5th CISM Military World Games : Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

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Category: athletics

Published on Saturday, 16 July 2011 11:38

Written by Aravinda Rathnayake

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*CISM (International Military Sports Council)

5th CISM Military World Games begins today in Rio-Brazil. This time more than 6000 athletes from 112 countries will participate in the event.’”Pele” the former football player, who is regarded as the athlete of 20th century will open the games by lighting the cauldron.

Origin of the Military World games goes back to 1995 where it started in Rome-Italy with over 4000 athletes from 93 centuries participating. The next games were in 1999 Zagreb-Croatia, 2003 Catania-Italy.

At 4th Military games Hyrabad-India in 2007, the Sri Lankan team managed to compete and come home with 2 medals, a Gold medal by Menaka Wickramasinghe for 400m Women’s and a Bronze medal by Prasanna Amarasekara in 400m Men’s.

This time around over 20 Sri Lankan athletes went to Rio together with coach Major Lal Jayasekara from SL Army.

Sri Lanka is focused on Track and Filed events mainly, even though the games contains many other disciplines which our athletes can participate and win more medals. Some of them are Boxing, Orienteering, Parachuting, Shooting, Sailing, Beach Volleyball etc and its disappointing that Sri Lankan athletes are not taking part in these events.

The recently concluded Asian Athletics Championship in Kobe-Japan ended with broken hearts, for the Sri Lankans, only Chaminda Wijekoon succeeded in 1500m men’s and gained a bronze.

Prasanna Amarasekara was found wanting as he seemed to take it too easy at end of his first heat which resulted in him loosing his place and coming 3rd (not qualifying for semi finals) in the last milliseconds but he deserved 2nd place in that event. It was a basic mistake being over-confident.  This is an international event where you do not get second chances and every millisecond as Amarasekara found out, counts. It is hoped that he would come back strong in 400m Men’s in Rio.

The 20-25oC temperature in Rio is ideal for our 1500m runner Wijekoon which is closer to the climate of his home town Welimada- Central Sri Lanka.  If he can hold the bunch in 1500m till end, he stands a chance of posting some competition. Wijekoon is better known as a follower than a controller, of the first bunch in 1500m game.

Sri Lanka’s 4x100m Men’s team will participate in the relay with favorite Shehan Ambepitiya, but considering average performance of all participants in the recent past, it not possible to expect too much from them. The women’s team, minus stalwarts like Ambepitiya stands a lesser chance of posing threats at the games. If they manage to get to the final, it will be a good achievement when you consider the average time of all.

4x400m relay team has the best story of all. With high team averages closing to a world class final, all it needs is perfect execution and revamping their own standards. Lap changes in final is vital, at the end it can be change of the day, Kasun Kalhara is a good finisher in 400m, and an early lead from Amarasekara can be a key factor to winning 4x400m final. The Women’s team also go in favorites in relevance to their average overall timing.

The Sri Lankans have another hope for a medal from men’s triple-jumper record holder C.N.Gamage, all eyes on him to deliver his best jump. He has recently jumped very close to world standards.

Eranga Dulakshi performed very well in woman’s 3000m Steeplechase recently and she is very well prepared for her event. As there is a lack of competition in this event on local tracks, with the high completion level she is sure to improve her timings.

Eranga Dulakshi Women’s 3000m Steeplechase

Champika Dilrukshi and Shanika Samanmalee have lot to prove in 1500m,800m events. Samanmalee did well to get close to 4.20.0 sec recently which is a + point in 1500m

Prabath Mendis’s performance in 800m Men’s, in unpredictable as he is known to lose his cool and mess-up the race. It is hoped he will come up with a good race plan. All Mendis has to think of is to go under 1:48.0 sec, not big names and big countries.

Prabath Mendis 800m Men’s

Ajith Bandara who is participating in the men’s marathon, is the first person from Sri Lanka to do so. If Ajith can benchmark this event, it will be a huge source of encouragement for others to follow it.

If the Sri Lanka team can manage to bring more than 2 gold medals, it would be a turning point for Sri Lankan athletes.

ThePapare wishes them well and as always stands right behind all Sri Lankan sports people.

Visit official web site of the event

http://www.rio2011.mil.br/

 

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