Breaking new grounds, the champions' trophy was presented to the Indian contingent for winning the highest number of medals in the 10th South Asian Games.
COLOMBO: Breaking new grounds, the champions' trophy was presented to the Indian contingent for winning the highest number of medals in the 10th South Asian Games, which draw to a close on Monday after ten days of sporting spectacle.
The glittering gold-plated trophy was presented to India's chef de mission Rangil Singh by Shuhei Anan, the CEO of Sri Lanka Telecom, prinicipal sponsors of the Games, at a function on Sunday night.
Hemasiri Fernando, Chairman of the Sri Lankan Olympic Committee, said precedence had been set by Sri Lanka to award a trophy to overall winners at multi-disciplinary Games.
"There is no separate award for champion countries at events like Olympics or Commonwealth Games. But our sponsors have set precedence which I am sure will be appreciated by sportspersons," he said.
Fernando thanked India for living upto its commitment to take part in the Games without whom the meet would not have been possible.
Cloud of uncertainties had loomed large over the Games because of a bomb blast days before the meet. The blast, which killed seven and injured eight in the Sri Lankan capital, had put the proposed tri-series cricket in jeopardy with South Africa opting out of the tournament.
Rangil Singh said India had been pleasantly surprised by the gesture to award the entire team and it would motivate their sportspersons to perform better the next time.
"It was not obligatory on the part of Sri Lanka to present such an award. But having done that, they have made the Games all the more memorable for us," he said.
The trophy was unveiled with much fanfare. Top Sri Lankan actress Yashoda, sitting in an open palanquin, carried it to the main dais accompanied by traditionally dressed dancers, drum beaters and lion-masked performers.
Earlier in the day, special commemorative medallions were presented to the gold medal winners of all participating countries by Stone N String, one of the sponsors of the Games.
In another first, the medallions were made not by any government agency but by the popular Sri Lankan fashion house.
The aim of the company was to make medallions which could be worn by the athletes.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistani Chef de mission Khwaja Sayeed stated that the Games were more about goodwill than competition.
"The South Asian Games are the only platform for athletes from the region to interact with one another and foster a feeling of friendship and brotherhood. They are goodwill games and not contests," he said.
The Indian Chef de mission Rangil, who appreciated the fact that all the contingents were housed in five-star hotels, presented memorabilia to chef de missions of all other nations including hosts Sri lanka.
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