sports watch

Not on track for Asian Games

It is only a couple of weeks away from the next edition of the South Asian Games. Many Asian countries started their preparations for the 2010 Asian Games in China several months ago. In fact countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and even India started their initial preparations last year.

Unfortunately,Sri Lanka has not made any preparations for the up coming Asian Games. It is high time we identify our strengths and immediately start preparations for the Asian version of the Olympics.

The Asian Games is the stepping stone for the Olympics. If we have any intention of securing an Olympic medal in the near future to emulate feats of Susanthika Jayasinghe and the late Duncan White, we must first concentrate on the Asian Games. Hence, the best way to launch our preparations towards the 2012 Olympic Games in London is to set our minds focused on the Asian Games.

The next edition of the South Asian Games is due to be held in Bangladesh before the 2010 Asian Games.

That would provide the ideal platform for the sportsmen and sportswomen in the South Asian region to test their skills at international level before they enter the Asian arena.

The most outstanding athletes of the eight South Asian countries could then advance to the Asian level to be competed at the Asian Games. Those Asian Games medallists and the finallists could then advance another step towards the world level - either at the World Championships or at Olympics. That is how the world class sportsmen and sportswomen progress step by step.

Long term plans

We in Sri Lanka do not have such long term plans. Instead, we take event by event and field teams or contingents mostly for the sake of participating. In most cases, we field makeshift sides or send hurriedly picked 'eleventh hour' teams to honour international commitments.

But that should not be the case. We must identify our international calender in each sport at the beginning of each year and then make our plans and preparations accordingly. At the same time, we must target mega events such as Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games and World Championships well in advance so that we could make use of the regional events to warm up for those key international events.

Picking teams at the last minute should be stopped altogether. Officials governing each sport must make their short, medium and longterm plans and draw their schedules accordingly. That would ease the pressure on sportsmen and sportswomen who would have enough time to make their preparations.

Our immediate target should be to groom a good national pool for next year's Asian Games in China. Having won three gold medals in Bangkok 1998 Games, that too with a gold medal after 24 years, and a solitary gold at Busan 2002 Games, a gold medal for Sri Lanka at Asian Games is long overdue. Somehow, we must target at least a couple of golds medals in China next year.

It is of utmost importantance that we make early preparations, instead of our customary last minute selections. There will be around one and a half years to make preparations for the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou and we must make every endeavour to discover rural talent and groom them to win 'gold'.

It is a pity that some of the talented young sportsmen and women who were in the Sri Lanka contingent for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games are a forgotten lot.

The young brigade certainly needs a helping hand - weightlifter Chinthana Vidanage, shuttler Thilini Jayasinghe and swimmer Mayumi Raheem are capable of making Sri Lanka proud at international level. In athletics, Junior Commonwealth Games triple gold medallist Shehan Ambepitiya too needs a helping hand and correct guidance. That would definitely be an investment for the future.

The monthly allowances of Olympic poolists were stopped immediately after the Beijing Games. This decision has put some of the young future medal prospects in deep trouble. They do not get any financial backing at present to continue their training.

Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge had earlier pledged to resume the monthly allowance for those who deserve from this year. We hope that the Sports Ministry officials will get in to action before long.

Separate pools

The officials must introduce a formula of three separate pools for future Olympics, Asian Games and South Asian Games - at three different levels.

Those who come out with notable performances at various levels could get promotions to higher pools, depending on Asian Games and Olympic Games general qualifying standards.

Grooming our talented sportsmen and women for the future is important. We cannot expect good results if we do not make an investment for the future. Sri Lanka sport, after a lead run from 1974, regained its lost glory in 1998 after 24 long years. That was because of the poor vision our officials have had for over two decades. But this trend was changed due to good planning by local officials in mid 90s with the formation of the Olympic super pool which led our athletes to win Asian Games gold medals after 24 years, an Olympic medal after 52 years and the first ever IAAF World Championship medal.

It is never too late. We must reintroduce that successful formula to resurrect Sri Lanka sport this year and come good at the next Asian Games.

Every possible encouragement and financial backing must be given to our future medal prospects so that they can have their minds free to concentrate on their sporting careers.

Hard and methodical training is a must to produce gold medallists at world level. There are no shortcuts but hard work and dedication to reach there. Our officials must realise this truth.