Only a couple of days to go for SA Mini Olympics

SA Games: We are only a couple of days away from the opening ceremony of that mini Olympics here - the 10th South Asian Games which gets underway in Colombo on Friday. Through this Countdown Series, we have been taking a look at the preparations of the teams, the history of the eight-nation Games and the latest news on the countries that are taking part. Today, on the penaltimate day of our month-long series, we take a final look at the teams down to compete here.

Countdown to the South Asian Games with Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka has beaten all odds to fullfill its dream of hosting the South Asian Games after 15 years.

Having successfully hosted the fifth edition of the Games way back in 1991 and winning a record hual of 44 gold medals, Sri Lanka will be looking forward to a repeat performance this time around. Carrying the Lion flag at Friday's opening ceremony will be Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe, who aims to give Sri Lanka a golden triple in women's 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m events.

Though she will have a tough challenge in women's 200m from compatriot Damayanthi Darsha, the three-time gold medallist at the Asian Games, the short sprint will lack the traditional Indian challenge. Most prominent Indian athletes will not figure at the Colombo Games.

In the absence of their athletes from Services, C Hamza and Pritam Bind are expected to make their presence felt in Colombo. Middle -distance runner Pinki Parmanik is a good medal prospect for India. She would be in line for at least two medals including the 800m. The presence of top male sprinter Anil Kumar would also increase India's hances in men's 4 x 100m relay.

Meanwhile, the Indians are set to make a clean sweep at the shooting events, to be worked off at the International Range at SL Navy base in Welisara.

The Indian shooters have fared extremely well at the recent World Championships at Zagreb. With their morale high, the Indian shooters are definitely going to give a testing time to their rivals from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Indian shooting team is a blend of experience and youth. It was their shooters and swimmers who contributed mainly to India's success in Islamabad 2004, jointly winning 57 of the 101 gold medals.

India's archery, athletics, badminton, cycling, judo, kabaddi, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and wushu federations will be fielding both men and women competitors. But their a 22-member rowing team will have no female participation. Out of the strong 419-member Indian contingent - 184 will be officials, including 55 coaches.

Meanwhile, the Co-charman of the 10th South Asian Games, Hemasiri Fernando said that the stage is set for the biggest ever multi-sport event ever to be held in Sri Lanka. He said the preparations have been going on smoothly and that the organisers are confident of hosting the most successful Games ever.

He said the Sri Lanka contingent taking part at the Games is in good shape and that they do not have major injury problems.

Fernando thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the 10th SA Games, for his continued support and suidance to make the Games a big success.

The Sri Lanka NOC chief paid a big tribute and commended to role played by President Rajapksa to make a successful build-up for the eight-nation Games. Under the leadership of the President, the Government will pump more than Rs. 750 million to meet the budget of the Games, which would exceed Rs. 1,000 million. The organisers have found sponsorships worth over Rs. 200 million.