Susanthika leads Lankan challenge at Olympics

Susanthika leads Lankan challenge at Olympics

By Dhammika Ratnaweera
Sri Lankan Olympic bronze medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe will lead the eight member team to the Beijing Olympics which is scheduled to commence from August 8 in China.
National Olympic Committee (NOC) chairman Hemasiri Fernando said the committee unanimously decided to give the leadership of the contingent to Susanthika who is the only athlete with previous Olympic experience.

She also led the Sri Lanka team to the last Olympics in Athens 2004 as well as the Sydney Olympics in 2000 which was historic when she won a bronze medal in the women’s 200 metres. She was also captain of the Sri Lankan team for the last Asian Games which was held in Qatar in 2006.

With this new appointment Susanthika will get a chance to carry the national flag at the Beijing Olympic opening ceremony. Apart from Susanthika all other seven athletes are Olympic debutants - Nadeeka Lakmali (javelin throw), Mayumi Raheem and Daniel Lee (swimming), Anuruddha Ratnayake (boxing), EM Senanayake (pistol shooting), Thilini Jayasinghe (badminton) and Chintana Withanage (weightlifting).

In addition six officials will accompany the team according to Fernando. NOC vice president Dian Gomes who is also the president of the Sri Lanka Boxing Association will go as chef de mission.
Meanwhile the Chinese government has already sent an invitation to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse as head of state for the Olympics according to Fernando.

Asitha Attygalle, the tennis referee, Rohana de Silva, the international badminton umpire and international athletic technical officer PHD Waidyatilleke and Manel Dharmakeerthi international wushu referee have already got the invitation from their respective world bodies as officials for the Olympics.

The Sri Lankan team is scheduled to leave for China on August 5. However Susanthika who is in the USA for advanced training and EM Senanayake who is in Korea for special training, Mayumi Raheem in Singapore and Daniel Lee in Australia will join the other members in China.

****The Nation.LK***