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| Tuesday, 24 August 2004 |
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Big experience, says Menaka Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from Greece ATHENS, Monday - Sri Lanka swimmer Menaka de Silva said that her participation at the XXV111th summer Olympiad here is a 'big experience' which would help her to do better in future international events in the Asian region. De Silva, a product of St. Bridget's Convent who is now serving the Sri Lanka Navy, said that taking part in Olympic Games in an experience that nothing could match. "It is certainly a lifetime experience, to mix with the best swimmers in the world and swim there in the middle with so much of top class competition," she said. She competed in women's 50m freestyle first round qualifying heats and clocked 28.93 seconds to take sixth place in her heat, which was won by Melanie Slowing (GUA) in 27.44 seconds. But it was not be Silva's personal best as she has clocked 28.48 seconds before. Asked why she could not better her personal best here, De Silva said her inexperience in major international events of this nature put more pressure. "It is totally different, the competition, the atmosphere, the people and everything. But experience of this nature would definitely help me. It would make me more comfortable in an event of this nature in future," the Olympic debutant said.De Silva said the Asian Games in Doha in 2006 would be her main goal at present. "I want to do well, swim faster and qualify for the Asian Games. I am happy that I was able to compete at Olympics and gain valuable experience for that. I will work hard for my goal. There will be several regional meets before the Asian Games - like the South Asian Games next year and the annual Asia Pacific championships," she said. Sri Lanka's fastest female swimmer at present, De Silva said her immediate target would be the 2005 South Asian Games in Colombo. "I will work hard for that. We are competing at home and a pool familiar to us. That would give us a valuable home advantage. Our swimmers would get a good opportunity to step in to the big league there. I will try to make maximum use of that and make my country proud," she said.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's most successful swimmer at present, Conrad Francis said he would try to improve on his personal best in men's 100m butterfly stroke event, though he was unable to do so here during the Olympics. Francis, who was placed fifth in the heats of his pet event with a timing of 56.80 seconds, said the things did not click too well for him. "It was not the ideal one that I have been looking forward to. Unfortunately the things did not go too well. But with this experience, I will be more determined to do well in the future," said Francis who created history at the last Asia Pacific championships by winning two gold medals for Sri Lanka. Francis, who is currently on an IOC sports scholarship to Australia, said he would continue to work hard, compete in some of the good meets there in order to prepare himself for the international meets ahead. Obviously Francis would be Sri Lanka's best bet for next year's South Asian Games in Colombo and the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. |
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