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| Saturday, 28 August 2004 |
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Make the best use of Olympic experience, says Jeewan Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from Greece ATHENS, Friday - Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Jeewan Kumaratunga said Sri Lanka should make best use of their Olympic experience to do well at next year's South Asian Games. He made these observations when he spoke to the Sri Lanka contingent for the XXV111th summer Olympiad here. Minister Kumaratunga arrived in the Greek capital two days ago for the ongoing Athens Olympic Games and is expected to witness Sri Lankan marathon runner Anuradha Indrajith Cooray in action. Minister Kumaratunga spoke to Cooray and wished him success in Sunday's final athletic event of the 202-nation Games. The visiting Lankan Sports Minister said it is a rare opportunity for a sportsman or woman to make it to the Olympics, especially for those who in the developing countries. "You have got that rare opportunity and must now make the best use of it. Take this experience back home and apply it. Make it a blessing to do well at South Asian Games," he told the Lankan team members. Minister Kumaratunga said Sri Lanka must work hard to be in a dominative position as the hosts when the next South Asian Games are held in Colombo next year. "Sri Lanka must come out with its best ever performance. We have the home support, conditions favourable to us and the atmosphere. Hence, we must work hard from now itself to see that we are there, to make sure we could make our presence felt as the host nation," he continued. Also due in town is the Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sripathi Sooriyarachchi. The writer also met a lone Sri Lankan volunteer at the Olympic Boxing Arena, Shamrath Fernando, better known in the rugby circles in Sri Lanka as a reputed rugby referee. "I feel sad that there isn't any boxer from Sri Lanka. If we have a comprehensive programme, we could do that, to produce a few good international level boxers. With Dian Gomes on top, Sri Lanka boxing should do well," Fernando made his observations. At the Olympic diving pool, China bagged a gold and silver medal in women's 3m springboard final. Jinging Guo had 633.15 points to take the first place while the silver went to her team mate Minxia Wu (612.00). Russian Yulia Pakhalina (610.62) bagged the bronze. The United States took god medal in women's soccer with a thrilling 2-1 win over Brazil in extra time. It was American Abby Wambach who broke the dreadlock in the 112th minute to give her team a sweet win at the end. The USA led 1-0 at half time but Brazil found the equaliser in the second to make it one-all at full time. Germany took the bronze medal in the play-off match, where they edged out Sweden 1-0 after a scoreless second half. At the Peace and Friendship Stadium, Germany bagged the gold medal in women's hockey with an exciting 2-1 win over Netherlands. The winners had a comfortable 2-0 lead at the breather before an unexpected Dutch resistance came in the second half. Argentina won the bronze medal beating China 1-0 in the play-off match for the third place. At the adjoining volleyball courts of the same venue, Russia qualified to play China in the weekend's women's volleyball tournament final by winning their respective semi final games by identical margins. After being tied at two-all, Russia on a decisive fifth set 16-14 to wrap up the match and with it a passage to the final. Cuba, in their game against China won the fourth set to make it two-all but the girls from Beijing won the fifth set decider 15-10 to advance to the finals. At the Olympic Indoor Hall, the semi finalists were found in men's basketball tournament with favourites USA surviving a stiff challenge from Spain. The Americans finally emerged victorious 102-94. In the other quarter final matched played, Argentina beat Greece 69-64, Italy beat Puerto Rico 83-70 and Lithuania beat China 95-75. |
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