I'm here to win gold - says Susanthika

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from Qatar

ASIAN GAMES: Star woman sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe vowed to fight back and go for the gold in her farewell Asian Games. The Sydney 2000 Olympic medallist, who turns 31 years this 17th, cleared whatever the doubts her fans had on her participation at the 15th Asian Games here.

"I am here to run. Many have questioned about my participation. True that I had viral flu a couple of weeks back but that's no excuse. I'm here to run. I'm here to win gold," a confident Jayasinghe told newsmen after a workout at Qatar Sports Club grounds here.

Jayasinghe said the weather in Doha is similar to that of Los Angeles. "It's not the ideal weather to practice. It's cold but I am not going to make an excuse. I'm ready to go for my goal," a determined sprint queen said.

Jayasinghe will have a tight schedule in competing on five successive days from December 8. Apart from her pet event of women's 200m, she will also be competing in women's 100m and 4 x 100m relay.

Joining Jayasinghe in the relay would be Sujani Buddhika, N.C.D. Priyadharshani and Premila Priyadharshani.

Sri Lanka athletic team manager, Dervin Perera said they have decided not to field Ashok Kumar Jayasundara for men's 400m hurdles.

"He does not stand a big chance there at all. Hence, it's better for us to let him concentrate fully on men's 4 x 400m relay where we stand a good medal chance," he added.

Sri Lanka high jumper, Manjula Kumara Wijesekera said he is looking forward to make his presence felt. "I will try to do my best. I want to win my event and make my country proud. There is a stiff competition but I should be able to make it," said Wijesekera, the South Asian Games gold medallist who trains in the United States.

Boxing

Despite many unimpressive performances by Sri Lanka sportsmen and women in their respective disciplines at the Doha Games, Wasala Wekadapola did well to make it to the second round of men's 64kg super lightweight event.

In his preliminary round bout worked off at Aspire Hall here today, Wekadapola had a convincing 19:11 points decision over Nepalese Sushil Ghimire. Except in the tied third round (3:3), Wekadapola was superior right throughout the bout with some powerful left hooks which put his opponent on the back foot.

Sailing

At the Doha Sailing Club circuit, Radheeka Jirasinghe, daughter of former Sri Lanka Asian Games silver medallist Lalin Jirasinghe, finished fifth in women's optimist race, in which Chinese Lihua Zhang.

In men's optimist race 1, Devin De Alwis Gunawardena finished seventh.

Adding to Sri Lanka's failure in sailing were Upul Priyantha de Silva (last in men's mistral light race 1), Priyantha Gunawardena (last in mistral heavy race

1), Akshan Jirasinghe (last in Laser 4.7 open race 1) and Janaka Welandagoda (last in laser radial open race 1).

Rowing

In rowing, Kanishka Jayaratne clocked three minutes and 37.68 seconds to secure the third place in men's lightweight single sculls event. In the doubles sculls event of the same, Kamal Kumarapperuma and H.M.A. Amaradasa came second in 4:12.23.

Judo

Sri Lanka's Chamila Wijeratne suffered two back to back defeats in the judo competition worked off at Qatar Spots Club Indoor Hall. Wijeratne lost her women's 48kg bouts to Indian Bembem Devi Laishram and Kazakhstan's Kelbet Nurgazina.

Cycling

In the men's 44.8km individual time trial worked off this afternoon, Sri Lanka's P. Meemanage was placed last among 21 competitors while two pulled out halfway. He clocked one hour, 16 minutes and 05.84 seconds. He was 20:32.49 behind the winner - China's Baoqing Song (55:33.35).

DOHA, Tuesday