Sports letters

Doping report

I congratulate your article on doping report at the SA Games in Colombo and your response today to the protest of your report by the Chairman of the Committee.

I admire your journalistic integrity and courage for not bowling to legal threats to curb a journalist's freedom. I read your columns and I can say you are in the tradition of the late Carlton Seneviratne who was Sports Editor of Daily News when it was an independent daily.

I hope you can publish the full report of the Committee's report and also report of Dr. Geethanjana Mendis. I admire your wish to keep Sri Lanka's sportsperson free of Dope and follow the guidelines of the international sports bodies.

I trust the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka, which have the right to independent review will have its own review to ensure justice is done to all concerned.

Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam,
USA.

Congrat's Nirmala

I read your candid factual and interesting straightforward article, under the headline, 'Sporty thoughts for the New Year' in the 'Sports Watch' column of the Daily News and I too, do fully agree with the writer's point of view, argument and suggestions, etc.

I needn't write much here, as the writer had already exposed clearly the exact situation prevailing today that need some sort of a change, for the best interest and benefit of the Sri Lanka sports development, especially for the future generations advancement and success. Let me remain here, for the present on this vital topic.

By the way, it gave me a great pleasure, some exciting feelings and pride, when I read in the leading newspapers, that our Sri Lankan lass, a seventeen-year-old schoolgirl from Colombo Visakha Vidyalaya, Nirmala Chandrasiri had achieved a unique, historic and unprecedented feat of the World Chess Champion title, in the World Amateur Women's Chess Championships held in Tripoli, Libya, recently (from November 24 to December 2, 2006).

It is undoubtedly, a rare distinction, that our little Sri Lanka had produced a talented female world champion, for the first time, in its sporting history, indeed!

Little, Nirmala's potential with great success, brought fame, name and glory, to her own college and country (motherland).

It's also understood that at the awards ceremony, where the VIP chief guest had been Dr. Maumer Maumer al Gadaffi, the son of the Libyan leader, our Sri Lanka flag was (hoisted) raised high, before Nirmala was presented, or rather awarded the coveted champion's trophy and the vital gold medal, whilst her national anthem (of Sri Lanka) was also played loud, which made us proud and happy.

This outstanding historical world record stands only just after the late, legendary M. J. M. Laffir who won the World Billiards Championships 33 years ago in 1973, I believe, that I do wish to mention here. Well done and heartiest congrats, with a bouquet to little Nirmala, the great sportswoman of ours, today!

S. T. Arasu,
Dehiwala.

Why overlook inform players?

The cricket selectors have done it again the preliminary squad for the World Cup is questionable. Why have the ever consistent and promising players like Anil Rideegammanagedara, Sajeewa Weerakoon, Ranga Dias and Indika De Saram been overlooked?

It seems to be a known fact that only players representing the affluent clubs are given a chance. This step-motherly treatment does not augur well for Sri Lankan cricket. Why is Dilshan being persisted with? A good cricketer is a person who shows maturity beyond his years, mature with every game, and is able to adapt to different conditions, and most of all able to perform under pressure.

This kind of treatment will shatter the morale of these boys and they must be wondering what they have to do now to get a call for the senior team. I am sure that every ardent cricket lover is wondering whether the Sports authorities are blind to all this. It is a shame if the best squad is not going to the World Cup.

ROSHANTHA FERNANDO,
Nawala