14 Friday 8th April, 2011 TTASL to implement new rules WHEN THE READER BECOMES By Ravi Nagahawatte The Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL) has decided to implement a new set of rules and regula- tions with the view of promoting the ethical conduct of tour- A FLY ON THE WALL naments so that they would be devoid of irregularities and malpractices, which will lead to fair play. BY MAHINDA WIJESINGHE According to the TTASL, the under-18 boys’ and girls’ all cricket fans. What is more, to have done the book - for the reader to World Cup, the original singles and the men’s and women’s singles will be con- “Today’s newspaper usually becomes it in a record time of one month – to coin- savour in the comfort and feelings of bitterness ducted in four stages. tomorrow’s wrapping paper for one’s domes- cide with the current World Cup - must have warmth of his living room. between Sidath The first stage will be conducted to pick the best 16 tic purchases.” indeed involved support from not only those However, the quality of the Wettimuny, and Arjuna players. In the second stage the selected 16 players will A hackneyed statement no doubt, but mentioned above and from the publishers production does not do justice and Aravinda, the sup- play on a knock-out basis till they find eight quarter-final- generally attributed to Sir Frank Packer but also burning many a midnight candle for the interesting and original port by Pakistan Cricket ists. The third stage will be conducted on a league basis (1906-1974), the rumbustious Sydney news- by the author and his aides. cricketing inside information Board Chairman, Abdul where the best two will be picked from the eight quarter- paper magnate, and father of controversial BOOK REVIEW - ‘From Rags to Riches’ presented in this book. This Hafeez Kardar, for Sri finalists. In the fourth stage, the top two chosen from the Kerry Packer (1937-2005) who turned the book deserved better. Possibly Lanka to join the high by Rex Clementine third stage will play the final. cricket world upside down beginning in due to the tight time-frame, the table and the assistance This format will be initially implemented at the Chris 1977. target being to produce the book while the by our own Neil Perera in this regard, Ana Guneratne Table Tennis Championships scheduled to be Sports Editor of ‘The Island’, 34-year old As the author states in the introduction: World Cup was on – which was achieved – a Punchihewa’s role in our eventual success held from April 8-10 at the S. Thomas’ College Mount Rex Clementine, must have been aware of “The book contains lengthy interviews of six few printer’s gremlins have crept in and at the World Cup and his unceremonious Lavinia gymnasium. The following players have been Sir Frank’s statement. The ex-seminarian of the seven captains who led Sri Lanka in eluded the proof reader’s usually gimlet exit soon after whilst not forgetting the con- named top and bottom seeds at the tournament. turned journalist, with support from his previous World Cups. It also contains inter- eyes. Indeed many years ago, another tributions made by Minister Gamini Under-18 Girls’ Singles - Nuwani Nawodya (Top colleague Revatha S. Silva, Managing views of other key figures of Sri Lanka crick- columnist of ‘The Island’, the late celebrat- Dissanayake, Dav Whatmore’s opinion of seed), Kavindi Sahabandu (Bottom seed) Director Nimal Welgama and Editor et such as Dav Whatmore, Ana Punchihewa, ed Amita Abeysekera whose column ‘This Arjuna; what Arjuna and Sidath Under-18 Boys’ Singles - Malith Dilusha (Top seed), Prabath Sahabandu, compiled ‘50 Sidath Wettimuny, Asanka Gurusinghe and is my island’ was such a sensation suffered Wettimuny’s thoughts were of Sir Gary Chameera Ginige (Bottom seed) Memorable World Cup Moments’ that others…… We ran these feature interviews on a similar fate due to a comparatively poor Sobers, the manner in which the victorious Women’s Singles - Ishara Madurangi (Top seed), appeared consecutively in ‘The Island’ as 50 consecutive days and there was a lot of production of the book form. 1996 Sri Lankan team returned ahead of Nuwani Nawodya (Bottom seed) feature articles into a book form titled work involved.” (Emphasis mine. MW) Nevertheless ‘Rags to Riches’ is an schedule from Pakistan by ‘hijacking’ a Men’s Singles - Rohan Sirisena (Top seed), Milinda ‘From Rags to Riches’ (Godage There is no question on that score. ‘unputdownable’ read. Since these inter- plane, and plenty more in the same vein Lakshitha (Bottom seed). International Publishers (Pvt) Ltd -2011). Interviewing Asanka Gurusinha views are from senior and celebrated Sri …… all of which make ‘Rags to Riches’ a This publication is not only timely but described by those who were his team- Lankan cricketing icons, the authenticity of fascinating book to be read and kept in all also gives an insight into the happenings at mates as the ‘unsung hero’ of Sri Lanka the contents cannot be doubted. Indeed one our bookshelves. the top of Sri Lanka’s cricket world cricket, now domiciled in Australia, and the can go further and declare that ‘Rags to However, the story – biter bit? - that A rosy ‘straight from the horses’ mouths’ as the busy Arjuna Ranatunga must have been a Riches’ is a pioneering effort, full of inside topped all of them was how the victorious saying goes. Regular readers of ‘The Island’ Herculean task. In short, there must have stories hitherto untold. How Sunil 1996 World Cup champions kept President welcome, but newspaper must have read these feature been a hell of a lot of hard yards Wettimuny “for the only time brought Chandrika Kumaratunga cooling her heels articles earlier but to have it potted into a Clementine must have had to travel, in champagne and drank champagne”, why for 8 hours at President’s House before she bad omen book form for posterity is a great service to record time, to produce these features –and Aravinda turned vegetarian before the 2003 had the opportunity of meeting them! BY MADURA NANDANA Sri Lanka’s second consecutive loss Fox Hill Supercross at Diyatalawa in a World Cup final, in 2007 and 2011, shocked the fans though they welcomed the team warmly on their arrival the fol- lowing day of the final (April 3). The fact that they gave such a warm reception after their team’s defeat did Sri Lanka Military Academy promises exhilarating racing not mean that they wanted Sri Lanka to lose the final to miss the coveted title The roar of fine-tuned engines will events including the championship races after waiting for 15 long years. Had India reverberate in the scenic hill station of which will be taken into account in lost the final, things would have been Diyatalawa once again on April 15 and awarding the CEAT-SLARDAR different as the Indian fans tend to become wild and uncontrollable in the 16, when the 19th edition of the Fox Hill Championship trophies to the country’s face of defeat. Supercross takes place at the home of top drivers and riders at the end of the Things take a different shape when the Sri Lanka Military Academy, sig- 2011 racing season. defeat comes Sri Lanka’s way. None nalling that the 2011 battle for motor rac- The Championship races are Group harmed players and their properties but ing glory has begun in earnest. SL-GT – up to 3,500 cc, Group SL-H - up to reached out to embrace their beloved Some 175 drivers and riders have 1,600 cc in the motor car category and cricketers, though they felt that Sri already registered for this iconic event Group MX - Racing Motocross bikes up to Lanka had the edge over the Indians organised by the Academy and the Sri 125 cc 2-Stroke; up to 250 cc 4-Stroke and when they took the prize wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and Virendar Sehawg Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Group MX - Racing Motocross bikes up to for a total of 32. The 19th Fox Hill Supercross will be held from April 15 and 16 at Diyatalawa. Brig. J. R. Riders (SLARDAR), and more than 200 85 cc (Under-16 years as at Dec. 31, 2011) Kulatunga, Commandant of the SLMA and Chairman of Fox Hill Supercross, said in a drivers and riders including competitors in the motor cycle category. Shockwaves- recent media briefing that all arrangements had been made for a spectacular two days from overseas are expected to show up on Truck and Jeep Diesel up to 5,500 cc In a surprise move, there were shock- of unforgettable racing. race day, organisers said. Two leading and Super Motard up to 250 cc (2-stroke waves in Sri Lanka cricket after the racing drivers from India have been and 4-stroke) and cars up to 1,500 cc in announcement of the resignations of invited and three top Indian riders are the special motor car category are among skipper Kumar Sangakkara, his deputy among the confirmed participants. the other popular races that are expected Mahela Jayawardene, the unsung hero This year’s Fox Hill Supercross com- to add to the thrills and enjoyment of the in the final, and Chairman of the Biyagama Water Sports Fest prises of 13 motor car and 17 motor cycle competition. Selection Committee, Aravinda de Silva, in quick succession. It is believed that in the end of a fine draws 300 swimmers over, there comes a relief and a feeling of Sri Lankan cricket needs satisfaction.