Abeysinghe deserves better treatment

Only a few months to go for that World sports extravaganza - the summer Olympic Games in China, where the cream of sporting stars across the globe would be in search of gold.

Besides the couple of Lankan athletes who have gained qualifying standards, there comes the greatest competition of picking the two wildcard slots Sri Lanka has got in swimming.

Mayumi Raheem has got the opportunity of becoming the sole Lankan female swimmer. It was a good decision because the Singapore-based Lankan teenager was the 'queen' of the last South Asian Games swimming competition with a rich haul of ten medals - three gold, five silver and two bronze.

But the wildcard slot for a men's swimmer from Sri Lanka is yet to be decided between teenager Andrew Abeysinghe and Heshan Unamboowe. Abeysinghe, joined by Mayumi Raheem brought glory for Sri Lanka with a total of five swimming gold medals.

Abeysinghe, then only 15 years old, who came for the meet straight from the United States, bagged two gold in men's 200m back stroke and 100m back stroke, both with new South Asian Games records.

Abeysinghe was only an eleventh hour inclusion for the Lankan team then. When Abeysinghe was overlooked at the selections, it was we who highlighted the gross injustice meted out for the US-based Lankan teenager. After I highlighted the raw deal in these columns, President Mahinda Rajapaksa requested the swimming officials to consider Abeysinghe's case.

Thanks to the attention of the President, Abeysinghe quite justifiably got his rightful place in the Sri Lanka team. Yet, the local selectors then gave only two events for Abeysinghe, who made the maximum use winning both the events in style. Even then, Abeysinghe had to face step motherly treatment not only from the selectors but also from some parents whose children did not get a chance.

Abeysinghe not only had to compete with his opponents from other South Asian countries but also had to survive that mental war with some Lankan supporters and selfish parents.

Though the mental agony was too much for a 15-year-old boy, Abeysinghe beat all odds at the end. If not for the timely intervention of President Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka would have only three gold medals. Two years later, Abeysinghe has to confront another battle, this time for the Olympic selections.

True that Heshan Unamboowe is one of the best local swimmers. There is no second word. But when it comes to merit, performance record and training conditions, Abeysinghe stands ahead of Unamboowe.

Former Sri Lanka Olympic swimmer Julian Bolling has quite rightly understood the true potential of Abeysinghe. Bolling, whom I have covered competing at 1992 Barcelona Olympics, says the SLASU should have decided on selections much earlier.

Prior to the Olympics, the FINA World Championship will be held in Manchester next month. Sri Lanka got two wildcard entries way back in November. The Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) earlier this month decided the best male and female swimmer based on performance - Abeysinghe and Raheem, should represent Sri Lanka.

But when the meet is nearing, two members of the SLASU are campaigning to replace Abeysinghe with Unamboowe. They now question about the nationality of Abeysinghe. But when Abeysinghe won two gold medals for Sri Lanka at the last South Asian Games those very same officials took credit.

The SLASU now highlights another point - that Abeysinghe did not compete at the last FINA World championship, though he was selected. But the SLASU gave only a few days notice for Abeysinghe on his selection last time. Perhaps that may be a deliberate attempt to keep him out. But it is unreasonable for a US-based swimmer of Abeysinghe's caliber to give only a few days notice for a major world event.

Even if Abeysinghe has committed an offence by not taking part last year, the SLASU should have taken action against him at that time, without waiting until now to make that as a convenient tool to oust him.

This has been the view of Bolling as well. Bolling, the best ever men's swimmer that Sri Lanka has ever produced, says SLASU should have clarified selection criteria much earlier, without waiting until the eleventh hour.

Both Abeysinghe and Unamboowe are talented backstroke swimmers. But it was Abeysinghe who bagged both the men's 100m and 200m gold meals at the last South Asian Games. Abeysinghe has shown some encouraging timing at some of the key meets in the US. But he has not taken part at the US National Championships as he was "tapering" for World Championships.

Be it Abeysinghe or Heshan Unamboowa, the SLASU should have informed the slected swimmer at least eight weeks prior to the meet so that their respective coaches would have had ample time to prepare them to compete at world level. By waiting until the last minute to decide on selection criteria, the SLASU is playing with dedicated young swimmers who go through all hardships to do the best for their country.

The internal battles amongst officials should not affect young swimmers. Both Abeysinghe and Unamboowe are investment for the future. Definitely, Abeysinghe deserves better treatment.