Fast upgrade training to new Hi-Tech modern standards, SL Athletic Head Coach Ayapperuma Ranasinghe

Ayapperuma Mudiyanselage Ranasinghe, Head Coach and Manager of the Sri Lankan athletic contingent that did duty at the recent 20th Asian Games in Japan, commenting on the failure of the athletes to win medals, attributed it to several shortcomings ranging from lack of MONDO type international fast training tracks as well as other modern sophisticated training facilities to lack of funds for optimum protein and vitamin nourishments.

He emphasised that in a highly advanced hitech modern era where countries like China were in the forefront, it was imperative that Sri Lanka arm itself with the right resources to optimising the standard of its athletes to medal winning proportions. But one of the biggest setbacks was the necessary funds which was huge.

"Look at China. They were 47th in 1992. But China has since advanced to be a world leader in athletic sports due to the available modern resources at it's disposal. India is another example of progress in a rapid evolvement.
Here in Sri Lanka we have still not developed an oppertune fast inter international track for athletes to hit that standard.
Looking at the future Sri Lanka should lose no time in setting up such a MONDO type international track at the Sugathadsa Stadium or at Diyagama to get going."

Ranasinghe, who is professionally an acamedic as a lecturer at the Kelaniya University, went on to state that everyone in the country are questioning about the failure of our athletes in Japan. The answer to that should be the vital modern sports science to bridge the glaring gap hindering the progress of our athletes. One glaring x factor is that Sri Lankan athletes in the varying jump categories are not acclimatised to speeding in the final thrust on fast international tracks where on the contrary here they are used to a comparatively slow rhythm in that take off. That hasld been a huge offsetting factor in perfecting the jumps on the top international stage.'

He added that around RS. 3000 to 4000 is needed for athletes protein food including vitamins. Athletes needed to change their spikes every tnree months. But a pair of spikes was as much as RS. 1 lakh.

While commending the discovery of Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage in the javelin sport, Ranasinghe noted that the sports ministry was expending a big cost to keep him in top fettle recognising the enormous medal potential he carries for the country.

By Srian Obeyesekere