Sports
Maris Stella seek to continue unbeaten run against President’s in semi-final
Under 19 Division II Tier ‘B’ Cricket
Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa and President’s College, Kotte will compete for a place in the final and a spot in the Tier ‘A’ category when they meet in the Under 19 Division II Tier ‘B’ semi-final today and tomorrow at Pannipitiya.
With the two finalists earning promotion to Tier ‘A’ category from next season teams entering the semi-finals are eager to book a berth in the final.
Maris Stella captained by Yohan Fernando are in the semi-final after pulling off 31 runs victory over Christ King, Ja Ela in the quarter-final. Vishwa Peiris and Fernando shared ten wickets between them in the second innings to achieve the victory. Peiris collected a match bag of 11 wickets, while wicketkeeper batsman Nadeesha Rajakaruna excelled with the bat, top scoring with 73 runs in the first innings.
Maris Stella reached the knockout stage as the champions of group ‘Y’ in the first round where they recorded five outright victories and three first innings wins.
President’s skipperd by Ishara Kanchana reached the semi-final with a first innings win over St. Thomas’ College Matale in the quarter-final. Kanchana’s four wicket haul and the unbeaten century (134 runs in 171 balls) were vital for President’s in the quarter-final as they batted for 100 overs.
President’s were the runners up in group ‘X’ in the first round where they registered four outright victories, a single first innings win and a first innings tie. In the other two matches they conceeded first innings defeats. (RF)
Teams:
Maris Stella College Thimbirigaskatuwa (from): Yohan Fernando (Captain), Sonal Nethmina (Vice Captain), Samod Appuhamy, Ravindu Rajapaksha, Shaveen Perera, Nadeesha Rajakaruna, Maneesha Nimsara, Senesh Panchama, Suwahas Yapa, Vishwa Peiris, Malindu Dissanayaka, Chanod Sansisa, Sadaru Anjana, Navanjaya Sadew, Omith Perera.
Officials:
Rev. Bro. Anthony Francis (Master in Charge), Mevan Fernando (Coach).
President’s College Kotte (from):
Ishara Kanchana (Captain), Dineth Arosha (Vice Captain), Malindu Rathnayake, Daham Nisshanka, Kaveesha Pilippuge, Chanul Jayawardane, Punsara Hanwella, Thisath Hettiarachchi, Nevinda Mahadevage, Shehanka Abeyrathne, Sewhas Gamage, Adheesha Perera, Hirun Ranasinghe, Nadila Kankanamge, Sasindu Muhandiramge, Yohara Weerasooriyarachchi, Hirusha Hewage, Ruvishka Cooray, Shanaka Paranamanna, Sithum Hettiarachchi.
Officials:
T.G. Achintha Udayanga (Master in Charge), Menaka Jayasinghe (Head Coach), Nirosh Ranathunga (Asst. Coach), Kavindu Samarathunga (Asst. Coach).
Sri Lanka Athletics has invited India, the Philippines and the Maldives for next month’s Relay Championships conducted by Sri Lanka Schools Athletics Association in a bid to provide the men’s 4×400 metres relay quartet with a chance to reach qualifying standards for the World Relays.
Currently Sri Lanka men’s 4×400 metres relay team is within the required ranking position to compete at the prestigious World Relays taking place in Guangzhou, China. The 3:04.48 seconds finish to win the gold medal of the men’s 4×400 metres at the Asian Relays in May last year has placed Sri Lanka in the 31st position in the ‘Road to Guangzhou’ rankings.
But with many competitions coming up within the next couple of months Sri Lanka Athletics wants to leave no stone unturned in their quest to keep the ranking position within the qualifying range.
The teams in the first 32 positions according to the times produced within the qualifying period (January 1, 2024 to April 13, 2025) become eligible for the World Relays taking place on May 10 and 11 in Guangzhou.
Sri Lanka’s chances of improving the current standings (31st) at this week’s World Indoor Championship in China are minimal as Olympian Aruna Dharshana, who is the fastest of the current crop of athletes will not be available for the event.
Dharshana is currently training and competing in Australia. He is looking forward to reach qualifying standards or reach the required ranking position for World Championships in the 400 metres.
The World Athletics has set a tough standard of 44.85 seconds for the men’s 400 metres. While only 17 are selected through direct qualifying standards, 31 athletes are selected through rankings for the 400 metres. Dharshana is yet yo enter rankings to be eligible for the World Championships.
Sri Lanka Athletics will field Dharshana, Kalinga Kumarage, S.B.R. Madushan and Sadew Rajakaruna for the relay event in April.
by Reemus Fernando
Defence Services Beach Volleyball Championship 2025 was held from March 12 to 14 at the SLAF beach volleyball courts, Katunayake. During the finals SLAF Men’s team defeated SL Army (2-0) while the SL Navy Women’s team defeated SLAF Women’s team (2-0). Incidentally is the seventh Defence Services Beach Volleyball title won by the SLAF Men’s Team.
Base Commander SLAF Base Katunayake AVM Dhammika Dias graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Chairman of SLAF Volleyball, Group Captain Milinda Mendis, Senior Officers from SL Army and Navy were also present for the finals.
The Central Province Badminton Association (CPBA) is now accepting entries for one of Sri Lanka’s most anticipated badminton competitions, the Summer Season All-Island Open Championships 2025, which will be staged at the Municipal Council Indoor Stadium in Nuwara Eliya from April 21 to 27.
The highly followed seven-day annual badminton tournament, held during the Nuwara Eliya April Holiday Season, is known to attract Sri Lanka’s top ranked shuttlers. The National Ranking Level 1 competition, sanctioned by Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), is one of the key sporting attractions of Nuwara Eliya during April every year, known to generate increasing public interest.
The championship will feature a wide range of events from Under-11 to Under-19 in the Junior category and Over-30 to Over-70 in the Senior category, with an addition of three Combined Age segment of 100+. The main attraction of the competition will be the Open events comprising Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles, with an addition of a Plate Championship for the losers in Men’s and Women’s Singles.
The opening ceremony will take place on April 21st at 9:00am, followed by the preliminary rounds, leading up to the climax on April 26 with the quarter-finals and semi-finals. The excitement will continue on April 27 with the highly anticipated semi-finals and final matches, followed by the Closing Ceremony to mark the culmination of this championship.
The main draw seeding will be determined based on SLB Ranking as of April 13, followed by the draw on April 16 at 11:00am at No.2, Cambridge Terrace, Colombo 7. Entries will close on April 10 at noon. Entries can be submitted online or by contacting Sadeesha Adithya on 0761759017 and further details of the tournament are available in the prospectus published in the SLB website.
A total prize money of Rs.750,000 for all events based on the number of entries will be on offer, in addition to trophies, medals and certificates guaranteed for winners, runners-up and semi-finalists of each event of the tournament. Junior winners will receive appropriate gifts instead of prize money, according to a decision taken by the tournament organisers. The tournament is sponsored by Mobil, Li Ning, McFoil, 3M and GAC.
Accepting deposits for Local Authorities Election concludes
At least 12 dead in Honduras plane crash
Putin agrees in Trump call to pause Ukraine energy attacks but no full ceasefire
-
Foreign News5 days agoSearch continues in Dominican Republic for missing student Sudiksha Konanki
-
Features7 days agoRichard de Zoysa at 67
-
Features4 days agoThe Royal-Thomian and its Timeless Charm
-
News5 days agoDPMC unveils brand-new Bajaj three-wheeler
-
Sports2 days agoSri Lanka to compete against USA, Jamaica in relay finals
-
Features4 days ago‘Thomia’: Richard Simon’s Masterpiece
-
Features7 days agoSL Navy helping save kidneys
-
Editorial6 days agoCuriouser and curiouser!