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| Tuesday, 10 August 2004 |
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Surprise pull out of women's 100m : Susy takes a powder from Olympics Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from Greece ATHENS, Monday, Star woman sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe made a surprise exit even before the opening ceremony of Olympic Games in Athens. Jayasinghe, who won Sri Lanka's first Olympic medal in 52 years at the last Games in Sydney, said she is not taking part in women's 100m qualifying round which is scheduled for August 20. However, Jayasinghe checked in to the Athletes Village here today with the Sri Lanka contingent. The Lankan sprint queen said she has been given special permission to come to Athens as the overall captain of the contingent, even though she is not taking part. With Jayasinghe deciding to skip women's 100m, in which she hardly stands a chance even for the semi-finals and failing to qualify for her pet event of women's 200, Jayasinghe will only play the role of a 'non playing captain', as done in sports like tennis. Jayasinghe, who kept her non participation as a secret until the team left Colombo in the early hours of Monday, complained of a fracture in the right leg. She said the doctors have recommended her to rest for four months. But the 28-year-old celebrated woman sprinter who returned home to a hero's welcome four years ago, said she hope to be ready for the South Asian Games next year. "I will definitely run at the South Asian Games in Colombo next year. The doctors told me it would take about four months for the recovery," she said, adding that she came to the Greek capital as the overall captain. However, her husband coach Dhammika Nandakumara did not join the tour party, though he was originally included in the contingent as a coach and even was present when Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse felicitated the Lankan Olympians at Temple Trees last Thursday. It is understood that Jayasinghe had produced medical reports on her leg injury to the Sports Ministry and the National Olympic Committee last week, though she did not disclose her eleventh hour pull out. Jayasinghe made a similar shock exit at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games. |
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