Dr. Suranga says Sri Lanka should take a leaf out of Zambia’s development programme

by Reemus Fernando 

Dr. Titus Suranga Fernando, who is in Tokyo as the Chairperson Medical Commission of National Olympic Committee of Zambia says that Sri Lanka can take a leaf out of Zambia’s sports development plan to improve standards in Olympic sports.  

In an online interview with The Sunday Island Dr Fernando said that Zambia’s ‘Podium Performance Programme’ could be an ideal development model for Sri Lanka. 

“Zambia is in corporation with a number of other Southern African countries and promote competitions in selected sports among athletes of these countries. That has helped Zambia improve standards. That could be a model that Sri Lanka can adopt to improve standards,” said the Sri Lankan doctor. 

Like Sri Lanka, Zambia too has won only two Olympic medals in history with its most recent victory recorded in 1996 Olympics. Samuel Matete won the silver in the men’s 400 m hurdles. But from just seven competitors at the 2016 Rio Olympics where only two progressed beyond the first round, Zambia has produced a marked development within the last four years to field a contingent of over 30 athletes of whom a vast majority are qualified athletes. “All athletes except in swimming are qualified athletes.” 

At the point of writing two boxers, namely Chinyemba Patrick and Zimba Stephen had progressed from the first round and their two track and field athletes were yet to compete.  

“We (Zambia) had three boxers who qualified for the Olympics. They are between 19-22 years of age. So they have at least two more Olympics to go.” 

Some of their women’s footballers also earned recognition despite failing to make the quarterfinals. Their captain Barbra Banda wrote her name into the record books by becoming the only female player to have scored two hat tricks at an Olympic Games and her six tournament goals also equalled a record. 

According Dr. Fernando, the ‘Podium Performance Programme’ has helped the country improve standards in performances. 

 “Regular health monitoring which is usually not available to athletes who are not in the programme, the services of sports nutritionists and sports psychologists and other essential services are provided on demand to athletes in the programme. Conducting coaching camps for coaches and athletes, providing equipment, upgrading venues and providing support to conduct international competitions are also done.” 

Dr. Fernando suggests that such a programme would benefit countries like Sri Lanka. 

By Friday evening, seven out of nine Sri Lankan competitors had concluded their events and been eliminated in the first round.