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| Thursday, 22 April 2004 |
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Sri Lanka's Davis Cup promotion Sports watch by Dinesh Weerawansa Congratulations to Sri Lanka national tennis team and Sri Lanka Tennis Association for gaining promotion to Group 111 of the Davis Cup Asia Ocenia zone! Having been in Group 1V for the last five years, Sri Lanka finally regained their slot in Group 111 after a superb performance. Sri Lanka tennis has been doing well in recent times, particularly at junior level. Sri Lanka Tennis Association, under the direction of its President Suresh Subramaniam, has been working hard to develop tennis at junior level and the results have just started to show. Gone are the days when our Davis Cup heroes of the calibre of Arjun Fernando, Jayendra Wijesekera, Rohan de Silva and Umesh Waalooppillai produced good contests. Ever since, our tennis has failed to match the same level but the emerging youngsters give an indication that Sri Lanka could pin better hopes for tomorrow. The best way to find suitable replacement at national level is to tap young talent. The results may not show immediately but it is an investment for the future. After a couple of years when the harvest shows, then we would have top players. This is just what Subramaniam and his dynamic team has done with a vision and a professional approach. Argentine coach Guillermo Milseda did a good job in keeping the plays fit. Sri Lanka made it to the group 111 of the Asian Ocenia Zone in style when they emerged unbeaten in their Davis Cup matches played in Amman, Jordan, last week. The four-member team, under Indian coach Enrico Pepino, dropped only one match whilst overcoming Bangladesh, Iraq and Kyrgistan, all by three matches to nil, and Myanmar, 2/1. Bottom seed Sri Lanka finished on top of Group B. Sri Lanka has been awarded two wild card entries for wheelchair tennis at the forthcoming Paralympic Games in Athens. It will be a tremendous morale booster for the local wheelchair tennis players, who have made good progress in recent times. The new CEO of the SLTA, Lionel Almeida has taken a lot of trouble in promoting wheelchair tennis under the direction of the SLTA chief. A big thank you should go to South Asia Gateway Terminal (Pvt) Limited who have come forward to sponsor wheelchair tennis. At a time most sponsors look for lucrative deals to get maximum mileage, South Asia Gateway Terminal has set an example to all by fulfilling a national obligation. Jeewan must score for sports Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Jeewan Kumaratunga has got off the blocks in style. Though the take off looks impressive, the race is going to be tough. He will have to beat all odds in this race of taking Sri Lanka sports to success. There is a saying that "a new broom sweeps well". Hence the Minister must make sure he sweeps the entire rubbish when the broom is new! Many sports controlling bodies have not got it right mainly due to individual differences, club politics and colour of the party they support. Furthermore, the number of corrupt officials in national sports associations (NSAs) is ever increasing. Coaches carry their differences to grounds and as a result our athletes as well as other sportsmen and women take a wrong message from their officials. Sportsmen and women will then form different camps according to the wishes of their coaches. At the end, the sportsmen and women become unfortunate victims of the sins committed by their coaches. There are only a handful of persons come to man the NSAs with the genuine interest of serving the sport. Many find positions in the NSAs to score for themselves. Even coaches become shareholders of these corrupt 'business associations'. It's altogether a well-organised 'sports Mafia' which is blocking the progress of our sports. Those are the major obstacles that Minister Kumaratunga would surmount when he attempts to put Sri Lanka sports on the winning track. It will be a gigantic operation to chase all devils who have occupied the Sri Lanka sports tree. It is not going to be easy, as those officials are smart enough to cultivate politicians to enjoy the comforts of the sporting kingdom forever. Known to be a hero in Sri Lanka silver screen and a genuine and kind hearted politician the calibre of the late Vijaya Kumaratunga, Minister Kumaratunga will have to play one of those heroes roles, if he is to beat all odds and liberate Sri Lanka sports. Not only will he have to be wary of NSA officials who work for their own personal agendas, but also his very own officials in the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. There are officials in many Ministries as well as NSAs who work only to fancy their respective Ministers, paint a totally different picture (to that of the real) to the Minister to get into his good books and gain personal glory and other perks. Hence, the new Minister shoulders a huge responsibility. He will have to keep a sharp eye on everything and everybody around him. Having served as the Deputy Minister and the Minister on same subjects before, he is matured and experienced enough to play a brave innings. The sports loving public, honest and genuine officials and coaches, all sportsmen and women have high expectations. They are ready to give their wholehearted support to the Minister in his endeavour to clean Sri Lanka sports once and for all. Being a nephew of that great humanitarian Vijaya Kumaratunga who always fought fearlessly against injustice and wrongdoing, Minister Kumaratunga should surely have the courage and ability to knock out all obstacles and clean the path for Sri Lanka sports. |
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