rapa
08-28-2006, 07:42 PM
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/2991/320/100M.jpg
After 15 years from last time we hosted a South Asian Games, where are we standing now? Sad enough to say we have not excelled an inch during the one and half decades, despite all the investments and facilities devoted to the improving the national sports scene. The medal tally speaks out for that.
It's not Olympics (where you don't necessarily have to come first to win!). Only 8 countries competing, and in many events only 3 countries are real competitive. So you have to win Golds to become a real hero! Let's forget about the silver and bronze tally and compare only the Gold medals. After all, it's hosted in the home country so the value of Silver Bonze further deteriorate.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/2991/320/MT.jpg
After 15 years we are still 8 gold medals short of what we've earned in an era where not much of money being invested in the sports arena. Our athletic team, atleast managed to save their pride by just falling one gold medal short of what they've earned in 91.
But, swimming??? People can talk thousand words, about "justices" and everything, but you have to prove yourself with performance. Now, what have the "local hero's" of Sri Lankan swimming arena earned us better than 1991?
2 out of 5 gold medals were by Andrew Abeysinghe. Many people " closely attached to Sri Lankan Swimming Arena" don't want to identify him as a Sri Lankan!
Why Any of the "Local Hero's" who called Andrew an "American" couldn't contribute to the Gold medal tally of Sri Lanka?
Although the "parental politics" spoiled the performance of Sri Lankan swimming team, most other events were screwed by the officials. It is said that the Sri Lanka rowing team wasn't able to practice for atleast one month, with the actual type of boats used in the games.
In athletics, our boys and girls displayed that they are still the champions in the region for short distance track events. But, for middle and long distance events we couldn't break the Indian dominance yet.
Now, it's worth to asses what could be the lessons taken from this years games, and how could we improve for the next games. A proper plan, targeted at specific achievements in each events would be ideal. The approach Chinese are taking at Olympic games is a good example. Though we don't have enough resources to spend like for Chinese, I don't think it's a big deal for us to prepare a better team for next SAG.
Anyways, Sri Lankans by nature are not a nation who takes lessons from history. So, never mind what I said so far!
After 15 years from last time we hosted a South Asian Games, where are we standing now? Sad enough to say we have not excelled an inch during the one and half decades, despite all the investments and facilities devoted to the improving the national sports scene. The medal tally speaks out for that.
It's not Olympics (where you don't necessarily have to come first to win!). Only 8 countries competing, and in many events only 3 countries are real competitive. So you have to win Golds to become a real hero! Let's forget about the silver and bronze tally and compare only the Gold medals. After all, it's hosted in the home country so the value of Silver Bonze further deteriorate.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/2991/320/MT.jpg
After 15 years we are still 8 gold medals short of what we've earned in an era where not much of money being invested in the sports arena. Our athletic team, atleast managed to save their pride by just falling one gold medal short of what they've earned in 91.
But, swimming??? People can talk thousand words, about "justices" and everything, but you have to prove yourself with performance. Now, what have the "local hero's" of Sri Lankan swimming arena earned us better than 1991?
2 out of 5 gold medals were by Andrew Abeysinghe. Many people " closely attached to Sri Lankan Swimming Arena" don't want to identify him as a Sri Lankan!
Why Any of the "Local Hero's" who called Andrew an "American" couldn't contribute to the Gold medal tally of Sri Lanka?
Although the "parental politics" spoiled the performance of Sri Lankan swimming team, most other events were screwed by the officials. It is said that the Sri Lanka rowing team wasn't able to practice for atleast one month, with the actual type of boats used in the games.
In athletics, our boys and girls displayed that they are still the champions in the region for short distance track events. But, for middle and long distance events we couldn't break the Indian dominance yet.
Now, it's worth to asses what could be the lessons taken from this years games, and how could we improve for the next games. A proper plan, targeted at specific achievements in each events would be ideal. The approach Chinese are taking at Olympic games is a good example. Though we don't have enough resources to spend like for Chinese, I don't think it's a big deal for us to prepare a better team for next SAG.
Anyways, Sri Lankans by nature are not a nation who takes lessons from history. So, never mind what I said so far!