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| Monday, 9 August 2004 |
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'Susanthika deserves to captain': Athletes out to do their best - Manager by Dinesh Weerawansa Sri Lanka athletes are determined to come out with their brilliant best at the forthcoming Olympic Games in Athens, team manager, Commodore Shemal Fernando said. In an exclusive interview with the 'Daily News' on the eve of Sri Lanka team's departure to Greece, Commodore Fernando said all five athletes who have qualified to compete in the mega event are determined to give of their best and make their presence felt.
Commodore Fernando, a former Royal College Public schools athlete, is no stranger to the job, having successfully managed the Sri Lanka team to the last Commonwealth Games in Manchester two years ago and the Lankan team to the IAAF Youth Championships held in Sherbrooke, Canada in 2003. He has previously served as a Vice President of the now dissolved Athletic Association of Sri Lanka. Fernando said he has educated the athletes on the importance of discipline. He assured to enforce strict discipline at all times and said performance should be coupled with dedication and discipline to make a complete athlete. Sri Lanka athletic manager said all five athletes in the team have worked hard for the past months. He said their aim should be to perform 'faster, higher and stronger', in keeping with the Olympic motto. As a senior officer of the Sri Lanka Navy, he played a key role in Defence Services athletics, helping numerous promising athletes to find employment and assistance to pursue their sporting careers. Q - How do you feel about your role as the Manager of the Olympic Games athletic team: A - I am delighted and I am reminded of the words of great Olympic athlete Jesse Owens, "Everybody should have a dream. Everybody should work towards that dream. And if you believe hard enough, whether it be in the Olympic Games or be in any other field, it all comes down to one thing. One day we can all stand on the top of the victory stand, and one day we can watch our flag rise above all others to the crescendo of our national anthem, and one day you can say, on this day 'I am a champion'". I feel that it should be the spirit of any athlete or official representing the country at Olympic Games. Q - Any specific targets or medal prospects? A - It is in athletics that Sri Lanka has been able to win medals - Duncan White's silver medal in 1948 in 440 yds Hurdles and Susanthika Jayasinghe's Bronze medal in 200 m at last games in Sydney. All five athletes representing the country have achieved the necessary qualification standards in their respective events to justify their presence at Athens. Q - Are the athletes in a proper frame of mind? A - I expect all five athletes Susanthika Jayasinghe (100 m), Damayanthi Darsha (400 m), Rohan Pradeep Kumar Fernando (400 m), Indrajith Cooray (marathon) and Manjula Kumara Wijesekara (high jump) to do their brilliant best in Athens. Their aim should be the Olympic Motto 'Citius, Altius, Fortius' meaning 'Faster, Higher, Stronger'. Q- What is your view on the appointment of Jayasinghe as the overall captain of the Contingent? A - I justify and totally endorse the decision to appoint Susanthika Jayasinghe as the captain of the contingent. She deserves such recognition for the honour and glory she brought to Mother Lanka, four years ago. Q - How do you rate sprinter Fernando? A - He was put on the correct track by the Navy. Fernando was enlisted in the Navy and I am glad that Navy was able to lend a helping hand to such a talented athlete. I am proud about his achievements and specially his current form. Q - On current form, on whom you would like to put your bets on for a shock? A - I feel that cynosure of all Sri Lankans would be on young and up and coming Manjula Kumara who will be appearing in his maiden Olympics. He has reached greater heights during his short span as an athlete. I had the privilege of introducing him to Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam, the great high jumper at the Torrington Grounds during a national trial. We should be proud to possess great personalities such as him. Q - In recent times there had been disciplinary inquiries against many athletes? A - Yes, discipline should be the key factor. I assure that there wont be any breach of discipline on this tour. I have educated all the athletes on the importance of it. They have in fact attended a lecture on "Achieving Goals" and "Teamwork" and I am confident they will maintain high standards. Q - What is your new role as Secretary of the AASL Interim Committee ? A - Ever since I became champion athlete of Under 9, I have had a greatliking to athletics. I love athletics so much, it is like my heart and soul. My aim is to do a dedicated job, I have no petty club differences. Q - How do you achieve commendable results in your numerous athletic assignments? A - Through sheer dedication and commitment. And always I strive to set goals and endeavour to achieve those with a clear vision and mission. So, I am totally committed to serve Sri Lanka athletics in the right manner and in true spirit. It is my ardent desire. Q - Ambition as a Sports Promoter? A - Our ultimate goal and aim should be to produce sportsmen and sportswomen who could not only win laurels but also become worthwhile citizens of the country. Q - Salute on behalf of the contingent? A - Jeewan Kumaratunga, the Minister of Sports, Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, the Deputy Minister of Sports, S. Rannuge, Secretary, Ministry of Sports and Hemasiri Fernando, NOC President. And my gratitude to Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, the Commander of the Navy for his encouragement and unstinted support to promote track and field as the No. 1 sport in the Navy. Q - Any final comments? A - As the founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin said, "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the victory, but the struggle".I sincerely hope that this opportunity to represent the country at Olympic Games in the revival city of Athens will be a honour indeed to all the participants - athletes as well as officials. Fernando had served as the Chairman Athletics in the Navy since 1991. He said it was a good experience and laid the foundation for him to become a respected administrator. Later, he served as the Chairman Athletics Defence Services. It was due to his inspiration that the Sri Lanka Navy produced its first ever Olympian in Sydney 2000 and the first winner of a medal at the World Military Championships in Catania, Italy in 2003. |
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