One month to go for the big event

Countdown to the South Asian Games with Dinesh Weerawansa

Games: Its exactly one month to go for the 10th South Asian Games to be hosted by Sri Lanka. The 20-discipline Games will be the biggest ever multi-sport event to be staged in Sri Lanka. Commencing from today, the 'Daily News' will carry a series of articles which leads to the eight-nation Games due to commence in Colombo on August 18.

The South Asian Games will return to Sri Lanka after a lapse of 15 years after we hosted the Games for the first and the only time in 1991.

The fifth edition of the Games was a great success, both in terms of organisation as well as from the host nation's point of view. Initially, the Games were known as SAF Games, named after the South Asian Sports Federation, the regional sports promotion body formed among the SAARC countries.

This year's Games will have a special significance with the inclusion of the newest member to the South Asian Sports family - Afghanistan. Hence, from the tenth edition, the Games will become an eight-nation event, instead of the seven South Asian countries which have been taking part since its inception in 1983.

Despite ups and downs, Sri Lanka has been making steady progress in preparations for the Games, especially during the last couple of months.

As the chairman of the all-important Steering Committee, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given a dynamic leadership and has always been a tower of strength to the President of the National Olympic Committee, Hemasiri Fernando and the Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Jeewan Kumaranatunga.

True that there have been a few weak links here and there in the sub committees at the early stage but experienced Fernando has taken quick action to beat all odds and go for the goal to make sure Sri Lanka hosts the most successful Games ever. As the South Asia's largest sports extravaganza returns to Sri Lanka, it is interesting to see how our teams make preparations and during this series, we will also be evaluating the progress made by our sportsmen and women.

Sri Lanka has just finalised its 72 member athletic team for the 10th South Asian Games, comprising 42 men and 30 women. But the most notable in the team named after last weekend's trials was the failure of former Asian Games gold medallist Sugath Tillakaratne, who has failed to make it to the men's 400m event.

Tillakaratne still finds a place in the team as one of the six sprinters named for men's 4 x 400m relay. Yet, the veteran short distance runner from Norton Bridge is not assured a place in the relay quartet until the AASL conducts a separate trial to name the final four.

On the other hand, Sydney 2000 Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe has been shaping well, competing a grand sprint double at the 2006 Nationals.

She also had a convincing morale boosting win over compatriot Damayanthi Darsha in women's 200m final.