Sri Lanka too can excel in pole-vaulting

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http://www.island.lk/2010/05/09/sports1.html

If there are suitable facilities and correct guidance
Sri Lanka too can excel in pole-vaulting
– Legendary athlete Sergey Bubka

by Reemus Fernando

The legendary pole-vaulter Sergey Bubka said in spite of having average physique, the Sri Lankan athletes too could excel at international athletics including his pet sport discipline, pole-vaulting, provided they have correct technique and suitable facilities. Bubka said so in an exclusive interview with ‘Sunday Island’ yesterday (May 8).

"Correct technique and suitable facilities are more important than one’s physical frame. If you have suitable facilities and correct techniques, you can impress in this discipline (pole-vaulting)," Bubka explained answering ‘Sunday Island’ queries.

Bubka was on a one-day visit to Sri Lanka and had just given some tips on correct way of pole-vaulting to a kid who was attending the Kids Athletic Programme held yesterday at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium at Diyagama where he spoke to ‘Sunday Island’.

He also said having a good play field and a coach with sound knowledge on techniques were important aspects for success in pole-vaulting, a discipline in which Sri Lanka has not impressed much at international level.

Sri Lanka men’s pole-vault record stands below five meters. The Ukrainian athletic idol Bubka (he represented the Soviet Union before its collapse in 1991) who established the world record height of 6.14m (6.14m outdoor record and 6.15m indoor record) in pole-vaulting in 1994, said he too did not have the facilities needed to become a world class athlete at the beginning but managed to overcome such difficulties with sheer determination.

The legendary pole-vaulter dismissed the notion that a huge physique was a prerequisite to succeed at world stage in pole-vaulting and urged the Lankan athletes to persevere more and more in this interesting sports discipline.

"I too faced the problem of not having a training facility. But managed to get a pole-vault arena prepared especially for my training," an unassuming Bubka explained.

The Ukrainian, who is also a senior vice president of the IAAF, was the chief guest at the Kids Athletic Programme conducted at Diyagama yesterday. He said that he was pleased with the enthusiasm of the kids and the parents who were present in their hundreds at the Rajapaksa Stadium at Diyagama.

"The kids have come in their hundreds. That is very encouraging and the parents too have shown a lot of interest. It’s great to see masses come in numbers for these athletic programmes. Athletics brings people together and unites nations. I hope that athletics could unite all communities in this country as well," said Bubka, who is also an adviser to the Ukrainian President on sports.

Bubka added local women’s sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe’s feat at the World Championships and Olympics were a proof that Sri Lanka has potential to reach greater heights at international level and therefore the governments should provide facilities —such as the synthetic track at the Rajapaksa Stadium— for athletes to prosper.

"That beautiful girl’s (Jayasinghe) performance at the World Championships is a proof that you have the potential to win at international level. By winning silver in 1997 (the year Bubka won the last of his six World Championship Golds in Athens) and producing a similar performance some ten years later (in 2007), she has proved her potential. That was something remarkable. I hope that the government provides the athletes with all facilities like what is seen here (at the Diyagama Stadium) for them to prosper."

"I see lots of enthusiasm on athletics among the folks. When I opened the window at the hotel in the morning today (May 8), I saw a very encouraging thing. A lot of young people were engaging in sports activities along the beach. That shows that you are a sporty nation and keen on your health," said Bubka commenting on his observations in his short visit to Sri Lanka.

Bubka was a member of the executive board of the International Olympic Council, as one of its athletics reps from 2000-08, and is the chairman of the Coordination Commission for the 1st Youth Olympic Games, to be held in Singapore.

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http://www.sundaytimes.lk/100516/News/nws_24.html

Mrs Anumaana laments that visiting Pole Vault Champ was misled

By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya
There must be some bureaucratic bungling somewhere down the line for sure, thought Mrs Anumaana. The world’s reigning Pole Vault Champion, six times gold medalist, 35 times record-breaker Sergei Bubka had visited Sri Lanka, and none of Sri Lanka’s top practitioners had been around to share their scintillating experiences with him. Not even the one-time Sports Minister who is a “Double Vaulter.” Nor the Foreign Minister, another “Double Vaulter.”


As if the absence of veteran Pole Vaultists was not bad enough, even the up-and-coming new talents like Johnston and Indika, who might have benefited from a few tips, were nowhere on the invitee list, it appeared. Nor the newest hopeful, Abdul Cader. Why couldn’t a few of the veterans have been invited at least to light the oil lamp, wondered Mrs Anumaana. Just imagine what this athletic legend from Ukraine would have thought of the status of this sport in Sri Lanka, with such a poor showing.

Owing to the failure of the authorities to put him in the picture and update him on the full battalion of illustrious Pole Vault experts that this country has produced - with its abundance of budding talent constantly training in the wings - Mr Bubka has been left with the sorry impression that Sri Lanka has a long way to go in order to make its mark in this sport, at the international level. Was he even aware that it was Sri Lanka that invented the “Double Vault?” Apparently he has said something to the effect that “If there are suitable facilities and correct guidance, Sri Lanka too can excel in Pole Vaulting!”

“Sri Lanka too???” Mrs. Anumaana shook her head in dismay. Here was Sri Lanka well on its way to an Olympic Gold, and the world’s reigning Pole Vault Champion was not even aware of these developments. His remark shows how greatly he has been misled, she reflected. Every Sri Lankan knows that far from “lacking the facilities,” Sri Lanka has the BEST possible facilities for anyone desirous of excelling in the Pole Vault. There are scouts on the lookout round- the-clock for prospective recruits, and they are ever ready to facilitate the transition of newcomers to the status of full-fledged Pole Vaulters. As for “correct guidance,” the authorities fear that they are now over-staffed, and there may soon come a stage when the trainers will outnumber the trainees. So how can anyone say there is a “lack of guidance?”

But to get back to the athletic event held at Diyagama, graced by Bubka - where were SB and GL that day? The absence of Bogols and Milinda could be excused, Mrs Anumaana reasoned, since they were no longer on the National Squad. But what happened to Mahinda, Sarath, Rambuks and Bandula? And what about Lokuge, Rajitha and Dayaratna, and the countless others, whose names Mrs Anumaana can’t even keep track of, since these Pole Vault events were so numerous and repetitive, with names (new and old) appearing in the media every other day? In fact she no longer remembers who’s who any more. What were their stripes? Were they blue or green? Or something in between? If the whole lot were listed together it would just make her eyes glaze over.

Now Sunil is practising hard at the art of Pole Vaulting, since his ambition is to become an MP. When Sunil sees this disappointing report she thinks he may be discouraged from pursuing his chosen career path. But perhaps that was just as well. Mrs Anumaana always had her doubts about the wisdom of his choice.