13.8.2008
Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from china

Boxer Anuruddha Ratnayake shattered Sri Lanak’s hopes when he went down to Latin American silver medallist Robenilson Vieira in their men’s 51kg flyweight category first round bout of the XX1X Olympic Games here in Beijing today.

The Brazilian, making the full use of his height and long arms, took an upper hand from the first round of the bout worked off at the Workers’ Gymnasium ring under lights. It was a blank point sheet during the first minute of the round one before Robenilson came to the picture with two calculated punches to lead 2-0 at the end of the first round.

Robenilson had a big advantage with his height in evading punches from relatively small-made Sri Lankan.

The Brazilian kept his cool and boxed to his original strategy and extended his lead to six points to one at the end of round two. Two powerful left hooks by the Latin American Games fly weight silver medallist saw Ratnayake trailing 2-9 at the end of round three.

It was a tall order if Ratnayake was to make any comeback in the fourth round, which he opened with a seven-point deficit. Though the tussle looked even during the first one minute of the fourth round, at least three vital punches from Ratnayake went unnoticed. If the Lankan had caught the attention of the judges during his most aggressive moments, he would have got into a psychologically important position.

Nevertheless, the Brazilian was far superior and deserved to win on points 13-3. Ratnayake was not at his brilliant best and looked off colour. The Lankan did not get the ideal start he was expecting and that put Robenilson in the driving seat from round two.

“It was sad that I could not play my normal game. I should have done better. Unfortunately things did not go in the manner which I expected,” Ratnayake said after his first round debacle.

He said the height and long arms of the Brazilian gave his opponent a distinct advantage.

“He made use of his height and arms to stretch fully and escape when I was charging.

But that is no excuse. I did not box well,” Ratnayake added.

But Ratnayake said his presence at the Olympic ring under the Lion flag should open a new era in Sri Lankan boxing. “I think my journey to the Olympic boxing ring should be an inspiration to all Lankan boxers and all those who intend to take to the ring sport. I am ever thankful to all Sri Lankans who wholeheartedly supported my journey,” he added.

Young Ratnayake said the battle is not lost altogether. “This is a good beginning and I will survive to fight for another day. I will make use of this experience and plan my strategy to work towards the 2012 Olympic Games,” a determined Ratnayake said.

Chef-de-Mission of the Sri Lanka contingent and ABASL President Dian Gomes was a dejected man after Ratnayake’s defeat.

But a determined Gomes said Raynayake’s Olympic journey should open a new era in Lankan boxing. “He did not play well today and was beaten by a better opponent. We have no complaints. But this should be an inspiration to all and I would like to see a few more Ratnayakes making it to the 2012 Olympics,” Gomes said.

Minister of Sports and Public Recreation and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China Karunatillaka Amunugama were amongst the VVIPs at the Workers’ Gymnasium to see the Lankan boxer in action. Minister Lokuge is due to return home tomorrow.

Vidanage finishes 16th

There was a little bright spot for Sri Lanka in the Olympic arena when star weightlifter Chinthana Vidanage finished 16th in the men’s 69kg category. Vidanage, who topped the Group C with a total lift of 293kg yesterday, was overshadowed by 15 others who competed under Group A and B in the men’s 69kg event today.

Having established three new Sri Lanka records to head Group C, Vidanage was looking for a place within the top 20 lifters in his weight category. Today, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist fulfilled that dream when he secured the 16th place in the final standings after the A and B group lifts.

China’s Hui Liao bagged the weightlifting gold of men’s 69kg event with a total lift of 348kg, 55kg more than the Lankan lad from Polonnaruwa.

Last year’s World champion Liao had a snatch lift of 158kg and a clean and jerk lift of 190kg. Vencelas Dabaya-Tientcheu of France (338kg) and Itgran Gevorg Martirosyan of Armenia (338kg) bagged the silver and bronze medals of this weight category.

“I felt very nervous at the very first attempt of both Snatch and Clean and Jerk.” said Liao, referring to his fail in these two attempts.

“There were unnecessary mistakes, fortunately I survived. Eventually I got the gold medal,”

he said after his memorable feat. Favorite Lee Baeyoung of South Korea, who took silver at Athens 2004, suffered cramps in both legs in the Clean and Jerk and failed in all three attempts. China’s Shi Zhiyong, defending champion in the Men’s 62kg Weightlifting category, was another favorite who failed to make the podium.

Meanwhile, Russian Islam-Beka Albiev dominated Vitaliy Rahimov of Azerbaijan in the final of the Men’s Greco-Roman 60kg wrestling event.

Albiev took the first period by 2-0. He then went on to win the second period 4-0, leaving no room for Rahimov to respond. Albiev’s best personal achievement in senior competition before this gold was a bronze medal in the 2007 World Cup.

China’s Zhong Man claimed the gold medal in a 15-9 two-round bout in the final of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Men’s Individual Sabre at the Fencing Hall. Nicholas Lopez of France took home the silver. Thus, Zhong became the first Chinese fencer in Olympic history to win this event.

Hosts China continued to head the latest medals standings of the Beijing Olympics. At the time of writing, China headed the latest medals standings with 13 golds, three silver and four bronze medals.

USA is placed second with only seven gold, six silver and eight bronze medals. In the third place is South Korea with five gold medals, six silver and a bronze medal.

None of the Lankan Olympians will be seen in action on day five of the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday.

But at the Water Cube on Thursday, Sri Lanka’s Daniel Lee will swim in men’s 50m free style first round heats.

Courtesy - Daily News