He has told BBC Sandeshaya that 100 metres could be completed in 10 seconds, or 25 seconds, but if there are bad runners, the one who runs in 25 seconds could get the gold.

Fernando has accused sports development officials of having failed to bring talented sports personnel to international level.

He said Sri Lankan sports personnel who had excelled in the past too, have shown no inclination to help bring out new talent.

The NOC chief went onto say that comparatively, Sri Lanka’s 25 gold medals in 25 events at this year’s SAG are unsatisfactory, as the country won 44 gold at only 10 events at the 1991 SAG.