‘Diversity shines here’ is the tag line of the 17th Asian Games into it’s 13th day,today.The weather stayed cool and competition was tough.
The Men’s Sevens Rugby team led by Fazil Marija with Asanga Seneviratne playing the role of Coach lost to hosts South Korea in the 3rd and final Pool C encounter 21-12 after leading 12 -00 at half time.Gayan Weeraratne and Anuruddha Wilwara scored a try each with Mithun Hapugoda adding the extra points once in the first half. The opponents registered 3 goals in the second half. In the ensuing match which was a quarter final, a full strength China was surprised to go down to Sri Lanka who played a winner takes it all style. Sri Lanka opened scoring but trailed 12-14 at half time.They went ahead at 19-14 but scores were level for the 2nd time in the game at 19 – all at the end of full time. Five minutes were added on and Mithun Hapugodage sneaked through for the Golden Try to give Sri Lanka a deserving win and a semi final meeting with Japan, the top team in the 12 nation Tournament. Anuruddha Wilwara,Shehana Pathirana and Fazil Marija were able to fall over with Hapugodage and Marija responsible for one conversion each during regulation play. Manager Rohan Chinthaka said that without play maker Srinath Sooriyabandara who has not played due to a leg injury this is a creditable performance by the team.
In Athletics,Gayanthika Abeyratne in Lane 8 was placed 7th in the Women’s 800 M Final.She finished in 2 mts. 06.21 sec.and was carried off suffering probably cramps/muscle pull.In the Women’s 200 M, Chandrika Subhashini Rasnayake in Lane 3 ran in a time of 23.65 sec.and was placed 6th.In the final of the Women’s Javelin Throw, Nadeeka Lakmaali hurled a distance of 57.71 M in her 4th attempt but fell well short of her best at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier in the year. She finished in 5th place out of 8.
Tommorrow,in the Mens Cricket the match of the Asian Games will be worked off.Sri Lanka is up against Bangladesh who have sent a full side in the absence of India and Pakistan.Chandika Haturusinghe,Ruwan Kalpage and Mario Villawarayan are all part of the Officials with the team. ManagerJayantha Seneviratne together with Romesh Kaluvitharana and Champaka Ramanayaka in charge of Coaching will have to come up with a foolproof formula to be on top in the match and win the top medal thereafter.A lot of Sri Lankan migrant workers are expected to be at the venue to ensure a win for their heroes. Also the Men’s 400 M Relay team have been allocated the innermost Lane 2 for the Final tommorrow.
The Hon.Minister of Sports,Sri Lanka and the Hon. Minister of Tourism,Culture and Sports,South Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation in the field of sports between the two countries.Excange of Coaches,Teams,Informaton,Skills,Techniques and Documentation is part of the aggreement which had been arranged by Excellency Tissa Wijeratne, Ambassador for Sri Lanka in South Korea who was also present at the occassion.
China is on top of the medal table with 130 Golds.South Korea [62],Japan [38],Kazakhstan [19] and Iran [15] are below them.
Haritha Perera @ the Main Media Center in Incheon,South Korea
