Hallaldeen was one of the best sprinters

Leslie FERNANDO

Mass Shariff Hallaldeen, a former student of St. Sylvester's College, Ace Athletic Club and Colombo Municipality athlete was one of the ace sprinters Sri Lanka has produced. Hallaldeen was a top sportsman and also an efficient administrator. He is now attached to Wycherley International School Colombo as Sports Co-ordinator and the Head of Physical Education section of the school for the past ten years.

Hallal, born in Kandy started athletics from the age of 12 years at St. Sylvester's College and in the year 1954 he became the champion athlete at the Central Province Schools Athletic Championships winning 100 and 200 metres and setting records in both events. He also proved his class in the Public Schools Athletic Championships held in Colombo in 1957.

Having chosen sports as a career he joined the Colombo Municipality as a Playground Instructor in 1958. He rose to the rank of the Supervising Playground Instructor. He was the star athlete of the Colombo Municipal Council and brought honour to the Council for a long period winning the 100 and 200 metres titles at the Government Services Athletic Championships.

Hallal has won the 100 and 200 metres in the national athletic championships conducted by the AAA and also have competed in several meets locally and internationally.

His moment to savour was when the Sri Lanka relay 'quartet' comprising himself Bernard Atwell, Vijitha Wijesekera and Yoga Rajaratnam smashed the Sri Lanka record in the 4 x 100 metres relay beating the Indian team at Oval, Colombo. He was the anchor man of this great victory in 1960.

In 1961 he was a member of the Sri Lanka team at the Asian Championships held in Singapore. He was the captain of the famous Ace Athletic Club team which participated in the Open All-India Athletic Meet and won both the 100 and 200 metres events defeating top Indian athletes.

In 1961 he had the distinction of defeating athletes from USA, Malaysia and India in the All-Comers meet. Hallal once again proved his skills winning the 100 and 200 metres.

He held the 4 x 100 metres and 4 x 400 metres Sri Lanka relay records from 1959 to 1962.

He was the vice-president of the Sri Lanka AAA in 1978-1979 and Chairman of the Athletic Coaching Committee. He successfully followed coaching camps held by IAAF by the USA athletic coaches held in Sri Lanka.

He was also a member of the panel of athletic coaches in South East Asia and also a committee member of the AAA. Vice President of the Ace Athletic Club for 10 years 1987-1997. He was also General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Veterans Amateur Athletic Association. Hallal has participated in several veteran athletic championships in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and the Middle East and he achieved great success winning his pet events 100 and 200 metres.

In addition to his skills in athletics he has also excelled in football and basketball. He was also a member of the Victory SC and Black Square SC (football). He was a pioneer member of Newnham Basketball Club.

He obtained specialised training in physical education in UK. On his return from UK he was promoted as the Head of Sports and Recreation Department, Kandy Municipal Council.

Hallal is very grateful to his three coaches - Suma Navaratnam, Anthony Abeysinghe and Duncan White for their support and guidance.