Sports
David Pieris Group create history at MBA Novices Championship
The David Pieris Group made history by becoming champions in all five events in the open category at the 40th Mercantile Badminton Association Novices Badminton Championship 2024.Shuttlers from David Pieris Group won the men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed double titles in the open category.
Chethaka Kumarasiri triumphed in the men’s singles and partnered Chathuranga Meegahawatte to win the men’s doubles final as well. Lakhini Shashibhani secured the top spot in the women’s singles and joined Malshi Fernando to claim the women’s doubles victory.
In the Mixed Doubles event, Chathuranga Meegahawatte and Lakhini Shashibhani won the championship, making the David Pieris Group the overall winner of the tournament in the open category.
The highlight of the event was Lakhani Shashibhani receiving the ‘Triple Crown’ for winning three events in her respective categories.
This year’s novices’ tournament featured 40 participating companies with over 300 players competing for glory on behalf of their organisations. This achievement marks the first time in history that a single conglomerate has secured all five championships in the open category.
This landmark victory follows a series of successes for the David Pieris Group Badminton team. In the 39th MBA Inter-Firm Team Championship 2023, the team won the Men’s ‘D’ Division, the Mixed ‘D’ Division, were runners-up in the Women’s ‘D’ Division, and secured the second runner-up position in the Veteran ‘C’ Division. Additionally, they were champions in the Bowl Category at the 11th MBA Inter-Firm Doubles Team Championship 2023.
Furthermore, the team claimed victory in ‘The Smashes Corporate Team Championship’ organized by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in May and the ‘Corporate Team Championship’ by the University of Moratuwa in April.
The David Pieris Group has consistently supported the development of sports among schools and the mercantile sector. The Group also encourages its employees to participate in sports and lead healthier, active lives. Presently, David Pieris Group teams actively participate in various sports tournaments related to mercantile cricket, athletics, volleyball, hockey, basketball, netball, swimming, and badminton.
Playing just his second Test and the first in his team’s starting XI, Pasindu Sooriyabandara made Sri Lanka dream of the rarest of possibilities, but reality imposed itself on the SSC late on day four as India regained their grip on a Test match that had seemed to spiral out of control after the threat of bad weather led them to enforce the follow-on.
After Sooriyabandara put on 58 with Kamil Mishara for the second wicket and 115 with Kamindu Mendis for the third, Sri Lanka were at one stage 209 for 3, or just four runs behind with seven second-innings wickets in hand, on a day-four pitch that was still looking excellent for batting. India’s bowlers were into their 149th over across two consecutive innings, and looking short of both penetration and inspiration against a top order that had never allowed them to settle into their lengths.
Just then, however, Manav Suthar, who had borne the brunt of Sri Lanka’s positive intent, dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva and then Sooriyabandara in the space of two overs, the latter out eight short of a maiden Test hundred. Soon after, Saransh Jain trapped Niroshan Dickwella lbw, and Sri Lanka were effectively 5 for 6. By the time rain arrived to bring an early end to the day, Sri Lanka’s seventh-wicket pair had only added a further 11 runs to their tally.
If Sri Lanka still retain any hope going into the final day of this series, it will rest on the shoulders of Sonal Dinusha, batting on 7 in his final innings of a remarkable series. Earlier in the day, he had converted his overnight 85 into his second century of the series, with his only other completed innings bringing him 84.
Scores:
Sri Lanka 290 in 89.4 overs (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80, Sonal Dinusha 103; Prasidh Krishna 3-52, Manav Suthar 3-85) and 229 for 6 in 72.4 overs (f/o) (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92, Kamindu Mendis 55, Sonal Dinusha 7*; Manav Suthar 2-81) lead India 503 for 9 dec by 16 runs
[Cricinfo]
- Confirmation of the minutes of the 94th Annual General Meeting of BCCI held on September 28, 2025, at BCCI Headquarters, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Election and induction of 2 (two) representatives of the General Body in the Governing Council of the IPL.
- Induction of 1 (one) representative of the Indian Cricketer’s Association in the Governing Council of the IPL.
- Adoption of the Report of the Secretary for the year 2025-26 under review.
- Copies of the audited Statement of Accounts of BCCI for the year FY 2025-2026 including schedule for any tour or tours.
- Adoption of the Treasurer’s Report and the audited accounts for the year FY 2025-2026.
- Adoption of the Annual Budget for FY 2026-27.
- Appointment of the Auditor or Auditors for FY 2026-27 and fix their remuneration.
- Appointment of the Ombudsman and Ethics Officer.
- Appointment of the Standing Committees, Cricket Committees and Umpire Committee as mentioned in Rules 25, 26 and 27 respectively.
- Consideration of:(a) The Report and recommendations of the Apex Council, the CEO and the Committees and to propose policy directions to the Apex Council.(b) The Report and recommendations of the Governing Council and to propose policy directions to the Governing Council.(c) The reports of the Ombudsman and Ethics Officer and any recommendations made therein.
- Report of the Internal Committee of BCCI formed under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy.
- Grant of Associate Membership to Cricket Association Andaman & Nicobar Island for the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- Consideration of any motion, notice whereof is given by a Full Member to the Secretary, 21 (twenty-one) days before the meeting.
- To appoint the BCCI’s Representative or Representatives on the International Cricket Council and/or any similar organization.
- Ratification of rules framed by the Apex Council, in terms of Rule 15 of BCCI’s Rules and Regulations.
- Consideration of any business, which the President may consider necessary to be included in the agenda.
- Transaction of any other business of an informal character as may be permitted by the Chairperson.
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