Sports fans in for a rare treat

Sri Lanka's sports fans are in for a rare treat of some exciting and memorable action in the coming few months. Sri Lanka is due to host three key international sporting events - 10th South Asian Games, Triangular cricket series and 2006 Rugby Asiad, from later this month.

Undoubtedly, the best out of the three would be the eight-nation South Asian Games, the biggest ever multi-sport event ever to be held in Sri Lanka. With 20 disciplines on the Games proper, it would provide a variety of sports. Hence, it should attract good spectator interest as the 20-sport Games would cater to different interests of local sports enthusiasts.

The stage is set for the South Asian version of the Olympics which will be worked off from August 18 to 28 with nearly 2,500 competitors and officials from eight countries taking part.

Unfortunately, this event overlaps the Sri Lanka Cricket Tri-Series to be worked off from August 14 to 29. However, the final of the series, which features Sri Lanka, India and South Africa, is scheduled for August 29, a day after the South Asian Games closing ceremony at Sugathadasa Stadium.

But our rugby fans would have a better time towards the end of this year with the cream of Asian stars in action at the 2006 Asiad. Asian rugby heavyweights Japan and Korea are expected to make their presence felt against Hong Kong and Taiwan. But the hosts Sri Lanka will have a tough time in living up to expectations in the Plate championship.

Despite many ups and downs, the organisers of the 10th South Asian Games have managed to meet the challenges. President of the NOC, Hemasiri Fernando, at a recent news conference, too admitted that he was nervous at the start, thinking about the huge challenge ahead of them.

But Fernando said the organisers have now overcome all challenges and that he is now more confident than ever before. He was optimistic that Sri Lanka would host the best ever Games.

Fernando gave a firm assurance that all competition venues would be ready on schedule and that more than 80% of the material and equipment needed have arrived.

But the organisers are still looking for funds with the Games budget set to go well past Rs. 1,000 million. In case the Marketing and Sponsorship subcommittee fails to raise Rs. 300 million, the Treasury will have to get supplementary funding, other than Rs. 600 million already granted by the Government.

It was nice to see President Mahinda Rajapaksa taking a keen interest and leading from front to make the Games a big success. As the chairman of the Steering Committee of the 10th South Asian Games, he has always extended his fullest support and inspired the organising committee.

On Tuesday night, he made a surprise visit to Sugathadasa Stadium to see the local preparations. His visit was a big inspiration not only to the NOC President Hemasiri Fernando and the organising committee members but thousands of workers and volunteers who work round the clock to make the mega event a success.

On the other hand, expectations are high amongst Sri Lankan cricket fans. Following a highly successful summer tour of England, where the tourists drew the three-Test series one-all and made a complete 5-0 whitewash in the ODI series, Mahela Jayawardena and his men are going great guns now.

They have been able to maintain that form with an innings win over South Africa in the first Test at SSC grounds. It was nice to see skipper Jayawardena (374) and his deputy Kumar Sangakkara (287) sharing a mammoth 624-run partnership for the third wicket - the highest for any wicket in Tests. Incidentally, they erased the previous world record of 576 runs held by Sanath Jayasuriya (340) and Roshan Mahanama (215) versus India.

With Sri Lanka winning back to back Tests at Trent Bridge and SSC grounds, one hopes that the home team would make a clean sweep in the Test series. However, things won't be that easy for Sri Lanka with South Africa regaining the services of experienced Shaun Pollock.

But another spell of 'Murali magic' could shatter South Africa's dream of making a comeback. The Lankan spin wizard produced two magical spells to enjoy a match bag of ten wickets and with it a convincing win for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka will be at full strength with the return of left-arm quick bowler Chaminda Vaas. A veteran of 93 Tests, Vaas missed the first Test due to a hamstring injury but he is now 100 per cent fit to be considered for the second Test.

There again, the national selection committee, headed by Ashantha de Mel, will have a tough time in deciding the final line up. While the batting line up is likely to remain unchanged, the composition of pace and spin departments are yet to be known.