Monday 7th March 2011 13

That gay affair

BY ALAN TYERS five gold Steven Davies’ brave deci- Phelps wins sion to come out is good news for and for society as a whole. He felt that hiding his sex- uality from his colleagues was medals at Swimming GP becoming too heavy a burden to bear, and after telling Andrew Flower and Andrew BY MICAEL MAROT In the 100 freestyle, Phelps came Strauss prior to the Australia back from third place with a strong finish tour, was delighted and grate- to win the gold and set another world-best INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Michael Phelps ful that they phoned every posted the fastest times in the world this time this year. Matthew Grevers finished member of the squad person- year in winning two more races at the second in 50.01 and Olympic gold medal- Indianapolis Grand Prix on Saturday, ist Jason Lezak was third in 50.08. ally to tell them: “Steve wants bringing his gold medal total in the event “The last 50 just felt incredible,” you to know he’s gay. But it’s to five. Phelps said. “I felt like I really was able not an issue. Let’s just get on The 14-time Olympic gold medalist to build a lot of momentum coming off with it.” won the 200-meter individual medley in 1 the wall. You know, I’m never really satis- Just one more example, minute, 56.88 seconds, and the 100-meter fied, but I am happy to put up the five incidentally, of the absolute freestyle in 48.89 at the Indiana fastest times in the world here.” class act that is the England University Natatorium. Phelps also won the 200 butterfly on coach and , as crick- “In my eyes, it just feels good to be Friday night and the 200 freestyle and 100 eters and as people. able to race and race at a good speed,” butterfly on Thursday. Davies told The Daily said Phelps, who didn’t win either event Phelps is coming off a somewhat dis- Telegraph that he now feels in his only other meet this year two appointing 2010 in which he lost to Lochte far happier and more confi- months ago in Austin, Texas. in the 200 individual medley and 200 dent, that he is not living in The most highly anticipated race in backstroke finals at the U.S. national fear of being unable to fit in. Indianapolis was the 200 individual med- championships and only captured five Touring, he said, had been ley, pitting Phelps, the two-time defending golds at the Pan Pacific championships to especially hard: feeling that he Olympic gold medalist in the event, Lochte’s six. had to have his guard up for against his chief rival, world-record hold- Even his coach, Bob Bowman, said er Ryan Lochte. last September that Phelps was no longer months at a time and believ- Phelps led Lochte by more than the best swimmer in the world. ing that he could never be eight-tenths of a second at the midway Then, at the Austin Grand Prix earli- truly open about who he was. point, extended the margin to nearly 1 1/2 er this year, he was relegated to the con- It would take a hard heart seconds at the third turn and wound up solation final of both the 100 freestyle not to be glad that a young beating the fatigued Lochte by more than and 200 freestyle - something that had man is free of this burden. two full seconds. never happened before in his career. But top level sport has plenty Phelps’ time also supplanted Lochte’s Michael Phelps swims in the men’s 200-meter individual medley at the USA “After the weekend at Austin, I felt of nasty sods involved and previous best as the fastest time in the Swimming Grand Prix swim meet in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 5, 2011. Phelps like I didn’t get one thing out of it other whether his opponents choose world this season. won the event. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)a to use his sexuality as a taunt Lochte, who finished in 1:59.19, had than feeling slow and out of shape,” he beaten Phelps in the event at the Austin “He’s back, there’s no doubt about he’s ever not there, no matter what he said Saturday. “Being able to slingshot or a distraction remains to be Grand Prix in January. it,” said Lochte, who was the world’s most says. I feel like he can step up and race into this meet just shows how fast things seen. I suspect he will be able dominant swimmer in 2010. “I don’t think any time.” can change.” to handle a few muttered com- ments from slip just fine (when he’s , I mean - I am not suggesting his own BY ROSHEN STEELMAN (Prasanna Jayawardene 229, Chinthaka Jayasinghe Moors SC record nine victory over Seeduwa at BRC 229 for 7 wkts overnight 262 all out in 85.1 team-mates will be taking the 111, Nadeera Nawela 52; Madura Lakmal 2/79, Moors SC Grounds yesterday. overs (Nuwan Shiroman 86, Gihan Perera 56; Umega piss when he is trying to keep and Kaushal Lokuarachchi Kaushalya Weeraratne 2/41, Nilanka Premaratne Brief Scores: Chathuranga 4/61) and 97 for 3 wkts in 12 overs wicket.) shared eight between them for SSC to turn 2/111) and 245 for 8 wickets in 40.2 overs dec. Moors SC 314 all out in 70.3 overs (Bathiya (Nimesh Perera 34) The rugby player Gareth tables on Tamil Union and recorded an eight wicket (Chinthaka Jayasinghe 66, Sanjaya Gangodawilla 58, Perera 94, Chaturanga de Silva 77, Kasun Bodhisha Thomas, who came out Saman Jayantha 36; Upul Indrasiri 3/57, Nilanka 67; Jeffrey Vandersay 5/73, Romesh Eranga 3/69) SL Air Force in thrilling three run win victory in the Premier League Tier ‘A’ match which towards the end of his career, Premaratne 2/31) and 46 for 1 wkt in 5.2 overs SL Air Force recorded a thrilling three run victory ended at Colts Grounds, yesterday. says: “It is not a nice feeling to Tamil Union, who came to bat for the second time Ragama CC 154 for 3 wkts (overnight) 290 all Seeduwa Raddoluwa 68 all out in 27.4 overs over Antonians SC in their Premier League Tier ‘B’ know that people have got with a lead of 56 runs, were bundled out for paltry out in 79.2 overs ( 67, Indika de (Hashan Gunathilleke 18; Dilhara Lokuhettige 4/10, match which ended in Colombo yesterday. 124 runs. Chasing a target of 181 runs to win SSC Saram 48, Malinga Bandara 55; Chathura Athukorala 3/18, Anil Rideegammanagedera Brief Scores: ammunition to use against opening batsman Tharanga Paranavitana and wicket- 3/67, Nipun Karunanayake 2/12) and 41 for 1 wicket 2/26) and 171 for 5 wkts overnight 291 all out in 93.1 SL Air Force 259 all out in 64.3 overs (Dinusha you.” Still, nobody said sport keeper batsman Kaushal Silva scored half centuries at close in 12 overs overs (Hashan Gunathilleke 82, Chamara Soysa 30, Fernando 119, Ryan Kern 39, Ajith Kumara 38; had to be easy, and if fans and for them to reach the target for the loss of two wick- Tier ‘B’ Pubudu Ranaweera 87; Tharanga Priyadarshana Chatura Randunu 4/80, Safraz Farook 3/78) and 91 opponents are going to be ets. Jayatissa fires for Army 3/62, Prasad Kellekotha 3/45) for 3 wkts overnight 263 for 4 wkts (Dinusha obnoxious, then Davies will Fernando 117, Raju Gayashan 109; Chathura have to deal with it and, hope- Police, Navy settle for draw Randunu 2/93) fully, right-thinking cricketers Premier League Cricket Udara Jayasundera and Udara Peiris scored half Antonians SC 274 all out in 72.5 overs (Gayan and supporters will tell the centuries for SL Navy as the Tier ‘B’ match between de Silva 38, Nilushan Nonis 72, Dinesh Nilanga 55; idiots to shut it. Furthermore, SL Navy and Police SC ended in a draw at Police Buddika Sandaruwan 3/49, Tharanga Ravin 4/73) and one would hope that the Park yesterday. 245 all out in 67 overs (Sarfaz Farook 64 n.o. authorities would punish any- SSC turn tables Brief Scores: Darshana Sadakelum 72; Buddika Sadaruwan 4/68, one found making discrimina- SL Navy 290 all out in 75.1 overs (Udara Tharanga Ravin 4/85) tory remarks. Jayasundera 85, Ranil Rasanga 80, Gayan Christopher 61; Malin Kumara 6/76) and 212 for 7 wkts in 51 overs dec. (Udara on Tamil Union Jayasundera 67, Udara Peiris 56; Majula Jayawardene 3/36, Amila Mendis 2/28) Brief Scores: Roshan Jayatissa produced an eight wickets haul Police SC 257 for 9 wkts overnight 315 Tamil Union 258 all out in 71.2 overs (Gihan to steer SL Army to a six wicket victory over all out in 86.1 overs (Tharanga Indika 132, Rupasinghe 91, Sachithra Serasinghe 40, Jeevan Panadura SC in the Premier League Tier ‘B’ match, Dammika Rajapakse 31, Manjula de Silva 34; Mendis 24; Chaminda Bandara 4/72, Sachithra which ended at Panadura yesterday. Nishantha Weerakkody 6/108, Dulanjana Senanayake 79/2, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 2/42) and Brief Scores: Kalhara 2/76) and 94 for 3 wkts 21.5 overs 29 for 1 overnight 124 all out in 50.1 overs (Gihan Panadura SC 228 all out in 63.3 overs (Sudesh (Ramesh Kumar 29; Dulanjana Kalhara 3/32) Rupasinghe 45, 22; Sachithra Umayanga 49, Sunendra Kumara 47, Yohan Senanayake 5/44, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 3/37, Sohan Arumathanthri 43; Seekkuge Prasanna 5/101, Rohan BRC beat Singha by 7 wickets Boralessa 1/09) Jayatissa 2/31) and 26 for no wicket overnight 87 all Andy Solomons took four wickets to help SSC 202 all out 74.5 overs (Tharanga out in 32.4 overs (Tharidu Tushan 32; Roshan BRC to beat Singha by seven wickets in their Paranavitana 83, 37; Chanaka Jayatissa 8/28, Seekkuge Prasanna 2/37) Premier League Tier ‘B’ match, which ended Welegedara 4/37, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara SL Army 266 all out in 75.1 overs (Roshan at BRC Grounds, yesterday. 3/33) and 182 for 2 in 50.1 overs (Tharanga Jayatissa 47, Dilan Soysa 71; Amila Perera 8/86) and Brief Scores: Paranavitana 72, Kaushal Silva 72 n.o.) 50 for 4 wkts in 13.2 overs (Mohan Fonseka 2/23) Singha SC 219 all out in 64.1 overs (Chamindu Ishanka 36, Lahiru Ashen 32, Lankan CC in innings win Moors beat Seeduwa by nine wickets Sriyam Sanjeewa 31; Malan Madusanka 5/63, Rajeeva Weerasinghe’s match bag of nine wick- Dilhara Lokuhettige completed a match bag of Weranga Dissanayake 3/45) and Singha 139 ets helped Lankan CC enjoy an innings and 27 run five wickets, while Tharanga Priyadarshana and all out in 51 .3 overs (Umega Chaturaga 25; victory over Saracens SC in their Premier League Prasad Kellekotha took three wickets apiece to help Andy Solomons 4/43) Tier ‘A’ match which ended at FTZ Grounds, Katunayake yesterday. Brief Scores: Lankan CC 409 for 7 wkts in 133.5 overs dec. (Ashen Silva 154, Chanaka Wijesinghe 41, Harsha Vithana 31, Hemantha Boteju 83; Geeth Alwis 3/69, Lassana Dias 2/111, Dilshan Wimaladarma 1/113) Saracens SC 82 for 3 wkts overnight 249 all out in 84 overs (Shihan Kamileen 100, Geeth Alwis 54; Lahiru Gamage 3/53, Rajeeva Weerasinghe 3/78,Harsha Vithana 3/09) and 133 all out in 39.2 overs (Samith Dushantha 27, Nimeh Perera 4/39, Rajeeva Weerasinghe 6/46)

Bloomfield, Ragama settle for draw Sanjaya Gangodawilla scored 58 runs off 20 deliveries with five fours and six sixes for Bloomfield as the Premier League Tier ‘A’ match between Bloomfield and Ragama CC ended in a draw at Bloomfield Grounds, yesterday Brief Scores: Bloomfield 510 for 8 wkts in 107 overs dec.