to the government ranks and his appointment as a minister in the Mahinda Rajapakse administration.

Being a politician who does not seem to know a "hang" of sports Minister Lokuge takes advice from "catchers" and tries to please each and every person - his intervention on many matters is well known. He not only makes stupid interventions in sports bodies and selection, but also makes disastrous statements.

Being the Sports Minister, Lokuge called for annual general meeting of interim committees, but cricket and tennis seems to have been forgotten.

The latest controversy right at the moment involves rugby, and its all about a captain for two games later this month in the Asian Division I tournament scheduled to be held in Chinese Taipei involving Sri Lanka, China, Singapore and host country Chinese Taipei themselves.

It all began with the national selectors (appointed by Minister Lokuge himself) headed by retired Brigadier Jupana Jayawardena picked young Dushan Lewke as captain. He happens to be the son of DIG Nimal Lewke, who heads the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU). An old Royalist,  young Lewke turned out for  CH & FC, Kandy Sports Club and this year for CR & FC with distinction. This sparked the controversy with former Sri Lanka captain and Kandy's winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe protesting to the Minister about young Lewke's appointment. All the Kandy players in the national pool kept away from practices.

What did the Minister do? He sacked the selectors he had appointed earlier and made null and void young Lewke's appointment. He appointed a new set of selectors headed by Rohan Abeykoon, and they in turn appointed young Lewke to lead Sri Lanka in the first game and Dilanka Wijesekera in the second.

What an absurd decision!! Lewke was first removed and later appointed again. What are the new selectors and Minister Lokuge trying to prove? Are they trying to satisfy various parties with vested interest and bring further turmoil to the game?

With this decision, all the Kandy players who "boycotted" practices for six weeks, returned to the fold, and from the 12, nine were picked for the tour party. However, the Colombo based players attend practices regularly "under protest." Even the two South African coaches are not satisfied with this state of affairs.

Has Minister Lokuge and his new set of selectors diffused the crisis and brought about unity among the players? Certainly no. It increased the turmoil further.

Now, SLRFU has challenged the appointment of the tour selectors, and wants the coaches and manager too to "have a say" in team selectors on this tour. They have written to the ministry on this matter and even appealed to President Mahinda Rajapakse himself to bring about a settlement to these controversial issues that are ruining the game of rugby. Let's see what the final outcome of this exercise will be.

Paranavitana, Matthews guides Sri Lanka 'A' to victory

Tharanga Paranavitana and Angelo Matthews powered Sri Lanka 'A' to a convincing 99-run victory over Karnataka in their three day encounter at the Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association Stadium recently.

Batting first, Sri Lanka made 224 runs helped by 78 from opener Paranavitana and 46 from Matthews. In reply, Karnataka were bowled for 175 runs with allrounder Jeewan Mendis, a leg spinner and top order batsman, picking up four wickets.

In the second innings Paranavitana made 37 while Matthews chipped in with 34, taking the Sri Lankan total to 191 to leave Karnataka chasing 241 from 40 overs. They made just 143 for 5, giving Sri Lanka 'A' their first victory of the three-week tour.

Paranvitana, 26, a left-handed opener, was also the leading run scorer in the 2007/08 first-class season in Sri Lanka scoring 1059 runs at an impressive 81.46 in 10 matches. Matthews has just been called into the national squad for their tour to Zimbabwe.

The Sri Lanka 'A' tour to India includes four matches against Karnataka, Hyderabad and Andra Pradesh - all of the matches to be played at Visakhapatnam.

Maradona set for trip to Britain

Diego Maradona plans to visit England this weekend to meet Argentine players before his likely debut as coach in next month's friendly against Scotland.

Maradona will see Manchester United's Carlos Tevez and Liverpool's Javier Mascherano, with the respective sides of the duo playing Hull and Tottenham.

The 48-year-old's appointment is set to be confirmed by the Argentina Football Association on Tuesday.

The team is due to play Scotland at Hampden Park on November 19.

"I will travel to England on Saturday to see Tevez and Mascherano," Maradona said. "And in Scotland I will make my debut.

"We are going to play the game against Scotland with the best team we've got.

"I really never expected this although I always dreamed of having the chance."

A sparkling 125 by Bhanuka Rajapakse

Bhanuka Rajapaksa hit a sparkling 125 from 109 deliveries with three sixes and 16 boundaries to help Royal College compile a formidable 275 in their first innings on the opening day of their inter school cricket tournament match against Thurstan College which commenced at Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha on Friday.

Scores: Royal: 275 (B. Rajapaksa 125, K. Vithanage 79, S. Kamaleen 6 for 63, P. Arthavindu 2 for 49)

Thurstan: 124 for 6 (S. Kamaleen 26, I. Massalage 26, R. Kamlath 21, P. Arthavindu 21 n.o., R. Rambukwella 3 for 23, H. Mowjood 2 for 21)

Highlights of the week gone by

St. Anthony's - St. Peter's in U-15 Final

St. Peter's College recorded a 4 wicket victory over Royal College in a low scoring game to reach the final of the Under 15 All Island cricket tournament. In the other semi final St. Anthony's College, Katugastota overcame hometown rivals Trinity College under the Duckworth Lewis system.

Liverpool stun Chelsea

Chelsea's unbeaten run of 86 games at Stamford Bridge came to an end when rivals Liverpool scored a stunning win in the English Premier League. The decisive goal was scored by Xabi Alonso in the 11th minute and the victory took Rafa Benitez' Reds to the top of the table.

Tamils sign Pathirana, Priyanjan and Mendis

Tamil Union C & AC have signed Sri Lanka Under 20 strongmen Sachith Pathirana and Ashan Priyanjan to represent the club in the upcoming premier league tournament. Also joining the ranks would be Jeewan Mendis who has rediscovered his form which made the former Thomian a national prospect a few seasons back. This season the Tamils would be captained by all rounder Muthumudalige Pushpakumara.

Jancovic secures year-end top ranking

Serbian Jelena Jancovic is assured of ending the 2008 season as world's No.1 women's tennis player. Although the 23-year-old is yet to win a grand slam, she won four ATP tour titles during the year, three of which were consecutive. Dinara Safina would take the No. 2 slot followed by Serena Williams - the US Open winner.

Australia retain ICC ODI shield

Australia has retained the ICC limited over championship shield for the year 2008. The Aussies with 131 points dislodged South Africa following their triumph in the One-Day series in the Caribbean. Sri Lanka occupied the 7th slot with 105 points.

Dinusha Chathuranga to lead SL U-20 rugby

Isipathana skipper Dinusha Chathuranga will lead the Sri Lanka U-20 rugby team at the junior Asiad to be held in Chinese Taipei. The squad under the guidance of Sanath Martis has already taken wing to the Far East host nation. Included in the squad are some promising players in the calibre of Sajith Saranga, Bilal Hassen, Sharo Fernando, Roshan Weeraratne, Poornika Delpachithra and Ishan Noor. 

Maradona new Argentine coach

1986 World Cup winning captain Diego Maradona has been appointed as the new national coach of Argentine football. Maradona captained Argentina to a famous triumph, playing every minute of the tournament and scoring five goals, including two against England in the quarter-final that will live forever in football folklore. His first goal of the 2-1 win came courtesy of an outrageous handball which he later described as "the hand of God," but the second is said by many to be the best goal ever scored; Maradona danced past five England players before poking the ball past Peter Shilton.

The night Saman turned hero

By T.M.K. Samat

IT was the night of Saman Silva's life, the first 20 years of it at least. The young boxer shocked the four-time Russian world junior champion, taken on a lap of victory on the shoulders of ecstatic fans and was then told a Rs.100,000 cheque was coming his way, courtesy Raja Mahenderan, The Maharaja Organisation's honcho.

Such heady experience is stuff of what dreams are made of, but if you have struggled through boyhood on what a father eked out as a simple fish vendor, as Silva's dad did, then last Saturday night was heavenly. Five days after, wonderment hovered in his eyes yet. "I am living out the happiest days of my life,'' the 20-year old told me, Wednesday, "and to think it wasn't supposed to be like this at all.''

So, what was it supposed to be like? "Normally, my weekends are spent with the family in Kandy, so if I wasn't in the team last Saturday, I suppose I would have been in Kandy and watching the boxing on telly,'' says Silva, whose weekday residence is in the Pannala staff housing complex of Slimline, where he works as a production assistant, "I wasn't in the team until Friday, but Sameera, who was down to fight, pulled out with the flu the morning before the meet and I was asked to take his place.''

A member of the national squad, his physical preparedness for the fight wasn't an issue, but mentally?... well, nearly like being asked to prepare to face the executioner, who, a world champion opponent really is, especially for a Sri Lankan who isn't even the local champion.

 "The first thing our Cuban coach told me was not to think too much about (tomorrow's) fight. But that's easier said than done,'' says Silva, "actually, thoughts of the fight had me tossing in bed a long time; sleep finally came only after midnight - only to awake about 5 am. I am normally a 9 pm to 6 am sleeper.''

The short-notice-fight, however, had its consolations. "One restless night isn't as bad as, say, seven nights of the same; knowing that your opponent is a world champion days before means that many days of anxiety," said Silva. "The fact that I was the substitute-boxer too was of help - after all no one expects me to win. So, I decided to go in there and box the best I can - my loss wasn't going to disappoint anyone.''

Fate, however, wrote things differently - and not for the first time. "I was supposed to be a cricketer  until one day, returning after nets, I found the school's boxing coach looking for someone to rubdown a strained thumb. I happened to be the closest around, and helped straighten out his thumb. And to return the favour, he offered to make a boxer out of me,'' says Silva, "for a lark, I took up his offer and that was the end of my cricket.''

Not wrongly, the one-time Peradeniya MMV schoolboy is being spoken of as a prospect for the 2012 London Olympics. But presently his ambitions are set closer home - that is to win a national title - something he's tried for two years and failed. "You don't have the right talk about fighting in the Olympics without a national title to your name - and securing that would be my first goal,'' said Silva, "beating the world champion without being the national champion doesn't sound right.''

Even though he speaks sanguinely about his future, his boyhood hardships aren't forgotten, which is why, Mahenderan's entire prize, he says, is going into completing the family home in Kandy. "The floor needs to be done and that's what the Rs.100, 000 is going to be spent on,'' says the second among the four household siblings.

The young man's head is firmly screwed to his shoulders - which, hopefully, mean his sights on the 2012 Olympics are fixed steadfastly.

Final 'Coca-Cola Cricket Pathway' Camp in Colombo

Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd., in partnership with the Aravinda de Silva Cricket Foundation is organising the sixth and final of its cricket camps for 2008, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo from the October 31 to November 2, as part of the 'Coca-Cola Cricket Pathway' initiative. The most significant feature of the opening ceremony of the final camp for 2008 will be the participation of Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan cricket captain as well as vice-captain Kumara Sangakkara, who are also brand ambassadors of the flagship brand.

The 'Coca-Cola Cricket Pathway' is an initiative undertaken by Coca-Cola with the objective of promoting cricket around the country while discovering new talent among the country's youth. The preceding cricket camps held in several locations around the island including Dambulla, Kandy, Galle and Colombo witnessed the participation of numerous youngsters who benefited from the rigorous training routines throughout the six camps.

The sixth camp will be especially geared towards training youngsters from the Kalutara and Ratnapura districts. The first-hand training sessions complete with the experience and expertise of renowned cricketer Aravinda de Silva is set to provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the selected group of budding cricketers.