Under Mushtaq’s direction Sri Lanka went onto to emerge Asian Under 18 Sevens champions and earn the number one ranking in Asia – a rare feat for the sport in the country.

“In the semi-finals from nowhere we came from behind to beat the host Taipei 19-14 after trailing 12-14,” said Mushtaq.

“We were down to only five players with less than two minutes to go but it was a fabulous effort. The entire squad of players played with a big heart right throughout the tournament,” he said.

In the final Sri Lanka beat the same opponents 10-5.

“Let me tell you it was not a rosy path to glory. Before our departure we were hampered with injuries to three of our key players including vice-captain Sumudhu Rankothge, winger Diyath Fernando and forward Cristian Dilile,” said Mushtaq.

“To make matters worse we had to leave to Taipei with only 11 players as Gamunu Chethiya did not get the required visa to travel. Most of the rugby loving people in the country never knew these things, which took place prior to us leaving the country to take part in this rugby tournament,” he said.

Mushtaq said that their main strength in the tournament was the excellent defence which really paid off well in the end.

Sometimes the people behind the success are overshadowed in victory but Mushtaq was quick to acknowledge the tremendous impact that director coaching Inthi Marikar had made.

“Inti taught me everything. My win is like Inthi’s win that’s how much he has taught me,” said Mushtaq.

“Inti is a very hard working coach. He always passed his tactical knowledge to us and his contribution was immense and his vision was to take our rugby to the next level. We have achieved success now we need to continue it,” he said.

“Inti always told me that he wanted to build the team to achieve a high standard. His motivation was that. He has made a lot of sacrifices. He wanted to win the Cup championship more than any one.

“He was constantly behind me and the team giving the perfect mental strength and making the environment for the players to get on with their required job easily. For me Inthi was the man behind our success of winning this under 18 Asian rugby Sevens championship and undoubtedly our pillar of strength,” Mushtaq said.

He also thanked the Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, SLRFU president Asanga Seneviratne, Canterbury Crusaders trainer Nick Grouber and the selection committee to helping Sri Lanka achieve this unique victory.

Sri Lanka lost the final 22-17 but it could easily have been 17-15 in favour of Sri Lanka had it not been for a blunder on the part of the Australian referee.

There is a saying that pictures don’t lie.

The picture depicted here shows clearly that the crucial try scored by Lee Jones for Hong Kong in the Asian Rugby Sevens Series final against Sri Lanka is a knock-on. Jones is clearly shown dropping the ball to the ground while scoring the try – the player’s hands are not in control of the ball while scoring the try.

According to the IRB rules the hands or hand should be on the ball when the player touches down for a try and he should be in control of the ball when he touches down. In this instance it is not so and thus it is not a try and it goes down as a knocked on and, a penalty should be awarded to Sri Lanka from that position. The grieving party has 48 hours from the incident to lodge an official complaint and the SLRFU can still go ahead and do it. This is not the first time such an incidence has happened concerning Sri Lanka. In the 2010 Asian Games in China a similar incident occurred in the Cup quarter-finals against Hong Kong. On that occasion the SLRFU remained silent.

Asanga Seneviratne, president of the SLRFU is also the secretary of the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) and Sri Lanka has very good reasons to lodge a protest.

The incident took place at the Sports Ministry yesterday when the inquiry into the eligibility of 17 sports clubs on their voting rights was taken up.

Aruna de Silva who is functioning as a Colombo District cricket secretary had made a complaint to the Sports Ministry regarding 11 sports clubs and when he went to the Ministry to inquire about it, an argument had taken place between Nishantha Ranatunga and Sujeewa Godaliyadda regarding an attempt to influence Negombo Youth CC secretary Eustace Fernando.

The ensuing argument had led to fisticuffs being exchanged between the two.

“When I tried to intervene Nishantha Ranatunga scolded me and threatened to kill me,” said De Silva.

“Eustace Fernando never complained against me that I harassed him which clearly shows that this is being done to tarnish my image,” said Nishantha Ranatunga regarding the complaint to the Cinnamon Gardens police.

Ranatunga said that for some time there has been a campaign to tarnish the image of Arjuna Ranatunga and him by certain people and he vehemently denied the allegation made by Aruna de Silva.

Meanwhile the Supreme Court yesterday granted permission to K. Mathivanan and Asanga Seneviratne to contest for the posts of Vice President of SLC on an application made by K. Mathivanan.

The Colombo District Court also issued an order yesterday on Asitha Gamlath, M.B. Ranjan and Wijesekera Walisundera preventing them from representing North Central Province Cricket Association at the SLC elections scheduled for January 3, 2016.