Sprint queen Susie to call quit

Sprint queen Susie
to call it quits

By Samiddha Rathnayake
Local sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe is finally calling it a day. The Nation reliably learns that Jayasinghe, 33 is quitting to start a family.
She is expected to make her plans for retirement public very shortly ending a glorious 17-year athletics career the highlights of which were her winning an Olympic medal and also a medal in the IAAF World championships.

In 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, Jayasinghe became only the second Sri Lankan athlete and the first female athlete to win an Olympic medal. She also won two World Championship medals – silver at Athens in 1997 and a bronze at Osaka ten years later. All her medals were won at her pet event the women’s 200 metres where her personal best timing is 22.28 secs. In the 100 metres her personal best is 11.04 secs. She also won several gold medals in the Asian Athletics circuit.

Susanthika’s last hurrah was at the Beijing Olympics where she managed seventh place in the 200 metres semifinals.
Along with athletes Damayanthi Dharsha and Sugath Tillakaratne, Susanthika lifted Sri Lanka athletics to international competitive level.

According to a source close to her family, Susanthika has taken this decision on advice from her doctors. “Most probably there will be a function in the coming month to announce her retirement,” Sunil Jayaweera, her one time coach said.
Jayaweera further stated that Susanthika has not yet decided whether to start a second phase of her life as a coach, but said that at the moment she would concentrate on her family life.

****

--- The Nation

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***

Swim to meet goal

Swim to meet goal

By Panchamee HEWAVISSENTI

www.sundayobserver.lk

Heshan

Heshan Unamboowe is an outstanding and stunning swimmer who has won many titles in swimming. He recently came to the Sunday Observer Sport Avenue to give the invitation for his birthday party which falls on May 19. There we had a pow -wow with the young swimmer.

Your full name?

Heshan Bandara Unamboowe.

School?

Trinity College, Kandy and I’m going to sit for my O/Ls this year.

Family?

My Appachchi, Dudly Unamboowe is an engineer in Saudi Arabia. Mother Priyanga is a housewife and I have only one sister. She is studying at Mahamaya College, Kandy. She is going to sit for her A/L next year is also engaged in swimming.

Why did you prefer swimming to other sports?

Actually some chose their particular sport because they are interested in that and because of their family background. But for me it is a completely different reason so as to why did I chose swimming. I had wheeze at my childhood.

When my parents took me to a doctor he has told that swimming can be a good medicine for wheeze. Thus my parents put me for swimming. When my sickness got gradually reduced my parents have decided to send me for swimming further.

When did you start swimming and who was your coach?

I started swimming at the age of four and the coach was Mr. Wilson who was once a national coach.

Where did you practice swimming at your childhood?

I first entered Dharmaraja College, Kandy. But at that time there was no sufficient facilities for swimming at Dharmaraja. Trinity was the best for swimming and my parents decided to send me to Trinity from grade 3.

I received proper guidance and training under national coaches at Trinity College since the time I entered Trinity College which I believe is the stepping stone and the secret of my victories. My coach is Mr.Premlath who se help is untold. Of course my dedication to it plays a major role. I believe 'no pain no gain’.

How is the support you get from your teachers and the colleagues?

The support I receive from my teachers and colleagues is enormous. When I have to practice for national and international events I often miss my lessons. It is a privilege to me that my teachers allow me to come to them and even to contact them over the phone at any time to clear any doubt regarding lessons.

My colleagues are never hesitant to render their support in providing me notes and even they help me to clear out any problem on my studies.

Do you have a big fan club?

My friends and family are my biggest fans. Other than that I have fans all over the country. They send me e -mails wishing me for my victories.

My Appachchi is as I feel is my biggest fan. Though he is working in Saudi Arabia, he takes leave from his work to make his presence at every major event I take part in. He calls me everyday from Saudi and encourages me. It’s due to my Appachchi’s and Amma’s blessing which I was able to come so far.

Are you hoping to go abroad for further training in swimming?

Yes. I would like to go to countries like Australia or USA if I would get a sponsorship.

Would you plan to be a professional swimmer?

No. I hope to go abroad and study and become an Aeronautical Engineer.

How do you balance swimming with your studies?

I give priority to my studies. I get up about 4.20 am and get ready to go for swimming training sessions at 5 am at school till 7.30am.

Since I have to take part in swimming practice everyday in the morning, I hardly find time to study in the morning. I have training sessions in the evening as well, but not everyday.

When I don’t have swimming practice in the evening I devote that time for my studies. I study till 10pm. I can’t burn mid night oil because I should maintain good health in order to give a good competition.

I am getting ready for my O/Ls this year. I am working hard for that. I do past papers and prepare shortnotes. When I’m not busy I read shortnotes.

O/L exam is my goal for this year so I put my heart and soul for study in order to get good results.

Swimming isn’t a barrier as long as I give priority to my studies.

Do you go for tuition classes as well?

Yes. Mostly weekends.

What are your hopes with regard to swimming?

The biggest hope is to compete for Olympics. Gradually I have to be trained for the Asian championship and then the world championship.

Sri Lanka without top runners at Asian Grand Prix

Sri Lanka without top runners at Asian Grand Prix

Sri Lanka sans top-notch sprinters including Susanthika Jayasinghe will field a mediocre ten-member contingent at the forthcoming Asian Grand Prix 2008 series which will commence later next month in Thailand.
The first two legs are scheduled for June 23 and 27 in Thailand while the final leg will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam on June 30.
Jayasinghe opted out due to her training commitments ahead of Olympics in the United States, high jumper Manjula Kumara failed to secure a place due to his poor form and Rohan Pradeep Kumara is sidelined with an injury.
The team includes three girls and seven boys, including the men’s 4x400 relay quartet which eyes an Olympic berth.
Women’s 400m sprinter Menaka Wickramasinghe who clocked an impressive 52.93 seconds last year will be a possible medal prospect, though hard to predict anything due to poor preparations, while Premila Priyadarshani, the South Asian athletic champion, will carry the burden of the nation in the shorter sprints.
Priyangika Madumathi, the national women’s high jump champion, is sure to improve her performance.
Prasanna Amarasekera will however be the main medal prospect in the 400m men’s sprint in the absence of seniors Sugatha Tilakeratne and Rohan Pradeep Kumara. Prasanna will play the anchor role in the 400m relay. South Asian Champion Umanga Surendra who found favour with selectors ahead of teenager Shehan Ambepitiya will compete in the 100 metres.
The relay team comprises Prasanna, Prabath Mendis, Rohitha Pushpakumara, Dulan Priyashantha, Asoka Jayasundara and Shiwantha Mudalige.

--------Lakbimanews.LK

Road clear for Susie’s ‘Silver’

Jones' results annulled by IAAF

By S.R. Pathiravithana

The sunday times

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has annulled all sprinter Marion Jones's results dating back to September 2000. Now both Lankan sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe is in line for the Silver medal in her bronze effort at the 2000 Sydney Olympics while Pauline Davis Thompson of the Bahamas who took the ‘silver’ are clearly in line to take their different places on the dais.The secretary of the SLAAA Prema Pinnawela speaking to The Sunday Times said “The IAAF took the decision to annul Marion Jones’ achievements from the year 2000 and it will be effective for another two years from today. The decision was taken at the meeting which was held in Monaco on Friday.”

She won five medals, including three golds, in Sydney but they will be re-allocated by the International Olympic Committee next month.

She won gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x400m relay in Sydney along with bronze medals in the long jump and 4x100m relay, becoming the first woman to win five medals at a single Olympics.

The IAAF statement said Jones's ban, which will last until October 7, 2009, by which time she will be almost 35, also required "the forfeiture and return of all awards , medals and certificates" obtained from September 2000 onwards, along with all the prize money.

The federation has also recommended that the other members of the USA relay teams be stripped of their medals.

Gold and silver medals won by Jones at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton will also no longer be recognised as a result of the IAAF ruling.

The IOC, meanwhile, now has to decide if Katerina Thanou should be awarded a gold medal. The Greek sprinter finished second to Jones in the 100m in Sydney, but was herself banned for two years after failing to appear for a drugs test at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Pinnawela ad

Mineka wins first Gold for Sri Lanka

Mineka wins first Gold for Sri Lanka

Leslie FERNANDO reporting from Pakistan

SWIMMING: Mineka Karunaratne won the first Gold medal for Sri Lanka at the first South Asian Swimming and Water Polo Championship conducted by the Pakistan Swimming Federation held at the Jinnah Sports Complex swimming pool here yesterday.

Mineka swimming in her pet event won the Gold in 100 metres Breast stroke open blessed with a perfect start from the blocks she swam in fine style to lead from the outset to the finish clocking 1:19:85 secs. Jessica Bole of India won the Silver 1:22:91 secs and Aqsa Tariq of Pakistan took the Bronze with a time of 1:28:26 secs.

Mineka was thrilled and happy and said that winning a Gold for the country was her main aim from the beginning of the meet. She also added that she was confident of the Gold due to hard training under Julian Bolling and Ruwan Manawadu.

Islamabad, Monday

Susanthika to train in Los Angeles

Susanthika to train in Los Angeles

Plans to start her Olympic training soon:

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from Japan


ATHLETICS: Celebrated woman sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe, who created history by winning her second IAAF World Championship medal after a decade, plans to commence her Olympic training in the United States before the end of this year.

The 31-year-old Lankan sprint queen said she would go to Los Angeles before the end of this year to undergo intensive training in her lead up for the 2008 Olympic Games in China.

In an exclusive interview with the ‘Daily News’ yesterday, two days after her women’s 200m bronze at Nagai Stadium, Jayasinghe said a comprehensive training program is a must to make a world class athlete.

“If I had got at least one fourth of the superlative training my world class opponents get, I would have done wonders. Though I won a medal here, I did not have proper training in my lead up for the World Championship, except for that last one month in the US,” she said.

Despite giving Sri Lanka another IAAF World Championship medal ten years after her dream silver in the same 200m event in Athens, 1997, Jayasinghe is not satisfied with the timing of 22.63 seconds she clocked to finish third behind American Allyson Felix (21.81) and Jamaican Veronica Campbell (22.34).

“I am not happy with my timing. I should have done better. Unlike others I came here without a proper intensive training schedule. Hence, I ran for about 75% of my true potential in the preliminary round and in the semi finals (where she clocked identical timing of 22.55 seconds - her season’s best),” she said.

Jayasinghe added that her coach advised her not to take a risk and go all out in the first 100m. “Hence, I had to do a calculated run and preserve my energy for the last 100m after the curve when I could see my opponents. That was mainly because I was running in a disadvantageous lane seven,” she added.

The Lankan sprint queen confirmed that she would compete at the National Sports Festival in Beliatta. “It’s an honour for me to compete in the hometown of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He has made it a point to call me often and inquire about my progress. It has been a big inspiration for me. Hence, I would definitely compete at the National Sports Festival,” she said.

Jayasinghe plans to go back to the United States “as soon as possible” and commence her preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. “Yes, I am hungry for medals. I want to win my country’s first ever Olympic medal before I retire one day. I will make every endeavour to keep that dream alive,” she continued.

Asked about her plans to train in the US, she paid a big tribute to former Sri Lanka high jump champion and first ever Lankan gold medallist at Asian Games, Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam. “He has been looking after me like a father before I came to Osaka. He is willing to help me in future too,” she said.

Jayasinghe explained those gloomy days during which she struggled hard to keep her chances alive.

“I have been looking for a sponsor for some time without success. Fortunately, the Sports Ministry came out and granted me a monthly allowance three months ago,” she said.

The most successful athlete ever produced by Sri Lanka, Jayasinghe said she could fully concentrate on her athletic career if she has a committed sponsor who would partner her for the Beijing Olympics. “I am from a poor family. I had a lot of problems including troubles in the family.

Everybody in my family, including my elder sisters, look to me whenever they are in trouble. Hence, I have been struggling hard to meet day to day challenges in my life. That puts undue pressure. I was devastated mentally,” she explained the hard passage to her success.

Sri Lanka’s ‘Dazzling Gazzelle’ admitted that she had a dream before she came to Japan. “Though I have not said it before, I had a dream of a medal here. I thought there was a better chance in the 100m than my pet event of 200m.

It was a tearful experience for me to quit at 100m quarters due to a false start. But that did not affect my mentality altogether,” said Jayasinghe, who after five days of that debacle, bounced back to strike a medal in 200m.

“Obviously that gave me a scare and that would have contributed to my relatively slow reaction times in the subsequent 200m races,” she admitted.

But the 31-year-old Jayasinghe, who twice survived dope charges, said nothing could beat her determination and courage. “It’s those fighting qualities associated with my character that have brought me this far. I am blessed with talent, speed and endurance. I am ever grateful to my lovable parents who have done so much for me, to beat poverty and groom me the hard way,” she continued.

Asked what her final goal was, Jayasinghe said its nothing but an Olympic gold! Gold?” the writer asked. “Yes, gold and I am going to do that in Beijing next year. Keep your fingers crossed until I make my country proud with its first ever Olympic gold,” a confident Jayasinghe said.

Age has not been a barrier for some athletes to come good at the latter stages of their careers. There are many instances, including Olympic gold medallist Linford Christie who did so at the age of 36. Let’s hope Jayasinghe is going to be one of those ‘extra special’ athletes.

Jayasinghe, who left for Singapore today, is due to arrive in Sri Lanka on Wednesday after an overnight stay in her transit destination.

OSAKA, Monday

World's athletes say sayonara to Osaka

World's athletes say sayonara to Osaka

Channaka de Silva reporting from Osaka, Japan

The 11th Athletics World Championships which ended here at the Nagai stadium on Sunday will forever be etched in the minds of twenty million Sri Lankans for the magnificent performance of the country's most valuable sportswoman's legendary medal winning run on August 31, 2007.

For a country ravaged by a crippling war and squeezed by an alarming financial crunch, Susanthika Jayasinghe's medal would serve as a soothing balm while for a victory-starved world's largest continent with a population of nearly four billion or 60 percent of the world's population, it came as a relief.

As the United States once again underlined their sporting strength to the world with a runaway lead at the top of the medals table of the world championships with a whopping 14 gold medals, Asian athletes managed a total of mere eight medals with just two of them golds.

Even the hosts Japan, who were in danger of ending the championships without a medal, finally won a bronze through Reiko Tosa in the women's marathon on the morning of the final day.

Jayasinghe who also won the silver at the 1997 world championships in Athens and bronze at the 2000 Olympics, was once again the star of South Asia bringing the only medal to the region. The only other hope Anju Bobby George of India who won a medal in the long jump at the last world championships in Helsinki two years ago, finished a disappointing ninth in the finals.

Bahrain's Maryam Yusuf Jamal, actually a runner born in Ethiopia, won the women's 1,500 metres gold while China's World record holder Liu Xiang, the most popular athlete here, won the men's 100 metres hurdles as expected to give Asia the golds.

But reigning Olympic champion Liu who is supposed to win when Beijing hosts the next Olympics, is tired of being at the top.

"Nowadays there is too much pressure. The others can hide but I'm number one in the world. I win the gold medal here and next year I'm expected to win the Olympics" he said adding "Every time I go out there's pressure on me, I don't get good sleep."

Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi, also an import from the African country of Morocco, won the 800-1500m double at the previous world championships, but managed only a silver in the 1500m here.

World number one woman marathon runner Zhou Chunxiu only managed a silver in the event behind Kenya's Catherine Ndereba on Sunday morning, giving Asia another medal.

China's Zhang Wenxiu of China won bronze in the women's hammer, while Qatar's Mubarak Hassan Shami, also an import from the African country Kenya, won silver in the men's marathon to finish as another Asian medalist at the nine-day event.

IAAF President Lamine Diack praised the hosts on the final day. "We have had a wonderful experience," he said. "You have given us the best of Japanese hospitality."

The low ticket sales were a major worry for the organisers prior to the championships and crowds at Nagai were small on week days but became much larger at the final weekend.

The highlight of the world's highest sporting spectacle was the exciting sprint double and the triple gold achievement by the new star of world athletics Tyson Gay from America.

The Americans picked up three more gold medals on the final day to finish with 26 total medals, and were followed in the final standings by Kenya (five gold, 13 total medals) and Russia (four, 16).

American sprinter Allyson Felix who won the gold in women's 200m where Jayasinghe won the bronze also finished with three golds when on Sunday she was part of the champion 4X400m relay team having earlier being a member of the victorious 4X100m relay team as well.

Another American Bernard Lagat, born and raised in Kenya, also won two golds when he added the men's 5,000 meters on the final night to the 1,500 gold he won earlier.

Susanthika elected to IAAF Athletes Commission

Susanthika elected to IAAF Athletes Commission

Pockets US Dollars 20,000 for women's 200m bronze:



Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from Japan



Sri Lanka’s bronze medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe celebrates on the podium after the women’s 200m final, 31 August 2007, at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championships, in Osaka. USA’s Allyson Felix won ahead of Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell and Sri Lanka’s Susanthika Jayasinghe. AFP

Athletics: OSAKA Sep.1 - Sri Lanka's most celebrated athlete, Susanthika Jayasinghe was today elected to the Athletes Commission of the International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF), the world governing body for track and field.

She will also pocket a handsome cash prize of US Dollars 20,000 (over Rs. 2.24 million) for her women's 200m bronze medal won last night.

The 31-year-old Lankan sprint queen got this rare honour only a day after winning women's 200m bronze medal at the 11th IAAF World Championship here. According to Secretary of the AASL, Prema Pinnawale, Jayasinghe becomes the first Sri Lankan to be elected to the high-profile Athletes Commission of the IAAF.


USA’s Allyson Felix crosses the finish line during the women’s 200m final, 31 August 2007, at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championships, in Osaka. USA’s Allyson Felix won ahead of Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell (R) and Sri Lanka’s Susanthika Jayasinghe (2ndL). AFP






USA’s gold medalist Allyson Felix, Jamaica’s silver medalist Veronica Campbell and Sri Lanka’s bronze medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe celebrate on the podium after the women’s 200m final, 31 August 2007, at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championships, in Osaka. USA’s Allyson Felix won ahead of Veronica Campbell and Sri Lanka’s Susanthika Jayasinghe. AFP


At the elections held at team hotels in Hanshin, ANA, Righa Grand, Sheraton, Miyako and Righa Grand during the past five days, there was a 61% voter turnout.

Of the 1,161 votes casted for the 18 seats in the IAAF Athletes' Commission, Jayasinghe polled 508 votes to secure a sensational win. She is one of the four Asians elected with others being Koji Murofushi (Japan), Mohammed Al Azemi (Kuwait), Hamdon Awadh Al Bishi (Saudi Arabia).

Olympic gold medallist in men's high jump Stefan Holm of Sweden received the most number of votes (929) while Japanese hammer throw gold medallist at Athens Olympics, Koji Murofushi came a close second (913).

For the next two years, until the next IAAF World Championships in Germany 2009, Jayasinghe will have to play a key role as a member of the elite committee where the Lankan lass will have the luxury of working with some of the top most athletes in the world.

Pinnawala played a keyrole in securing votes for the Lankan lass as the members of the IAAF Athletes Commission are elected through a vote amongst participating athletes. Having served in the local Olympic and athletic governing bodies for over two decades, Pinnawale used his good office to secure votes for the Olympic medallist.

The AASL Secretary, who has been in close association with former world champions turned IAAF top officials Sergey Bubka and Sebastian Coe, gave Jayasinghe a big backing by canvassing at team hotels.

'I am honoured to be elected to the IAAF Athletes Commission. I won a World Championship medal for Sri Lanka ten years after I won my country's first ever medal in 1997. Now here in Osaka, a day after my medal-winning feat in 200m, I was able to secure a mandate from athletes here to serve in the IAAF Athletes Commission. I feel great,' a jubilant Jayasinghe said.

Meanwhile, Jayasinghe's lone effort lifted Sri Lanka to the 33rd place in the overall medals table of the Osaka World Championship. Considering the fact that the hosts Japan has failed to win a single medal at the time of writing, it is creditable for little-known Sri Lanka to take the 33rd place out of 203 countries taking part at the meet.

Jayasinghe left for Tokyo this morning to visit her friends and fans in the Japanese capital on a 24-hour trip and is due to return to Regha Royal Hotel here tomorrow. She was accompanied by her husband cum coach Dhammika Nandakumara, who functions here as the Team Leader.

The Lankan sprint queen will also pocket US Dollars 20,000 for her bronze medal while the gold medallist of the women's 200m, American Allyson Felix will get USD 80,000 and second-placed Jamaican Veronica Campbell US Dollars 40,000.

Campbell's total prize money is US Dollars 120,000 with the USD 80,000 she gets for the women's 100m gold. The IAAF is offering attractive cash incentive to the finalists of each event, ranging from US Dollars 4,000 to US Dollars80,000.

In addition, any athlete who surpasses a World record at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics will be awarded $100,000, donated by IAAF Partners Toyota (for women) and TDK (for men).

No prize money will be distributed until all drug test results are finalized. Meanwhile, Sunday will be the penultimate day of the 203-nation world athletic extravaganza. A total of eight finals are scheduled for the day, commencing from women's marathon schedule for the morning.

The evening schedule include finals of women's high jump, men's javelin throw, men's 5,000m, men's 800m and women's 1,500m. The championship would conclude with the men's and women's 400m relays, followed by the closing ceremony.

dinesh@sundayobserver.lk

When Susie pulled another rabbit out of the hat

When Susie pulled another rabbit out of the hat- The Sunday Times

“My strength is the people of my country who love me. It is the greatest blessing I have” Jayasinghe said after her win on Saturday, though she knows the same people hate her with their might when she fails to deliver.

Channaka de Silva reporting from Osaka, Japan


Susanthika Jayasinghe

Susanthika Jayasinghe was on the familiar path of Sri Lankan sportsmen at the twilight of their careers - ignored, uncared, condemned and forgotten.

Nobody was willing to give her a second chance. But then, who gave her a first chance?

Her fame, glory, recognition, achievements were the result purely of her courage, dedication skill against a society that was waiting to trample her down.

Jayasinghe has won unprecedented glory for Sri Lanka and Asia with two world championship and an Olympic medal, all of which interestingly came when they were least expected.

But none more out of the blue than her latest triumph, against odds on Friday night at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka.

Even the most respected authority on Track and Field in Sri Lanka Dr. Yogananda Wijesundera explained to Sunday Times two weeks ago why Jayasinghe has so little chance in the 200m, though she had a tiny chance of entering the final of the 100m.

That is what even the best expert in the world would tell you, because it is the fact based on scientific findings.

That Jayasinghe has the ability to confound all known norms and accepted standards, is however the common knowledge of millions of Sri Lankans, who know her true talent. Interestingly that is one fact that motivates her.

“My strength is the people of my country who love me. It is the greatest blessing I have” Jayasinghe said after her win on Saturday, though she knows the same people hate her with their might when she fails to deliver.

Jayasinghe’s performance level nose-dived following her Olympic medal at the Sydney 2000 Games, and in 2003 and 2004 her 200m timings dipped below 23 seconds, suggesting she was on the downhill of her career.

But it picked up dramatically just a month ago in Amman when she became the Asian champion in the sprint double, but who could give her a chance at the World championships?

From Amman, Jayasinghe flew straight to Los Angeles for a month-long training session under a reputed coach and it had done wonders.

There were uncanny scenes on Friday night at the mixed zone where journalists meet athletes after an event when Jayasinghe fell crying on the shoulders of four waiting Sri Lankan journalists and bellowed how grateful she is to her parents for bringing her up.

But she regained her composure to face foreign journalists and as usual won their hearts with her unending chatter. “My performance level dipped in the past two years or so, because I was nursing a serious stress fracture in my right leg. I took it easy as I recovered step by step. It will end only when I win the Olympic gold. It is certainly a possibility and it won’t take long. It will come next year in Beijing.” She made her first utterance of confidence for a long time, giving auspicious signs.

At 31, Jayasinghe has baffled sports science achieving something almost impossible, but it should be remembered that Merlene Ottey won the 200m gold in 1995 World Championships at the age of 35.

Even Jayasinghe had more hopes in the 100m. “I had a lot of hopes for the 100m,” she said after her shock disqualification last Sunday and it reflected on her extremely slow reaction times to the starter’s gun right through the 200m.

Then her medal which surprised even herself has instilled a lot of self confidence all of a sudden and her first exclamation when she met journalists after her win on Friday was “See, how well I can run!”

Her victory is even more impressive considering the impressive field she was running against. Winner Felix Allyson of United States who ran under 22 seconds for the first time in her life was in a different league as she retained her title. Silver medalist Veronica Campbell of Jamaica won the 100m title just five days ago.

Fourth placed American Torri Edwards was the 2003 world champion in the event, fifth placed American Sanya Richards, who was the 2005 400 meters world champion and was declared last year’s world athlete of the year.

Jayasinghe indeed can run and she is not finished. That is the message she wants to give all Sri Lankans as she arrives back in the country on September 4.

Susanthika Jayasinghe - finished third in the women’s 200 metres final at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka

It’s BLACK MAGIC as SUSIE bags World C’ship BRONZE
Finishes behind Felix and Campbell in women’s 200m.:


BRONZE FOR SUSI: Susanthika Jayasinghe celebrates after finishing third in the women’s 200 metres final at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka yesterday.

It’s BLACK MAGIC as SUSIE bags World C’ship BRONZE

Finishes behind Felix and Campbell in women’s 200m.:

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from Japan

ATHLETICS: ‘Dazzling Gazelle’ Susanthika Jayasinghe kept the lion flag fluttering high at Osaka’s Nagai Stadium as she bagged the women’s 200m bronze medal at the 11th IAAF World Championship here on Friday night.

Running in a disadvantageous lane seven, Jayasinghe joined reigning Olympic gold medalist Veronica Campbell and the defending champion Allyson Felix to keep the pace of the race. She had an impressive final dash to clock 22.62 seconds to finish third, behind Felix (21.81) and Campbell (22.34) who won the gold and silver respectively.

The race got off to an inauspicious start with a false start taken by Jamaican Aleen Bailey. Coupled with the bitter 100m quarter final exit experience due to a false start and the first yellow card shown in the 200m final, Jayasinghe had one of the slowest reaction timings.

Nevertheless, the Lankan wonder girl made a strong come back to go past former World Championship silver medallist Torri Edwards and her American team mate Sanya Richards, who both had better season’s timings than Jayasinghe.

Despite not being able to monitor the progress of her opponents, Jayasinghe, on lane seven, had her own calculated dash until the curve.

It was at the bend that Jayasinghe fired all cylinders to reach the top gear. It was in the last 80m that Jayasinghe was at her brilliant best, accelerating at her peak to go past Edwards and Richards and closing on Campbell.

This was only the second time that a Sri Lankan has won a World Championship medal in its 24-year-old history. Incidentally, it was Jayasinghe who first achieved this unique feat exactly ten years ago when she clocked 22.39 seconds to finish behind Ukranian Zahana Pintusevich-Blocks to take the silver in Athens on August 8, 1997.

With a world ranking of 20, that too after her 22.99 dash to win the Asian Championship gold in Jordan a month ago, Jayasinghe had virtually no attention from media and none expected the 31-year-old Lankan lass to spring a sensational surprise in a key final that had four star American woman sprinters and two Jamaican sprint queens.

Yet, the unpredictable Jayasinghe did that once more to mark Sri Lanka’s place prominently in the world athletic map.

Jayasinghe, who became the first Asian to win a World Championship medal, now becomes the only Asian to achieve this memorable feat twice.

“I did it. I did it. Oh my poor father and mother, they are the people who brought me up,” was the first emotional expression as she spoke to the Lankan media in the mixed zone, minutes after her historic feat.

“I am happy that I could make it. Only a few believed that Susanthika Jayasinghe could go this far once more. But nothing is going to beat my will power, determination, courage and strength given by mother who breast fed me for five long years. That has been the key to my success,” an emotional Jayasinghe shared her joy.

“The path to my success has been a really hard one.

Many would think that I am having a luxurious life as an elite world class athlete. But it’s not so. How many days I have starved, faced immense day to day problems. If not for all those, I would have gone much far at world level,” she continued.

Inspired by today’s latest addition to her rich haul of medal collection, a determined Jayasinghe vowed to give Sri Lanka its first ever Olympic gold next year. Jayasinghe said she would present Mother Lanka with an Olympic gold medal before she hangs her spikes up.

“I am hungry for victory. I am going to win an Olympic gold next year, it’s hard and a huge challenge but Susanthika is going to do that and make all of us in my little country proud,” she assured.

Meanwhile, Americans made a clean sweep in men’s 400m with Jeremy Wariner (43.45), LaShawn Merritt (43.96) and Angelo Taylor (44.32) winning the gold, silver and bronze respectively.

Olympic champion Liu Xiang lived up to expectations to clock 12.95 seconds and take the gold in men’s 110m hurdles. He was closely followed by Americans Terrence Trammell (12.99) and David Payne (13.02), who bagged the silver and bronze respectively.

Cuban Yargelis Savigne (15.28m) won the gold medal in women’s triple jump while the top honours in women’s javelin throw went to Barbora Spotakova of Czech Republic, who had a clearance of 67.07m.

Women’s 200m final result:

1.Allison Felix (USA) - 21.81 WL

2.Veronica Campbell (Jamaica) - 22.34 SB

3.Susanthika Jayasinghe (Sri Lanka) - 22.63

4.Torri Edwards (USA) - 22.65

5.Sanya Richards (USA) - 22.70

6.Aleen Bailey (Jamaica) - 22.72

7.LaShauntea Moore (USA) - 22.97

8.Cydonie Mothersil (Cayman Islands) - 23.08

President calls Susie to congratulate

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from Japan

CONGRATULATIONS: President Mahinda Rajapaksa was amongst the first to congratulate Susanthika Jayasinghe after her record breaking feat to strike a medal at the World Championships in Osaka.

It was minutes after the race that President Rajapaksa spoke to Jayasinghe on a mobile phone while she was speaking to Sri Lanka’s four-member media team - Sarath Prematillake (Kreeda), Asoka Goonetillake (Divaina) and Channaka de Silva (Daily Mirror).

“Sir, I did it sir. I did it once again for my country,” Jayasinghe told the President. Jayasinghe was sharing her joy with the Lankan media team when President Rajapaksa spoke to her from Colombo to convey his greetings and congratulate the sprint queen on her unique achievement.

“He was extremely happy to see our flag fluttering at the Nagai Stadium here in Osaka. He has always been behind our country’s sportsmen ad women. I am glad that we have a President of his calibre,” the Lankan sprint queen said.

Even before the call from President, Jayasinghe was speaking to us on how he has been following her fortunes. “Despite his busy schedules, he calls me at least twice a month to inquire on my progress. That has been a big inspiration to me. I value his blessings like a father,” she said.

Jayasinghe thanked all those who helped her to achieve this feat. “Besides the President, I would also like to thank the Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge.

He is the best Sports Minister we have got after S.B. Dissanayake. Minister Lokuge has been a tower of strength and giving me whatever assistance I needed from the Sports Ministry ,” she said.

“It’s difficult to mention each and every person but there have been many others who have been giving me strength and courage in the good times and the bad. I thank my fans and sports enthusiasts in Sri Lanka for the courage given,” she concluded.

Susie keeps Lankan hopes alive - Enters today's WC women's 200m final:

Susie keeps Lankan hopes alive - Daily News

Enters today's WC women's 200m final:

Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from Japan


ATHLETICS: Wonder girl Susanthika Jayasinghe kept Sri Lanka's hopes alive as she stormed into the women's 200m final on day six of the 11th IAAF World Championship at the Nagai Stadium on Thursday night.

Running in the second women's 200m semi final, Jayasinghe clocked 22.66 seconds to finish third behind American Sanya Richards (22.50) and Jamaican Aleen Bailey (22.65).

Today her timing was 0.11 seconds slower than her feat in the first round and in the quarter finals - 22.55, her best 200m timing in seven years.

Yet, that was good enough for her to comfortably book a place in Friday's final. LaShantea Moore (22.73) finished behind Jayasinghe but the American too made it to the final as the first four in each semi final would make it to the last eight.

Defending champion Allyson Felix of USA returned a time of 22.21 seconds to win the first semi final which went on a relatively better pace. The assistance of the wind the sprinters had (+0.8 m/s) too contributed towards that while the second race in which Jayasinghe ran was against the wind (-0.4 m/s).

The Osaka 2007, 100m gold medallist and reigning Olympic champion Veronica Campbell of Jamaica clocked 22.44 to secure the second place. The other two to make it to the final from the first semi final were American Torri Edwards (22.51) and Cylonie Mothersil (22.78) from Caymon Islands, who finished third and fourth respectively.

Jayasinghe did not wish to make any predictions but vowed to give out her brilliant best to 'make Sri Lanka proud'. "Coming to the final alone is a great victory, considering the fact that many tried to dump me, saying my era is gone. But I am happy that I was able to answer all those critics by making it to the last eight," she said after her semi final dash.

This is only the second time that a Lankan has qualified to run in a final of a World Championship in its 24-year-old history. Incidentally, it was Jayasinghe who did it first too, some ten years ago and on that occasion, she went on to bag the silver medal in Athens, 1997 - Lanka's one and only WC medal so far.

Friday could well turn out to be another great milestone in Sri Lanka sports history. "It is going to be a gigantic battle for supremacy. To be honest, I did not have adequate training, compared to those top athletes here. I only had a month-long stint in Los Angeles and I am grateful for the Sports Ministry for assisting me during the last three months," she added.

The Lankan sprint queen said she is ready to take Friday's challenge. "It's a tall order. But I came all the way up to the final, though I was ranked 20th in the world."

"Hence, I am looking forward to my best performance tomorrow," she continued. The much-looked forward to women's 200m final will take place on Friday night at 9.15 p.m. (5.45 p.m. SL time). Besides the women's 200m final, four more gold medallists would emerge on day seven of the 203-nation championship tomorrow.

The other four finals scheduled for tomorrow are women's triple jump, women's javelin throw, men's 400m and men's 100m hurdles.

Susanthika Jayasinghe admits she could have run better, but still enters world championship finals

Short of her best, still among world's best

Susanthika Jayasinghe admits she could have run better, but still enters world championship finals
>
Channaka de Silva reporting from Osaka, Japan

Susanthika Jayasinghe failed to match her brilliance of the previous day in semi final run which even in her eyes was not convincing, but still pulled off a coup by entering the final of the women's 200 metres of athletics world championships, here at Nagai stadium last night. Sri Lanka's only hope at the world level, Jayasinghe who produced flashes of her former brilliance of the glory days when she won an Olympic medal and a world championship medal in the first round and then in the quarter finals clocking 22.55 seconds, failed to match that form yesterday but finished her semi final in third place in 22.66 to secure a place among the final eight.

"I have to agree, I couldn't run well. It just didn't happen" Jayasinghe said after the race in which she ran well in customary fashion round the bend, but slowed down dramatically down the final stretch allowing the others to catch up on her.

"But I am thrilled. This still proves I am still among the best eight runners in the world. Getting into the final is also a big thing" Jayasinghe said and revealed that she had almost given hopes on salvaging her career till about a month ago.

"I lack practice. I was disappointed and was not doing world class training, as there was hardly any motivation" Jayasinghe said adding that it was finally someone in a seat of power who helped her quest.

"I started dong serious work only after the Minister pushed me, giving the full backing. Because of that support, I felt I am still appreciated. Had I been in training for any longer, I am confident I would have done much better" said Jayasinghe who was flown to United States for training just a month ago, after minister Gamini Lokuge intervened and provided her state support, when she was idling in Sri Lanka.

Jayasinghe however was still not confident to predict any medals. "There are so many brilliant girls out there. So, it is difficult to say anything about my medal chances. Whatever happens, we have to accept what God gives us," Jayasinghe said with a smile adding "With the work I have put in, I am happy I have come this far".

Jayasinghe will run the final today at 5.45 p.m. Sri Lanka time, and along with her in the final will be a formidable set of runners including four Americans.

Jayasinghe will run in a fairly disadvantageous lane seven where she wouldn't be able to see the other top runners in the middle lanes till she comes round the bend, but having produced goods in the first two rounds from lane eight and seven, she will be in familiar territory.

Defending champion and hot favourite Allyson Felix will be in lane four surrounded by newly crowned 100 metres world champion Veronica Campbell on lane five and another Jamaican Aleen Bailey on lane three.

Two Americans - 2003 world champion Torri Edwards will be on lane three while 2005 world 400 metre champion and last year's athlete of the year Sanya Richards will be on lane six. In lane two will be Cydonie Mothersill of Cayman Islands while another American LaShauntea Moore will be on lane eight.

The key today will be Jayasinghe's start and the run through the final stretch, as she has been struggling off the blocks ever since her nightmarish disqualification in the 100m quarter final, on which she had pinned a lot of hopes. Even yesterday Jayasinghe was the slowest off the blocks, requiring a whopping .209 seconds to react to the gun, evidently the disqualification though a false start still haunting her. But her biggest worry would be the failure to accelerate as she wiched down the final stretch.

Jayasinghe ran on lane four yesterday, while Richards who ran on lane six won in 22.50 ahead of Jamaica's Bailey who clocked 22.65 and Jayasinghe. Moore, who finished in 22.73 was fourth and also qualified.

In the other semi final which was much faster Felix produced a relaxed run,but still cocked a brilliant 22.21, while Campbell was second in 22.44. Edwards finished third in 22.51 while Mothersill grabbed the fourth to get the final slot in 22.78.

A little later the hot American Tyson Gay completed the sprint double adding the 200m title to his 100m title won earlier. Gay flew home in 19.76 seconds to set a new world championship record while Jamaican Usain Boly clinched the silver in 19.91 ahead of another American Wallace Spearmon who won the bronze in 20.05.

Susanthika back on track - Daily Mirror

Heart-broken Susanthika back on track

Channaka de Silva reporting from Osaka, Japan

Susanthika Jayasinghe still recovering from the shock of an unexpected exit from the 100 metres second round, will take the field today in the first round of the 200 metres event at 7.10 a.m. Sri Lanka time here at Nagai Stadium, to take a probable final shot at a world championship medal.

Ranked 19th in the world, Jayasinghe has not been in great form in the 200m in recent times but should make it to the second round in the event where she has failed to post even one of the top 50 times this season, though she claimed the Asian championships gold last month in Jordan.

However known for her ability to pull off the unexpected, Jayasinghe still harbours a hope in her pet event which has earned her medals at world championships and Olympics.

"I still find it hard to understand what happened in the 100m. It is a real shock to me. Though I did not claim it in public, I had a secret hope of a medal in the 100m," Jayasinghe revealed yesterday. She however said that she will give her best in the 200m despite the odds in what is likely to be her last appearance at the world championships at the age of 31.

"I always feel a strange strength when I am running for my country. I will give my best tomorrow because I want to give something back to all Sri Lankans who put faith on me," said Jayasinghe but stopped short of predicting a medal.

Jayasinghe will run in the first heat of the first round, where first four of each of the six heats and the eight fastest qualifiers will enter the quarter finals to be run this evening at 4.10 p.m. Sri Lanka time.

Drawn with Jayasinghe in the same heat is one of the favourites, Allyson Felix, the defending champion from United Sates. Felix who is in red hot form this season has been the fastest runner over the distance this year with her 22.18 clocked in May. Having skipped her favourite 100m to concentrate on 200m, Felix, who is also the Olympic silver medallist, will be the hottest prospect for the title.

Four runners out of the seven in the first heat have posted better times than Jayasinghe this season, while running in lane eight will put Jayasinghe at a disadvantage as she will not be able to see the rest of the field to adjust her speed.

The 200m will be one of the most tightly contested events of the championships with several top names vying for honours.

The other hot favourite will be the freshly crowned 100m world champion Veronica Campbell who is also the reigning Olympic champion in the event.

Another American runner Sanya Richards, the reigning 400 metres champion who skipped the 400m event to concentrate on the 200m, will be an equally threatening force. Richards who was adjudged the World athlete of the year in 2006 by the IAAF, has been in brilliant form over 200m this season.

World number one ranked Kim Gavaert of Belgium, world number two Debbie Ferguson of Bahamas and former 100m world champion Torri Edwards of US are the other top contenders.

Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that the official winning margin of Jamaica's Veronica Campbell over American Lauryn Williams in Sunday night's breath-taking 100m final was an amazing three-one-thousandths of a second.

Due to technological advancement, there was no need to crown joint champions "It was close, but you can differentiate," said Paul Hardy, the IAAF events and competitions director.

Five athletes finished in a bunch in the tightest of finishes, and it took more than five minutes for organizers to announce the final official result on Sunday night.

As everyone waited, first the name of Torri Edwards appeared on scoreboard to baffle everyone including athletes. Even Edwards did not take it seriously as it was obviously a mistake. Lauryn Williams was then displayed on scoreboard as second and a little later was moved to top position though number 2 remained against her name.

Then the scoreboard went blank to put everyone in suspense again. After a while, finally the correct finish order came on the scoreboard, ending the nerve-wracking drama that lasted nearly ten minutes.

The times of both Campbell and Williams are listed at an identical 11.01 seconds.

However it is still not the closest finish at the world championships. At the 1993 world championships in Stuttgart, American Gail Devers edged Jamaica's Merlene Ottey by one-one-thousandth of a second to win the 100m gold.

At a press conference yesterday, IAAF's top medical official Dr. Juan Manuel Alonso said there's a connection between sports doping and mafia.

"It's clear today that doping has become a business for the crime industry. People involved in the drug business are investing in doping because it's a very profitable business and the police from several countries are realizing that" he said.
*************************************************************************************
Decisive day for Lanka as Susanthika runs in pet event
-Daily News

Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from Japan

ATHLETICS: It will be a decisive day for Sri Lanka as Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe launches her women’s 200m campaign on the fifth day of the 11th IAAF World Championship at Nagai Stadium here on Wednesday morning.

The women’s 200m has always been her pet event and the event in which she gifted Sri Lanka with two rare medals - a silver at the IAAF World Championships in Athens, 1997 and a bronze at the Olympic Games in Sydney, 2000.

Hence, the 31-year-old veteran Lankan sprint queen now gets ready for one of the biggest challenges in her life in what looks like her farewell World Championship.

Despite her false start debacle in women’s 100m quarter finals, Jayasinghe is ready to put aside all those setbacks and have a go.

She looked calm, but confident as she completed her final work out today.

“Honestly, I have a dream, a dream of any athlete competing in the big league. But the talent and determination may not work all the time. It has to be your day.

If tomorrow is my day, I could couple my talent and courage and achieve those dreams,” Jayasinghe said.

She added that the summer weather at Nagai Park looks ideal. “The conditions are good and I am looking forward to do something.

I can’t say what that would be. I want to do something that will make my country proud of,” she added.

Jayasinghe has been drawn to run in the first of the six women’s 200m first round heats due to start at 10.40 a.m. on Wednesday (29) - 7.10 a.m. SL time.

She will run in the outer lane eight with Cuban Roxana Dias on her left. Of the eight sprinters down to run in this heat, only the defending champion American Alyson Felix (22.11 seconds) has a better personal best timing than Jayasinghe (22.28).

Jamaican Veronica Campbell, who emerged the fastest women in the 2007 World Championship, will be launching her campaign for that elusive sprint double - a dream of any short distance runner.

The women’s 100m gold medallist in Osaka will run in heat six which also features American Torri Edwards. Of the 43 competitors in women’s 200m heats, Campbell who was placed fourth at the last World Championship, accounts for the best personal timing of 22.05 - which helped her to win the Olympic gold in Athens three years ago.

Felix has the best 2007 season’s timing of 22.18 seconds out of all 200m runners. Coming even somewhat closer to that this season are Muriel Hurtis -Housairi of France (22.38) and Campbell (22.39).

In contrast, Sri Lanka’s Jayasinghe’s best feat in 200m this season has been her 22.99 in winning the gold at the Asian Championship in Jordan. Hence, on current form, Felix stands way ahead but she is bound to face stiff competition from Hurtis -Housairi, Campbell, American Sanya Richards and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of Bahamas.

All in all, it is going to be a keenly contested affair as the women’s 200m quarter finals are scheduled for 7.40 pm (4.10 pm SL time) on Wednesday.

Susie won’t find it easy in Osaka

Susie won’t find it easy in Osaka




Fresh from intense training in Los Angeles, USA, Sri Lankan star Susanthika Jayasinghe will battle it out in the shorter sprint heat of the World Athletic Championships in Osaka, Japan at 8.10 am local time in order to earn a place in the quarter-finals scheduled for this evening.
Jayasinghe who will run in lane four, has the third fastest qualifying timing in heat one, 11.25 seconds, and earning a place among the best 32 wouldn’t be a too much of a problem for the celebrated sprinter.
Her biggest challenge would initially come from Carmelita Jeter, an American who has a seasonal best time of 11.05 seconds and Kim Gevaert of Belgium who has a seasonal best time of 11.13 seconds. Interestingly, Merlene Ottey, 47, who won the bronze medal in the 200m dash at the 1997 championships behind Jayasinghe, will compete alongside Jayasinghe in the first heat.
If Jayasinghe qualifies for the second round, she would be in action at 17.05 local time to book her berth in the semi-finals, scheduled for tomorrow, 16.30 local time.
Reports from Japan says Jayasinghe is in high spirits ahead of today’s curtain raiser and may pull off a surprise win in the longer sprint, 200m, for which she has won a silver Ten years back.
Jayasinghe initially entered the 200m dash where she clocked 22.39 seconds during the 6th World Championships in athletics in Athens but decided to compete in the shorter sprint following her impressive run at the Asian Championships.
“The conditions are close-to-a-home feeling,” Jayasinghe was quoted as saying following a training session ahead of today’s 100m dash.
Jamaican Veronica Campbell, the world leader with a forget-me-not effort of 10.89 will be front-runner for the World’s Fastest Woman tag followed by Christine Arron (11.06 seasonal best(SB), Debbie Ferguson of Bahamas (11.12 SB), Kerron Stewart of Jamaica (11.03 SB), Chandra Sturrup Bahamas (11.18 SB), Uzbekistani Guzel Khubbieva (11.20 SB), Lauryn Williams of USA (11.11 SB) and the American Torri Edwards, the second fastest seasonal timing of 10.90 seconds.
But Jayasinghe who pulled off a gold double during the recent Asian Championships in July vowed to make a good come-back in Osaka.
The semi-finals and final are scheduled for Monday, 16.30 and 18.50 respectively.
Meanwhile Jayasinghe will compete in the 200m dash on Wednesday at 7.10 local time and if she qualifies will battle it out in the quarter finals at 16.10 local time on the same day. The semi-finals are scheduled for Thursday at 18.30 while the final is on Friday 17.45.
Jayasinghe who clocked a personal best 22.28 seconds in 2000 for her Olympic bronze in Sydney has a seasonal best of 22.99 seconds.

World’s fastest man has new record in sight - LakbimaNews

World’s fastest man has new record in sight




The world’s fastest man this year Tyson Gay says the 100 metres world record is in jeopardy and could fall this weekend at the World Athletics Championship in Osaka.
The American, who is aiming for “the triple gold” in the 100 metres, 200 metres and the 4x100 metres relay at the championships, says the quick Nagai Stadium track could help him break thes world record of 9.77 seconds held by Jamaica’s Asafa Powell. “I’ve heard about the track and it’s supposed to be really fast,” Gay said. “I think it is possible for the world record to be broken.”
Gay was a top 200 metres runner but recently shifted his focus to the shorter event and his results have been startling this season. The American ran a wind assisted 9.79 seconds at the adidas Track Classic at Carson, California in May this year.
On June 2 in New York he ran under Asafa Powell’s world record clocking 9.76 seconds.
It was one-hundrenth of a second faster than Powell’s world record.
Unfortunately for Gay the time was disallowed because of excessive wind assistance.
Gay yesterday brushed off speculation that doping had played a part in his rapid progression this year.

The men’s 100 metres final is on Sunday night.

Susanthika could reach 100m final - Wijesundera

Susanthika could reach 100m final - Wijesundera

By Channaka de Silva



Susathika the sole representative of Sri Lanka on the track.

Sri Lanka’s hopes at the World Athletics championships lie on the shoulders of champion athlete Susanthika Jayasinghe who remains the last bastion of the country golden era in athletics.

Jayasinghe who has been the strength of local athletics in the past with a World championships and an Olympic medal among her laurels is the sole athlete from Sri Lanka who has qualified for the world championships this year, marking an end to a period of time when Sri Lanka used to send dozens of athletes to the world’s highest track and field showpieces.

Jayasinghe at 31, is not getting any younger will not be a top favourite unlike in the past, but the determined Sri Lankan has baffled and shocked the world a few times in the past.

Clocking an excellent 11.9 seconds in winning the gold at last month’s Asian championships, Jayasinghe has once again hit the top level, but still a lot of improvement may be needed at the world’s top according to experts.

Yogananda Wijesundera, a former top coach and director of the country’s sports training institute, believes that Jayasinghe would be able to make it to the finals of the 100 metres event at the World championships according to her timing at the Asian championships, but says there are hardly any hopes in the 200 metres.“Theoretically Susanthika can’t reach above 22.8 in the 200 metres according to her 100 metres timing. At her age, the neuro-muscular co-ordination is not as good as when you are younger, so, it is impossible to do better. But if she can maintain the Asian championships timing she can enter the final of the 100 metres” Wijesundera said.

Wijesundera also commented that the level of the country’s standards has fallen and a lot of work is needed to regain the past glory.

According to latest IAAF world rankings Jayasinghe remains at number 18 in the 100 metres and number 20 in the 200 metres.

Sri Lanka’s 9/1 in athletics - The sunday Times

Sri Lanka’s 9/1 in athletics

By Namal Pathirage

Is Sri Lanka heading for yet another world record?



Though it was only Sri Lanka’s short distance sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe who qualified to take part at the 11th World Athletic Championships in Osaka Japan which is scheduled to begin on August 26 it is reported that a whopping contingent of nine officials have applied for visas to accompany the athlete.

They are: Sunil Jayaweera (Manager), Dhammika Nandakumara (coach), Robert Mohan (masseur), Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando (President AAASL), Prema Pinnawela (Representative of the World Athletic Association), Shantha de Silva (observer), Lt. Gen. Sudath Madugalle (observer), Y.K. Kularatne (observer), Mrs. Jayanthi Pinnawela ( Chaperone).

Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge speaking to The Sunday Times on the issue said that the ministry will bear the costs of only Susanthika Jayasinghe, Dhammika Nandakumara. However, the minister added that if any official wants to make the trip at his own expense he has no objections against that.

The Sunday Times also learns that the World Athletic Association President, Prema Pinnawela and his wife Jayanthi will meet their own expenses while the AAASL will have to sponsor the rest of the contingent. The return air ticket will cost Rs. 85,000 while the entire trip will cost approximately Rs. 200,000 per person.

Meanwhile one of the employees of the Athletic Association said that the work at the AAASL may come to a grinding halt from August 22 to September 5 as the above mentioned personnel hold all the key positions of the association.

However, Prema Pinnawela is also scheduled to represent Sri Lanka at the World Atheletic Association AGM which will also run concurrently at the same venue.