SL sets unwanted record with 10 gone missing from Birmingham Games

Sri Lanka has set an unwanted record in a major sporting event with the highest number of missing athletes (File photo)

BY Susil Premalal reporting from Birmingham

Sri Lanka has set an unwanted record in a major sporting event with the highest number of missing athletes at the 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

After the completion of the 11th day of the meet, 10 athletes are reportedly missing, with a few more set to join the wagon in the coming days, setting a huge black mark in Sri Lankan sporting history.

In fact, Sri Lanka has already set a record with the highest number of missing athletes from the South Asian region.

This is also the first time that Sri Lanka has recorded such a high number of missing athletes from a major sports event.

Suresh Subramaniam, President of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL), yesterday confirmed to the Daily Mirror that two judokas, two wrestlers, two beach volleyball players and four boxers have gone missing from the Sri Lankan contingent.

“We cannot do anything with this issue and the only solution is that we could inform the Commonwealth Games authorities,” Subramaniam revealed.

“I think the main reason for the disappearance is that all Sri Lankan athletes, officials, and media personnel were issued with a six-month visa,” Subramaniam added.

The significant feature of the missing athletes is that there are seven representing the Sri Lanka Army and three other athletes from the Sri Lanka Navy among them.

Several other countries have also reported missing athletes from the Commonwealth Games, but they are yet to confirm it officially.

Meanwhile, diver Dulanjan Fernando finished in 15th place overall with a score of 217.95 points while competing in the men’s 3m springboard event on Saturday.

Fernando’s highest point-earning dive was the 405C inward two and a half somersaults stuck but missed out on the final in this event.

• After the completion of the 11th day of the meet, 10 athletes are reportedly missing, with a few more set to join the wagon in the coming days

 St. Peters College regained the Rev. Fr. Peter A. Pillai Memorial Challenge Shield at the 48th Josephian - Peterite Limited Over cricket encounter 2022. Pictured are the Peterites celebrating their victory at the S.S.C. 
Also In Photograph (L-R): Ravika de Silva - Joint Organising Committee, St. Peter’s,  Terence Fernando - Co-Chair, St. Joseph’s College, Upul Adikari - Head of Marketing, HNB, Rev. Fr. Priyan Tissera, Perfect of Games, St. Joseph’s College, Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi, Rector - St. Joseph’s College, Munesh David, Vice President - Group Corporate Planning & Strategy, Dialog Axiata PLC, Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo, Rector St. Peter’s College, Rev. Fr. Milan Bernard, Sports Coordinator, St. Peter’s College, Colombo, Ralston Goonetilleke -  Promotions Manager, Sun/Gold FM and Glen Issacs - Head of Digital, Daraz.