Sports

So near yet so far for several junior athletes

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Medhani Jayamanne (centre) wins the girls’ 100 metres. (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)

by Reemus Fernando

While sprinters Isuru Kaushalya and Medhani Jayamanne further cemented their places in the team for the World Junior Championships it was a case of so near yet so far for a number of athletes who missed qualifying standards by narrow margins at the Junior Trial held at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday.

After going through many a hardships to continue training amidst the Covid 19 pandemic junior athletes produced some outstanding performances during the one-day competition yesterday.

St. Joseph’s College triple jumper Pasindu Malshan missed the qualifying standards after his best jump of 15.76 metres was measured with a wind reading of +3.7. The qualifying standards (QS) achieved with a tail wind of +2 are not considered eligible. He had two outstanding jumps measured at 15.76 metres (+3.7) and 15.47 metres. The qualifying standard is 15.60 metres.

Hurdlers Amesha Hettiarachchi from Kandy, M.D. Dharshana of Ambagamuwa Central and Kaveesha Bandara of Royal College, Colombo narrowly missed the qualifying mark. Amesh, despite failing to maintain the rhythm from the penultimate hurdle, returned a time of 62.66 seconds (QS: 60.75secs)

Dharshana hardly had any competition in the boys’ 400 metres hurdles and returned a time of 53.22 seconds which was a fraction of a second behind the qualifying standards (QS: 53.10). Royal hurdler Bandara was unlucky as he battled wind to return a time of 14.34 seconds in the 110 metres hurdles (QS: 14.15).

St. Peter’s College javelin thrower Ramesh Tharanga who is one of the promising throwers to have emerged from the junior circuit hurled the javelin to 68.33 metres (QS: 69.5m) which was just short of the target.

Long jumper Hirusha Hashen too narrowly missed the target as he cleared 7.31 metres (QS: 7.58 m).

Lumbini College missed a rare opportunity to field two 100 metres sprinters for the World Junior Championships when Chalith Piyumal had to run against the wind (-2.1). When Medhani Jayamanne who is also from Lumbini achieved the qualifying standards in the girls’ 100 metres, Piyumal clocked 10.78 seconds running against the wind (QS: 10.58).

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Winless Afghanistan look to keep slim hopes alive against upbeat UAE

Published

42 mins ago

2026/02/16

Priyan

Afghanistan are still looking for their first win in the tournament [Cricinfo]

How do you lift yourself after a soul-crushing defeat? Because Afghanistan need to do exactly that after going down to South Africa in the double Super Over in Ahmedabad. It was their second defeat in as many games, and even though they are the favourites for their remaining two group games – against UAE and Canada – their T20 World Cup campaign is hanging by the thinnest thread of hope.

Afghanistan have an 11-3 win-loss record against UAE, their opponents for Monday’s day game in Delhi. But a New Zealand win over Canada the following day is enough to knock them out.

UAE must be feeling confident after their win over Canada. It came in Delhi, where they play their remaining two group games as well. But they too rely heavily on Canada beating New Zealand. If New Zealand beat Canada, which is more likely, UAE will have to pull off a series of miracles. They will have to beat Afghanistan and then South Africa, who have been unbeaten so far. And they will have to do so by such margins that their net run rate goes above New Zealand’s. That gap, at the moment, is huge.

So, how do Afghanistan and UAE proceed? Perhaps, as players often say, by taking one game at a time.

Ibrahim Zadran is a perfect foil for the attacking Rahmanullah Gurbaz. While the role of the anchor in T20 cricket is diminishing every second, things are different at T20 World Cups. Moreover, Zadran has upped his intent of late. Two of his four 50-plus scores since October came at a strike rate of more than 150. However, he has managed only 22 runs off as many balls in two outings so far. Afghanistan expect much more from him.

Born in Bihar, graduated from Jamia Millia Islamia and now playing for UAE, Sohaib Khan showed against Canada how destructive he can be. His 29-ball 51, laden with four fours and four sixes, turned UAE’s fortunes around. But this was not the first time his hitting prowesses were on display. At the Rising Stars Asia Cup in November, he had smashed 63 off41 balls against India A in Doha. In that game, he had taken 24 runs off eight balls against Suyash Sharma. Can he repeat those heroics on Monday?

Both teams are likely to go with unchanged XIs.

Afghanistan (probable): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (capt), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

UAE (probable): Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Kumar, Harshit Kaushik, Sohaib Khan, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Farooq, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Farewell to Olympian Kosala Sahabandu

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/16

Thilina Walpola

Mevindu Kumarasiri

Sri Lanka’s athletics fraternity bids adieu today to one of its finest champions, Olympian Kosala Sahabandu, who passed away on Saturday (14) at the age of 76 after a period of illness.

‎Regarded as one of the greatest athletes to emerge from the island, Sahabandu brought honour to the nation through outstanding performances on the regional and international stage. He was a member of the Sri Lankan quartet that clinched the 4×400 metres relay gold medal with a Games record at the 1974 Asian Games, a landmark achievement in Sri Lanka’s track-and-field history.

He later represented the country in the relay at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and again competed at the 1982 Asian Games, continuing to serve as a pillar of the national team.

‎An alumnus of Mahinda College, Sahabandu began his athletics journey at the age of 15 under the guidance of Colonel Jayathilaka. He later came under the tutelage of K.L.F Wijedasa, where his talent matured into championship calibre.

‎Sahabandu etched his name into the record books by becoming the first Sri Lankan to run the 800 metres in 1:53.00 seconds. The national record he set in 1974 remained unbeaten for 14 years, underscoring his exceptional endurance and speed. A member of the Ceylonese Track and Field Club, he also represented Sri Lanka at the 1979 Asian Athletics Championships and later contributed to the sport as a national selector, helping guide future generations of athletes.

‎His funeral is scheduled to take place on Monday (16), as the athletics fraternity mourns the loss of a true sporting hero whose legacy will continue to inspire Sri Lankan athletics for years to come. (RF)

Sports

Tharanga delivers world leading throw in Perth

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/16

Thilina Walpola

Rumesh Tharanga

Sri Lanka National record holder Rumesh Tharanga delivered a world leading throw to win the men’s javelin at the Perth Track Classic on Saturday.

‎World Athletics top list for the season displayed Tharanga’s performance as the only throw beyond the 80 metres mark this year.

‎The former St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya athlete had remarkable success last year finishing the season among the top ten in the world with his 86.50 metres throw in India as his best.

‎His world leading performance in the early season will augur well ahead of a bussy season inclusive of Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

‎Meanwhile, sprinter Amasha de Silva clocked 7.47 seconds to win the first place in the 60 metres at a championship at the Athletic Center Olga Rypakova, Ust-Kamenogors Kazakhastan. (RF)