Thursday 15th January, 2009 15 ’s Kelai goes for hat trick in the Mumbai leg of the Greatest Race on Earth

enya’s John Kelai will be tar- geting an historic hat-trick of Kvictories in this Sunday’s Standard Chartered Mumbai , when he lines up for the third leg of The Greatest Race on Earth 2008/09 (GROE), the world’s only marathon relay series. The thirty-two year-old GROE ath- lete was just two seconds off the course record last year when setting a blistering time of 2:12:22 and will be hoping to continue Kenya’s domi- the series will conclude with the final SiB, which is a collaborative part- nance of this year’s GROE which has leg in Hong Kong on 8 February. nership between Standard Chartered seen them win both the men’s and The 2008/09 series sees a total of 36 and the International Agency for women’s categories at the first two Nations Challenges taking part (23 Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), has legs in Nairobi (26 October 2008) and men’s and 13 women’s teams). The raised $17 million to date and aims to Singapore (8 December 2008). Nations Challenges are split into three invest a further $20 million by 2014 Kelai said, “I always enjoy running regions – Africa, South Asia and into 20 underprivileged urban areas, in Mumbai and it would be an incredi- North East Asia and rest of the World. including Mumbai, to help 20 million ble feeling to win the race for a third While Kenya lead both the men’s people. time. Running for Kenya in The and women’s categories in the Africa Japan’s Yuichi Takahashi, who Greatest Race on Earth is a great hon- division, ’s men hold the advan- took gold in the T12 marathon at the our and it makes the marathon extra tage in the South Asia section, with Athens Paralympics, will be running special as I have three other team Indonesia leading the equivalent in Mumbai for the VI All-Stars team mates who are all depending on me to women’s division. In the North East and will be joined by his wife Yoshiko do well. Hopefully I can win the race Asia & ROTW category, Peru’s men who will be acting as his guide in the again and put us in a really strong are in top spot, with Australia taking second part of the race. position before the final leg in Hong the lead in the women’s section. Further awareness for SiB will be Kong.” For the first time, GROE is part- raised with a group of GROE runners John Kelai Celebrating its fifth series and nering with Seeing is Believing (SiB), taking part in a visit to Dharavi, the boasting a prize pool of US$1 million, the global initiative which tackles world’s largest slum, where they will said, “The Greatest Race on Earth is series, GROE has firmly established one of the richest in international ath- avoidable blindness, and through the see first hand the work of SiB and the never short of fantastic stories and it itself as the World Cup of letics, GROE sees teams of four run- participation of 78 Standard incredible impact it has on people’s would be wonderful for John if he was and I’m sure we’re in for some stun- ners compete in one of four Chartered staff teams and a Visually lives. to win his third Standard Chartered ning performances from all the teams marathons each, with the winning Impaired All-Stars team, the Bank is Tracy Clarke, Standard Chartered . as they look to strengthen their posi- team being the one with the quickest helping raise funds and awareness for Group Head of Human Resources and “With 36 international teams hav- tion ahead of the final leg in Hong cumulative time. Following Mumbai SiB. Patron of The Greatest Race on Earth, ing entered this fifth anniversary Kong next month.”

’ve read some sections of Premier One-day 2008-09 (Sigmund) Freud’s books “Iand books that have been written on his theories. I’ve made Saliya Saman leads use of them in my coaching of the South African national team. (But) I don’t know about (Jaques) Lacan. Ragama CC to win No psychologist has ever faced by Revata S. Silva in the middle.” – It was a close one win for Ragama CC in their The late Bob Woolmer, in an inter- Premier One-day cricket tournament match held on Wed. view with ‘The Island’ in 2002, in (14) as Saliya Saman displayed a fine all-round performance Colombo. against their rivals Colts CC at Havelock Park, Colombo. John Michael Brearley, who is 66 Saman claimed two for 23 and then followed his now, is very much known in the feat with an unbeaten 46 helping Ragama reach their victo- world of cricket as Mike Brearley. ry target of 224 with seven deliveries to spare. He was England cricket dur- ing 1977-81 for 31 Test matches car- Scores: rying England to victory in 17 of Colts CC 223 all out in 49.4 overs (I. Muthalip 107, C. Vaas them. 24, T. Perera 50, S. Weerakoon 23; S. Saman 2-34, U. Indrasiri Most importantly, Brearley is 5-33) known for his Cambridge Ragama CC 224 for 8 wkts in 48.5 overs (D. Perera 26, L. University education and his much Thirimanna 23, K. Weeraratne 67, S. Saman 46 n.o.; R. talked about intuitive approach to Perera 3-42) captaincy.He was an established scholar while playing cricket at the Five for Malinga highest level. In fact, he was named came back to the limelight with a five- Wisden Cricketer of the Year in wicket haul helping NCC stage a fine win against Chilaw 1977, before being awarded the OBE Marians SC by 34 runs, in a low scoring affair at Maitland the following year. Place. Retiring from international cricket in 1981, Brearley published Scores: his well-known book ‘The Art of NCC 156 all out in 42.3 overs (C. Wijesinghe 56 n.o., K. Captaincy’ in 1985. Brearley later Kulasekera 19; C. Perera 4-22, R. Silva 2-22) became head of the Marylebone After W. G. Grace (R) cricket needs to appreciate the influence of Sigmund Freud, that legendary Austrian physician who founded the subject of Psychoanalysis. (Files) Chilaw Marians SC 122 all out in 25.2 overs (R. Silva 40, Cricket Club (MCC), for a one year G. Wijekoon 25; L. Malinga 5-56, M. Gajanayake 2-28, K. period till September, 2008. Kulasekera 2-10) But out of all those anecdotes, the memory of Mike Brearley is Ashan, Muthu guide Tamil Union much more cherished for another Ashan Priyanjan (68) and skipper Muthumudalige great reason. It was for the manner From Grace to Freud Pushpakumara (50) guided Tamil Union to a close two-wick- in which he motivated the leg- et win over Moors SC with two timely half-centuries at endary , who succeeded the difference between the win- sure on the players. Even a very Baybrooke Place. Brearley in captaining England ner and the loser is decided flimsy action by them was enlarged before quitting immediately in 1981 almost 95% through mental rea- and shown right round the world. Scores: after a disappointing performance soning, not physical reasoning. The idea of a psychologist came as a Moors SC 262 for 9 wkts in 50 overs (D. Hunukumbura against Australia, to lead England to To substantiate this fact, result of encountering this new 44, A. Rideegammanagedera 35, S. Perera 88, R. Dias 26; I. a memorable Ashes home series tennis coaches often site this challenge,” Woolmer explained. Udana 3-53, M. Surappulige 3-61, M. Pushpakumara 2-37) win, 3-1. example. When warming up Before Freud, no one had appar- Tamil Union 267 for 8 wkts in 47 overs (S. Fernando 38, ently thought of an area of study Virtually overnight, Brearley Perception, cognition, personality with a few shots for nearly five A. Priyanjan 68, M. Pushpakumara 50, L. de Silva 23, I. like unconscious. Freud named it transformed Botham into a fierce and behaviour are generally the minutes, before the start of a match Udana 20 n.o.; C. Mudalige 3-60, A. Rideegammanagedera 2- the most powerful and the most match-winning all-rounder. From 0-1 main areas of study in psychology. between two top professional play- 43) determining part of human mind down after two Tests, Brearley took Psychoanalysis is a vastly differ- ers, it is extremely difficult for any over from Botham and guided his amateur to predict who is better (conscious is only the pit of the ice- ent set of ideas propounded and berg). men, especially a completely out-of- than the other and who is going to Thilan, Kaushal make it for SSC developed by the renowned Austrian A subject like psychology has form Botham, to win two of the win. It is because from shot to shot, Thilan Samaraweera and Kaushal Silva shared an physician Sigmund Freud, who is immensely helped sports. From var- three remaining Tests and a memo- stroke to stroke, the two players at unfinished 150-run stand for the fourth wicket to help the considered the undisputed founder ious chemical therapies and mental rable Ashes. that level will look similar, possess- defending champions SSC beat CCC by seven wickets at of psychoanalysis. It is believed the exercises to visualization, psycholo- Brearley’s extraordinary encour- subject has three main areas. I) A ing similar amounts of capability to Maitland Place. agement of Botham in that series is orchestrate court craft. But only one gy has made itself one of the most method of understanding and inves- helpful subjects to cricket as well as often regarded as one of the great- will dominate the other once the Scores: tigation of the human mind, mainly all other sports. est feats of sporting psychology of game starts. This gives an impres- CCC 192 all out in 43.2 overs (S. Pathirana 66, B. Perera the more overt consciousness and The late W. G. Grace’s influence all time. Botham recovered from one sion as to why Connors’ statement 22, A. Wettasinghe 22; S. Karunanayake 2-30, S. de Silva 3-23) the unseen and illogical uncon- is very much known in world crick- of his biggest lows to score two blis- is so important. SSC 194 for 3 wkts in 36.3 overs (T. Paranavithana 21, T. sciousness, II) The affect of those et. But the influence of Sigmund tering tons and capture about three forces on human behavior; and III) Samaraweera 81 n.o., K. Silva 70 n.o.; S. de Silva 3-35) five-wicket hauls. In Practice Freud has not been overtly felt in A method of treatment – speech sports, coaching and enhancing That intelligent yet unassuming Woolmer began for the first time Prasanna gives Army solace therapy — of psychological or men- skills of players and improving Brearley presently works as a psy- getting the services of a psycholo- Seekuge Prasanna’s four wickets for 13 enabled SL tal disorders. mental preparedness of the bats- choanalyst and psychotherapist, gist for the South African national Army SC get a consolation 127-run victory over Badureliya It’s vastly believed in modern men and the bowlers of the game being registered with the British team when they toured India in the CC in their SLC Premier limited-overs Tier ‘A’ encounter sports that the mind holds sway through Freud’s vivid, yet apparent- Psychoanalytic Council (BPC). over matter, or the body in this case, late 1990s. During the interview worked off at the R. Premadasa. with us, he said the idea came as a ly highly useful findings. when it comes to coaching and pro- As Connors has hinted, there is means of not further developing Scores: Psychology, Psychoanalysis and ducing top level sports personali- an ultimate to physical aspects of player standards, but to encounter SL Army SC 231 for 9 wkts in 50 overs (C. Prasad 81, A. Sports ties. coaching and teaching techniques. the ever growing influence of live Gunaratne 32, S. Obanamuni 21; T. Sampath 3-30, R. Psychology is both a theoretical Jimmy Connors, the famous US The day has come where cricket and TV coverage. Priyadarshana 2-41, A. Asanka 2-50) and an applied area of learning tennis player who won many Grand the entire sports world needs top “Portraying close ups and vari- Badureliya CC 104 all out in 27 overs (D. Vitharana 31; which involves the scientific study Slams, once said that at the profes- players and scholars as significant sional level of international tennis, ous other ways of telecasting live S. Prasanna 4-13, I. Karunatilleke 2-38). of mental functions and behaviour. cricket matches created extra pres- as Mike Brearley was to England.