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by Elmo Rodrigopulle

Disappointment, frustration and sadness was never better personified than when Sri Lanka's and Asia's speed Queen Susanthika Jayasinghe failed to get on the blocks and face the starter in 200 metre race for women at the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, yesterday.

The nation was agog from the wee hours of the morning waiting for the clock to chime 8.20 a.m. to watch 'Susy' burn the track and sport her second gold medal.

But when the runners were lining up and when the announcer failed to mention the name of Susanthika Jayasinghe, the nation stood dazed.

'Where's Susy?. What has happened to Susy? Why is she not running?' These were the questions everyone was asking. No mention was made as to why Susy was missing. But the empty lane five on the track told the story. It was a sad story.

It was a story of sweat and toil. A story of waiting and longing.

A story that had as its final ending in tears of sadness, tears of sorrow.

After Susanthika 'bulleted' to the tape winning the 100 metres in a new games record, it was a forgone conclusion that she would win the gold in the 200 metre and also set up a new record.

When she finished second in the semi-final, nearing the finish line it was obvious that she was in discomfort. She slowed down and complained of an injury.

But injury or not, or however severe, the injury she promised to put pain an suffering aside and go for gold.

She even promised Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, that she would visit him at Temple Trees proudly sporting her two golds. Modern science has brought out all kinds of formulas to soften or cure sport injuries. Foremost being the magic spray. But modern science, apparently could not find a cure for our Susanthika Jayasinghe's injury, and a gold medal that was there for the asking went a begging.

When the news flashed that Susanthika was not running, the nation stood by her in sympathy, unable to come to grips with the calamity that had befallen this athlete of guts, courage and determination.

Susanthika must remember that failures are the pillars of success. This misfortune must spur her to greater heights.

Manilal Fernando, one of Sri Lanka's foremost sports promoters summed it all up when he said: 'Man proposes. God disposes', when he heard of the calamity that had befallen Sri Lanka's wonder girl of the track.

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