Asian Games start today

by Champika Fernando

The recent heroics of Sri Lankans in the world sports arena, especially in athletics, may serve as an inspiration for the local competitors who will be in action from today at the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

The 15th Asian Games, billed as the biggest sporting spectacle in the region, will kick off after a grand opening ceremony in the oil-rich Qatar capital Doha this evening.

High jumper Manjula Kumara Wijesekera will lead the Sri Lankan contingent as the flag bearer at the opening ceremony due to the absence of Susanthika Jayasinghe. Jayasinghe is scheduled to join the team on December 4, four days prior to the start of track and field events.

The Sri Lankan contingent includes competitors for athletics, archery, aquatic sports, badminton, beach volleyball, boxing, chess, cue sports, cycling, golf, gymnastics, judo, karate, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis, tae kwon do, tennis, weightlifting and wushu.

As a number of Sri Lankan competitors have reaped rich dividends during the culminating year many expect the Sri Lankan outfit to end the season on high note.

According to officials, the athletes prepared long and hard for Doha after completing a series of victories at the recent South Asian Games back at home in August.

The 141-athlete, Sri Lanka team will see action in 24 of 39 disciplines which offer 432 gold medals.

However, Sri Lanka will pin its hopes on athletics, where they have enjoyed a continuous success at regional games.

However, injured Damayanthi Darsha, the most successful athlete at the Asian Games with three Asian Games gold medals in two games will miss this year’s event due to injury along with Sugath Tilakaratne, who too enjoyed a great success at the quadrennial games.

The Chef-de-mission of the Sri Lanka contingent, Dian Gomas believes that Sri Lanka do have an outside chance of winning medals in disciplines like, chess, golf and cue sports in addition to Sri Lanka’s main hope, athletics.

Sri Lanka won two gold medals, silver and three bronze at the pervious edition.

Meanwhile, neighbouring India has set its sights on dominating sports like kabbadi, shooting and athletics.

Japan, third in Pusan with 44 gold, 74 silver and 72 bronze, is looking to mount a serious challenge to China on the track and in the pool.

The former Soviet states of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan – fourth and fifth in the medals table in Pusan – should field strong teams in boxing, athletics and wrestling in what will be their fourth Asian Games. -The Island