Dervin confident of athletes winning five medals

By Rathindra Kuruwita and Indika Sakalasooriya
Under harsh humid conditions in the Asian region, Sri Lanka's top athletes are battling against their neighbouring cousins at the Asian Grand prix where one more leg needs completion. The athletes will take part under tough conditions. "Our athletes are already prepared" comments Dervin Perera, President Amateur Athletic Association of Sri Lanka.

The strong Sri Lankan contingent comprising of Susanthika Jayasinghe, Rohan Pradeep Kumara, Prasanna Amarasekera, Harijan Rathnayake, Meneka Wickramasinghe and 100 meters champion Umanga Jayawardana were selected based on their performance during 2004-2005 season by the International Asian Athletic Federation. The athletes will face heavy competition from Qatar and India. Damayanthi Darsha and I.C.Wijekoon, were in the Sri Lankan Squad till the very last moment before being dropped due to injuries and ill health. However, despite these set backs in the Lankan camp, Perera is of the opinion that the spirit of the team is still high.

Sri Lanka's sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe, making a come back after two years, wishes to make her presence felt once again in the international athletic arena. She has recovered from a shinbone fracture that plagued her for a considerable period of time. A few months of training in America under Tony Campbell has done much to improve her timing. She had recorded a time of 11.37 seconds in the 100 meters and 23.11 in the 200 meters at the recently held Inter State Championship in U.S.A. A confident Jayasinghe says, "No opposition is too big". The A.A.A President responds to Jayasinghe saying her timing is fairly good.

Harijan Rathnayake, one of Asia's top five hurdlers, is confident of a medal.

He clocks 49.04 seconds in his event and the 2006 Asian Grand Prix is his first international tournament for the year. Rohan Pradeep and Prasanna Amarasekera carry Sri Lanka's hopes in the 400 meters. Prasanna expects a tough challenge from Quatrain athlete Fauzi. "The country can expect a good performance from the two athletes" adds Perera. Wickramasinghe, who represents Sri Lanka in the women's 400 meters event, wishes to improve her current personal best which reads 53.40 seconds. Meneka, who expects a serious challenge from Indian athletes, says she will make her country proud.

The athletes are determined to carry the Sri Lankan flag high at the Asian Grand Prix and the A.A.A President Dervin Perera states that five medals are possible. However, the non participation of Darsha is a big blow to Sri Lanka's medal hopes. She has not yet fully recovered from an ankle injury that has bothered her since the Commonwealth games. But sources say that she will participate at the Asian Games in Quatar, the games scheduled at the tail end of the year.

Those in the Sri Lankan camp are optimistic. But some athletics enthusiasts feel that the authorities should do a lot more when their input is compared with others in Asian countries such as India, China and Japan. Sports administrators must work hard to ensure that both the physical and psychological developments take place in athletes. This will help them to perform better at the international level and the country could harness the best out of the athletes in their prime. The nation, as always, wishes to hear the Sri Lankan National Anthem after the conclusion of every event our athletes participate at the Asian Grand Prix.