Confident Lankans leave for CGames

Chinthana Wasala

The largest Sri Lankan contingent ever to compete in the history of Commonwealth Games will leave today and are hoping for the best record ever. The Delhi Games will start on Sunday which the organizers promises to be a safe, clean and the best Commonwealth Games experience in the games’ history.

Sri Lanka will field 94 men and women athletes and 43 officials, led by the Chef De Mission wing Commander Chandana Liyanage.

At a ceremony held at the Olympic house yesterday, Sports Minister C B Ratnayake in a short speech, gave the athletes his best wishes to bring glory and fame to country.

Chinthana Geethal Vidanage, the golden boy at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games leads the lankan contingent with high hopes. Chinthana hopes that the weight lifters will bring home at least three medals.

“When I won the Gold Medal in the last C Games, I competed in the 62 kg weight class. But this time, it will be the 69 Kg class. But I am the South Asian Champion in this category and I have a feeling that I am going to do it again. But I will have some tough opponents from India, Australia, malaysia and New Zealand” said Chinthana.

The other athletes, who are hoping to do Sri Lanka proud in 14 disciplines, are also in a high note. This time, there will be four handicapped sportsmen taking the field under the Lion’s Flag. Thanuja Viduranga and K P Jayatilake will represent the Para Athletics while Sanath Sirisena Kumara and Sandun Vasana Perera will be in action at the Para Weight Lifting events.

Indian High Commissioner Ashok Kantha assured that the games village and the venues are in excellent conditions and ready to host the mega sports extravaganza for the next two weeks and all the athletes and the officials will be looked after in a great manner. Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee president Hemasiri Fernando, Sri Lanka Telecom CEO Graig Young, representatives from the other sponsoring companies, athletes and the officials on tour were also present at the occasion.

Sri Lankan Commonwealth Games contingent with Sports Minister C B Ratnayake. Picture by Prince Gunasekera