BOXER RATNAYAKE BEATEN, VIDANAGE FINISHES 16TH
Dinesh Weerawansa
Ceylon Daily News
13 August 2008
Sri Lanka
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.