Sports

School athletes bridge gap between juniors and seniors

Published

2 years ago

2024/10/27

by Reemus Fernando

When Savindu Avishka stopped the clock at 1:49. 83 seconds to win the boys’ 800 metres at the South Asian Junior Championship in Chennai, the 16-year-old not only produced the fastest time by a junior (U20) athlete in the discipline but also the fastest time by any Sri Lankan athlete this year. He is not the only junior or youth(U18) athlete to clock season’s best performances overtaking seniors.

From the South Asian Junior Athletics Championship medallist to title winners of the just concluded All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship, a good number of junior athletes have surpassed senior national athletes to produce the country’s best performances of the year in their respective disciplines.

Some of the athletes who excelled at the just concluded All Island Schools Games Athletics Championships had turned tables on experienced athletes at senior national level before they concluded their schools careers. The best performances of some junior athletes are also the season’s best performances at senior national level.

Nannapurawa MV Bibila long jumper Madushani Herath who is in her final year in the schools circuit has gone on to become the national champion in both the long jump and the triple jump turning tables on senior athletes.

Emerging athlete Dilni Rajapaksha who is just 14 years old is the top performer of the season in the women’s long jump after having cleared 6.26 metres at the Western Province Schools Athletics Championship.

Ambagamuwa Central athlete Ayomal Akalanka, who emerged as the best athlete in the boys category at the All Island Schools Games is also the top performer at national level in the men’s 400 metres hurdles.

There are also dozens of other junior athletes who have reached the national top ten in their respective disciplines this year.

In the men’s 400 metres, the most promising discipline with regard to top performances, there are at least two schools athletes in the national top ten list with Shashintha Silva and Jathya Kirulu producing outstanding feats this year. In the women’s category too, there are couple of schools athletes in the top ten list in several disciplines, namely, the 200m (Jithma Wijetunga and Shanella Senviratne), 400m (Wijetunga and Takshima Nuhansa), 800m (Tharushi Abisheka and MGTA Premasiri) and high jump (Nethra Samadi and Sandani Kularatne).

As results bear witness the track and field sport is fast becoming a sport of juniors. When Tharushi Karunaratne won medals at the Asian level, she was still a school athlete. While close competition and event specific training have contributed to top performances at junior level, lack of participation at senior level and prospective juniors giving up the sport after leaving schools have left a little number of athletes to fight for podium positions at senior national level.

The number of athletes annually recruited by the tri forces has dropped drastically during the last five years. And several top athletes including an Asian Championship medallist have retired prematurely due to various reasons.

The strong track and field culture at school level has resulted in a steady supply of talent to national level. But a vast majority do not persevere a career in track and field due to meagre returns. It is incumbent upon authorities to look after prospective juniors if they are to become medal winners at international level one day.

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Sports

Richmond edge Maris Stella to move closer to quarter-finals

Published

1 min ago

2026/10/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

Spinner Tenusha Nimsara has taken nine wickets in three matches.

by Reemus Fernando

Richmond College are all but through to the quarter-finals of the Under-19 Division I Tier A Limited Overs Tournament after a nine-run win over Maris Stella College, Negombo, under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method at the Army Grounds in Karandeniya on Monday.

‎It was Richmond’s third straight victory, and it puts them at the top of Group ‘B’ with one match remaining.

‎Batting first, Richmond posted 171 for nine in their allotted 50 overs, with Bevin Jayawardana top-scoring with a patient 55 off 88 balls. Punal Hansajith contributed 24 off 39 deliveries, while Risinu Rupasinghe made 22 and Ravinu Randinu added 18.

‎Maris Stella’s Malan Kadigamuwa led the bowling effort with three wickets for 37 runs in nine overs, while Rosel Perera claimed two wickets for 31 runs in his 10-over spell.

‎In reply, Maris Stella reached 127 for six in 42 overs against a revised DLS target of 136. Richmond therefore secured victory by nine runs under the method.

‎Punal Hansajith and Tenusha Nimsara claimed two wickets each to keep the Maris Stella batting line-up in check. Hansajith conceded just 20 runs in nine overs, while Nimsara gave away 14 runs in seven overs, with both bowlers maintaining tight control.

‎For Maris Stella Kavith de Silva scored 29 off 46 balls, while Gaveesha Induwara remained unbeaten on 24 off 38 deliveries. Manuja Nayanajith added 23 off 55 balls, and Yumeth Sathmira contributed 16.

‎In their previous encounters bowlers domnated for Richmond to beat Sri Sumangala College Panadura and St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa comfortably.

‎Sri Sumangala were dismissed for 106 runs with Hiruk Akalanka, Tenusha Nimsara and Punal Hansajith claiming two wickets apiece. Akalanka returned figures of 2 for 21 in six overs, while Nimsara took 2 for 21 in five overs, including one maiden. Hansajith also claimed two wickets, conceding 24 runs in 5.3 overs. Hiruka Akalanka then lead the chase with a knock of 45run (in 46 balls with5fours and 2 sixes) to seal a six wickets win.

‎The match against St. Sebastian’s saw Tenusha Nimsara hog the limelight, taking a five-wicket haul to restrict the Moratuwa outfit to 115 runs.

‎Richmond had a few anxious moments in reply but got home with two wickets in hand.

‎In Group ‘A’ the contest is still open with S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia slightly ahead of others after Jaden Amaraweera scored a cracking 76 off 75 balls (7x4s, 4x6s) to lead them to six wickets win over Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa (153/8 in 50 overs) on Monday. S. Thomas’ (200/9 in 50 overs) had a DLS tie against Trinity (126?4 in 36) and their other match ended in a no decision.

‎While Mahinda were leading Group ‘C’ by Monday, Nalanda completed their quota of first round matches unbeaten in Group ‘D’.

Sports

CIC Holdings partners Rumesh Tharanga on his journey towards Olympic glory

Published

2 mins ago

2026/10/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

From left: Gayan Lakshan Perera, General Manager - Marketing and Corporate Communication; Ashan Ransilige, Chief Executive Officer, Link Natural Products; Waruna Madawanarachchi, Managing Director, CIC Agri Cluster; Ajith Weerasinghe, Chief Executive Officer, CIC Feeds Group; Aroshan Seresinhe, Group Chief Executive Officer, CIC Holdings PLC; Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage; Physiotherapist Chandima Sarathchandra Gurusinghe and Thushara Premakeerthi Pathirage.

Diversified conglomerate CIC Holdings PLC (CSE: CIC) has partnered with Sri Lankan national athlete Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage as his Official Nutritional & Wellness Partner, supporting his journey towards the 2028 Olympic Games and his ambition to bring home Sri Lanka’s first ever Olympic gold medal.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment that extends beyond conventional sports sponsorship, with CIC standing alongside Rumesh through the years of preparation.

Rumesh Tharanga has established himself among the world’s leading javelin throwers following a landmark 2026 season. He set a Sri Lankan national record of 92.62 metres in Rome, claimed the Commonwealth Games title and became Sri Lanka’s first Diamond League champion. He strengthened his position as the world’s No. 1 ranked men’s javelin thrower by winning gold at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest with a 91.09 metre final round throw. Most recently, he won Sri Lanka’s only gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 by winning the men’s javelin throw

For more than six decades, CIC has been part of the lives of Sri Lankans through its presence across agriculture, healthcare and wellness, personal care and other sectors. The partnership extends this longstanding role of nurturing Sri Lankan lives to supporting the journey of an athlete pursuing an ambition with significance for the entire nation.

Sports

Seven-year-old Avish Silva makes history as first Sri Lankan to reach IAME Bambino Cup podium

Published

3 mins ago

2026/10/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

Avish Silva

Seven-year-old karting talent Avish Silva has made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan driver to secure a podium finish in the IAME Bambino Cup achieving an outstanding second place at Round 4 of the championship in the United Arab Emirates.

The remarkable achievement, confirmed by the championship organisers, marks a significant milestone for Sri Lankan motorsport and highlights the potential of the country’s young racing talent on the international stage.

Competing against 13 young drivers from different countries, predominantly European competitors, Avish the son of Sri Lankan racing ace Ashan Silva demonstrated exceptional speed, consistency and determination throughout the event.

His performance in the time trials was particularly impressive. He secured third place in Time Trial 1 and Time Trial 2, before delivering a winning performance in Time Trial 3,. He carried this momentum into the competition to secure second place on the final podium.

The IAME Bambino Cup is an international karting championship for children aged between five and eight years. It provides a competitive platform for young drivers to develop their skills and compete against talented racers from around the world.

At just seven years old, Avish’s achievement is especially significant, as he has reached a milestone that no Sri Lankan driver had previously achieved in the championship anywhere in the world.

His second-place finish represents more than a personal success. It is a proud moment for Sri Lankan motorsport and an inspiration to young racers across the country who aspire to compete internationally.

Avish’s achievement demonstrates that Sri Lankan talent can make its mark against international competition from an early age, opening new possibilities for the future of karting in Sri Lanka.