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Sri Lanka national coach, Dervin Perera said that it is important to make early preparations for next year's South Asian (SAF) Games in Islamabad, Pakistan. India showed a great form in track and field at the 14th Asian Games here, winning seven gold medals.

India has concentrated on their feeder pools and the results are already showing. Hence, India is sure to pose a serious threat to Sri Lanka's athletic supremacy at the next SAF Games, unless we give a serious thought and produce equal replacements for our present to athletes - Susanthika Jayasinghe, Damayanthi Darsha, Sugath Tillakaratne, Rohan Pradeep Kumara and Sriyani Kulawansa, who are sure to retire by the next Asian Games in Doha, 2006 is over or even a couple of years early.

The 14th Asian Games track and field competition failed to come anywhere near the world standards. No athlete was able to set even a single Asian record, though there were 25 Asian Games records, including the feats of Susanthika Jayasinghe (women's 100m) and Damayanthi Darsha (women's 400m).

This is an indication that Asian athletes have a long way to go in reaching top world standards. Almost all other sports at the Asian Games failed to match the world record level, except in weightlifting, in which 18 new World records were established and nine more world marks equalled.

Of the total of 22 new World records established during the 14th Asian Games, three have been in shooting and one in swimming. Except for India, none of the South Asian countries could be satisfied with their performance at the 14th Asian Games. Even Sri Lanka could not produce the best results they expected.

Injuries have affected our top athletes regularly and sports medicine, fitness and proper physical training are some of the important areas Sri Lanka should pay attention to. For example, India have obtained the services of some top international foreign physiotherapists and doctors serving in their contingent whereas Sri Lanka had just two doctors and equal number of physiotherapists to take care of their 119-member contingent.

It's high time to take a stock of our performances in South Korea and prepare for the future. It is the duty of all to rally round, iron out petty club and individual differences, so that Sri Lanka would be able to keep the lion flag flying high at the important international sporting events lined up for the coming years.

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