Sports
Asian Games medallists Tharushi, Uththara to compete on day one
All Island Schools Games
by Reemus Fernando
In a rare moment in country’s schools athletics arena, two Asian Games medallist will be in action when the All-Island Schools Games Athletics Championship conducted by the Ministry of Education commences at the Sugathadasa Stadium today.
Asian Games medallists Tharushi Karunaratne and Jayeshi Uththara are set to compete in the Under 20 girls’ 400 metres heats on day one of the meet. There are eight field event finals on day one but Karunaratne and Uththara would be the cynosures of all eyes as they compete at a national level championship for the first time after returning from the Asian Games.
Uththara entered local competition soon after her return from Asian Games when she competed at the Western Province Schools Games. She won the best athlete title in the girls’ category of the said meet for the second consecutive time and the Holy Cross College, Gampaha athlete will be competing head-to-head with Karunaratne in the 400 metres.
The 800 metres is the pet event of Asian Games gold medallsit Karunaratne but she is expected to compete in the 400 metres as well. Ratnayake Central athlete is the favourite in both the girls’ 800 metres and the 400 metres.
All Island Schools Games is the final school competition for both Karunaratne and Uththara as they conclude their schools’ career with this meet.
At the Asian Game, Karunaratne won the 800 metres gold medal and joined fellow schools athlete Uththara, Lakshima Mendis and veteran Nadeesha Ramanayake to win the bronze medal in the women’s 4×400 metres.
The four age group finals scheduled for today are; Under 20 boys’ pole vault, Under 16 girls’ discus throw, Under 20 girls’ shot put, Under 18 girls’ triple jump, Under 14 boys’ high jump, Under 20 boys’ shot put, Under 16 girls’ long jump and Under 18 boys’ javelin throw.
Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute from a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory.
Merino was the late hero for the second straight match for Spain, who advanced to face tournament favourite France in the semifinals on Tuesday in Dallas.
Merino came on in the 86th minute and scored from his second touch of the match, charging into the box and pouncing after Lammens spilled a Pau Cubarsi shot from outside the area.
The Arsenal forward also scored as a substitute early in injury time to secure Spain’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the last-16.
Lammens, the Manchester United keeper, was forced into the match in the 71st minute after longtime Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois left with an apparent thigh injury.
Belgium desperately pressed for an equaliser in the final minutes, but Aymeric Laporte volleyed their best chance out of the box.
Fabian Ruiz scored the opening goal in the 30th minute for Spain after Courtois had parried a shot from Dani Olmo from Pedro Porro’s cut-back from the right of the area, but Belgium forward Charles De Ketelaere scored the first goal allowed by Spain in the entire World Cup in the 41st minute.
His header from Timothy Castagne’s cross from the right ended a record streak of 649 minutes without conceding at the World Cup.
The annual rugby encounter between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, played for the William Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy, is set to take place today (July 11, 2026), at 4:00 PM at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.
The official unveiling of the trophy took place this week at the Dharmaraja College premises with the participation of the Principals of the two schools, teachers-in-charge of sports, coaches, the Rugby teams, and several distinguished guests, including Dharmaraja College Old Boys’ Association President Mahesh Wijetunga, Kingswood College Old Boys’ Association President Muditha Abeykoon,
Text and Pic by SK Samaranayake
The annual rugby encounter between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, played for the William Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy, is set to take place tomorrow (July 11, 2026), at 4:00 PM at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.
The official unveiling of the trophy took place this week at the Dharmaraja College premises with the participation of the Principals of the two schools, teachers-in-charge of sports, coaches, the Rugby teams, and several distinguished guests, including Dharmaraja College Old Boys’ Association President Mahesh Wijetunga, Kingswood College Old Boys’ Association President Muditha Abeykoon,
by S K SAMARANAYAKE
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