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by Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka practical shooting team, which returned to the island winning a record number of eight gold medals at the Singapore International Shooting Festival, will be felicitated at the pool lobby of the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium Sports Complex, Colombo today.

The 22-member Lankan shooting team emerged overall champions in the open division and standard divisions, winning 31 medals, including 8 golds and 12 silver. Sri Lanka practical shooting team proved their class in all events they took part in the Shooting Festival, which attracted some top shooters from Australia, USA, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka. Apart from winning the overall championships in open and standard divisions, Sri Lanka team also finished runners up in the predication category. It was a remarkable performance by the Lankan shooters, who did well to match up with superior opponents from some of the leading countries which took part at the meet.

The most notable performance in Sri Lanka's success came from Sgt. Asela Pemanath, who was on target to win ten medals, including two golds. Premanath said it was a good experience and that they are happy to do so well and bring honour to the country.

Of all shooters who took part at the standard division, Pemanath finished second in the overall individual standings. Of the other Lankan shooters, Maj. Ritigahapola, Maj. Pooraka Seneviratne, Sgt. Prematillake and IP Jayasinghe secured sixth to ninth rankings respectively.

Among the young prospects in the Sri Lanka team was 14-year-old schoolboy Johann Fernando, elder son of Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Johnston Fernando. A year nine student at S.Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia, Johann has been following his father's footsteps of becoming a keen shooter. Minister Fernando, even before he became a member of Parliament, had been a good shooter, taking part in many national level competitions.

Having accompanied his father to many of these meets, young Johann has become a keen follower of the sport and has taken part in several key meets over the past two years. He finished third in the recent Junior National championships and came out with some encouraging scores in Singapore. "It was a good experience. I love this sport and hope to do better in future," the young Thomian shooter said.

National coach, Sarath de Zoysa said it was an honour for Sri Lanka to do so well in Singapore. "Although practical shooting is not so popular here, we have been doing well in international competitions for the last ten years.

With all the support and encouragement, Sri Lanka shooters should do even better in future," he said.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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