By Saroj Pathirana BBC Sinhala Service

	Susanthika failed to qualify for 200m finals at Beijing Olympics

The bronze medal winner at the 2000 Sydney Olympics who finished with 22.28 seconds only managed to reach 200m semi-finals in Beijing.

She was the seventh, recording 22.94 seconds, at the semi-finals held on 20 August.

It is expected that Beijing is Jayasinghe’s last Olympic tournament as her many contemporaries including Damayanthi Darsha, Sriyani Kulawansa and Sugath Thilakaratne have already called the day.

New talent

Many sports pandits agree that Sri Lanka has failed to produce new talents in the synthetic track.

But is Sri Lanka short of new talent?

“No”, says the former Director of Sri Lanka Sports Academy.

	Minister says a new four-year plan is underway to find new talent

“Jayasinghe and others were the products of a systematic five-year training project,” Yogananda Wijesundara told BBC Sandeshaya.

“But since 2000, authorities were not bothered to follow it up with the new generation," he added.

Damayanthi Darsha who recently retired from sports, agrees.

Former sports minister SB Dissanayake was influential in making the project happen, she says.

“I think we need a new long-term training strategy to find and develop new talent,” Darsha told BBCSinhala.com.

London 2012

The sports authorities, however, deny any downturn in the athletics field.

Sports minister Gamini Lokuge says he is working on a new four-year plan leading to London 2012 Olympics.

	Phelps created Olympics history by winning the most gold medals

“We are focusing on regional games, then Commonwealth games leading to other international events. For the first time ever, Sri Lanka this year even qualified for the Olympics in Badminton,” he said.

Sri Lanka’s first ever woman to compete in Olympics, Thilaka Jinadasa, says intensive training in school level might result in sportsmen lacking energy at the higher levels.

Lack of scientific approach from the beginning, she says, is one of the major concerns.

Scientific approach

“Children at very young age are forced to train long hours at school levels. This approach is wrong. A sportsman should only focus on his/her own field after the age of 15-16” Ms. Jinadasa said.

As the current generation has been successful in certain events, the emerging generation is only focusing on similar few events narrowing the focus, says Yogananda Wijesundara.

He also stressed the importance of a 'post-mortem' after every major tournament to investigate the successes and failures of the team and the management.

A selection of your views:

Susanthika you are my class mate.you are the greatest talend i have ever seen.
Suwarna Kahandavita, LA, USA

Susanthika is a very vital player not only Sri Lanka, but alsa in the world. She is a national assert. She expaned Sri Lankan name via world. Now Sri Lankan authority has to train many athletic palyers. Getting gold medal from the Olympic is very rare. So, Susanthika muct be appriciated.
Wimalasena Nettasinghe Appuhamilage, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Sri-Lanka these days trains its youngster for war than in sports and constructions.
Raj Daniel, Australia

I remember she had a hard time dealing with a bad politician. sri lankan people must select good educated politicians in the future. looking at the sri lankan cricket board, I think Mravans(our former cricket captain)comments about muppets and headed by a jorker, very true. This statement must be written in our history books with golden letters. We have great talent in Sri Lanka and they wont get a chance because of our very talented, educated politicians!.
Sanjeewa Jayawardene, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Susanthika is one of the very few great Sri Lankans who made a name in International circle. We must be proud her acheivements in Sports at this stage of her life. Most of her competitors for this Beijing 2008 are in early 20's. We have no plans though as a person she set some goals for herself and as for the country at this stage of her life. We must be proud as a nation.
Jayaraj de Mel, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Children at very young age are forced to train long hours at school levels without any scientific approach. But we need to identify the the talent at the early age.
Shamal Jayakody, New York, USA

Most of the Olympic medalists were gifted with their talent. Like cricketers in Sri Lanka, in athletics, athletes need to have a proper training and dedication from their childhood. Governing bodies need to have a proper planning, Im mean real one. Parents should encourage their children to do sport with studies. If someone chooses a path of professional sport instead of education, we should make sure that they will have future with their sport certificate not the educational certificate.
Rohitha, Bangkok, Thailand

Dear susantika Your are Great,congraulations.
Ananda Dias Mohotti, Atsugi, Japan

There is no doubt she has made the country proud in the world sports.She is the only sports star who came this far to compete at international level and bring medals to Sri Lanka and every Sri Lankan should be proud of her.What's wrong n spending on training the athletes and technology in sports, which could only enhance the quality of the athletes. Some jealous people do really have a problem in appreciating our own people.
Saman Liyanaarachchi, Wollongong, Sri Lanka

Susanthika, you have acieved lot and brought crdibilty to the country. You can not continue for ever. You are great and every body admired your last acievement. You brought succes from remote village to the town and for whole county. You are great. Wish you best of luk and continue your support for the sports.
Kumaratunga Jayamaha, Yangon, Myanmar

I think she has done enough for the country during her time.Lets find new talents and train them for 2012.
Lalith Goonathilake, Monaragala, Sri Lanka

it is clear fact before the meet she is a looser as other competitors has performed well it was the sri lankan media and the govt made popularity without international comparisons Sri lanka do not have talent talented peple have migrated to other countries.
Ruwan Siriwardena, Melbourne, Australia

It is obvious that there is no long term programme when no new telent is on show. As for Susanthika, she has done more than her share. Before her, Olympic or World Championships medals were wishful dreams for Sri Lankan fans. She will always be remembered as the one athlete who made those dreams possible.
Chris, Toronto, Canada

The way I see it, sport, more than winning the game, should be about honesty, justice, fairplay and team-spiritedness.
Gitanjali Marcelline, Colombo, Sri Lanka

She has already done enough for the country-winning a Olympic bronze, World Championship silver and a bronze and so many Asian medals. We as a nation should be grateful to her!
Hiran Liyanage, New York, USA

What a waste of time and money in getting her trained, Sri Lanka Govt spent Millions on her, she even could not reach the Finals, she is a big talker and bluff.
Ivan Perera, Galle, Sri Lanka

Money spent on war and corruption, having exuberant summits all should go for funding education & athletics for the next generation. With free education Sri Lanka achieved so much. Only to see the educated taking flight overseas. Bring back the vision of Sri Lankas founding fathers. A political solution with greatness could do all this.
T Kumaran, Dayton, USA

Human body undergoes aging. Either Susanthika, or the sporting body should have known this. In Sri Lanka it is always the same crowd who will hold the 'right' to do things. No new talent is sought. How can a country go forward?
Sarath Gunatunga, Opunake, New Zealand

Dear Susi Your are Great , Congraulations.
Anura Hetti, Kadawatha, Sri Lanka