Sports

Tennis champ Yasitha says there were no shortcuts to success

Published

5 years ago

2022/01/5

By a Special Sports Correspondent

Yasitha de Silva reached another milestone in his tennis career when he bagged the Men’s Open Singles event at the ongoing Sri Lanka Tennis Nationals in Colombo.

This is his second Singles ‘crown’ in tennis. Looking back at his win the champ says that playing tennis at a competitive level is tough given that he has to balance duties at his place of employment-MAS Holdings.

Yasitha is one player who took his education as seriously as the sport he chose for himself. And he credits his parents for showing him the importance of having a sound education.

While playing tennis he completed his degree at the University of Colombo. At present, he works as a Business Analyst to the Director of Group Operations at MAS Holdings Priyantha Fernando.

Yasitha is a household name in the Sri Lankan tennis fraternity and that identity in tennis was slowly built up since he started playing the sport at his alma matter Ananda College Colombo. “There was an amazing tennis culture at school and that helped me keep working on my game and loving the sport,” said Yasitha.

After he received his first lessons in tennis from his school coach Anupa Maththemagoda he came under the tutelage of Niranjan Casie Chetty with whom he has trained for the past 13 years. Incidentally Niranjan also produced this year’s Women’s Singles Champion Anjalika Kurera.

Yasitha wasn’t a dazzling player when competing at junior events and while in school. But he raised his game after stepping into the senior arena. Since making into the national pool he has been a regular and contested every Davis Cup event as a member of the men’s national team. He has fond memories of winning his Davis Cup match against Thailand. He also won a bronze medal at the 2016 South Asian Games; these two achievements being the top highlights in overseas assignments for country’s tennis representative.

He also values high his participation in tennis while in University and talks with much fondness about the appearances he made at the world university games in 2017 and 2019. “My future dream is to be a contributing player to the national team and also help Sri Lanka get back into Group 2 in the Davis Cup,” said Yasitha during an interview with The Island newspaper.

But all that has to be done while balancing his job as a business analyst. There are much younger hungrier players climbing up the ‘hill’ where he, at present, has taken a position as the ‘king of tennis’. “It will be tough for me in the future because most of the top players are younger than me. These young players are training full-time. I started working this year, so I have to balance my job with my tennis. I have to keep my game at the best possible level,” said the current national champion.

Yasitha maintained that he still focuses on the game with the same passion as when in his youth. “My childhood dream was to become the national champion. If you put in the right work and ethics and keep believing in yourself you can reach great heights in this sport. I still feel I can improve a lot more as a player. I want to learn and grow in this sport,” he said.

He also plans to make progress in his business career and see what the future holds for him there. He has this piece of advice for youngsters, “The message I want to give aspiring young players is to start the sport with small dreams. You must dream big, but don’t look for shortcuts in life. The toughest paths get you the most amazing results”.

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Sports

Sandhu’s 6 for 7 seals Pakistan’s semi-final spot

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/8

Priyan

Nashra Sandhu and Fatima Sana celebrate a wicket [ACC]

Pakistan will play Sri Lanka in the Women’s Asia Cup semi-final on Friday after they secured a thumping win over Hong Kong in the final Group A contest. They finished second in their group with a 72-run win set up by a record-breaking spell of 6 for 7 from Nashra Sandhu and a resolute 35-ball 47 from Shawaal Zulfiqar.

Pakistan scored 143 for 8 after electing to bat first for the third time in as many matches, with Ayessha Zafar and captain Fatima Sana making valuable contributions of 26 off 19 and run-a-ball 24, respectively, before an excellent display of bowling saw Hong Kong fold for 71 in 19 overs.

Zulfiqar lives up to expectations

Zulfiqar made a thumping comeback to the T20I side last month in Sri Lanka and it made Pakistan persist with her at the top of the order despite the return of experienced Gull Feroza, who slid down to one-down. She could not build on a start against India with the wickets tumbling from the other end and the pressure mounting. But the right-hander fought through on Monday, despite the dismissals of experienced batters around her in Muneeba Ali (6 off 7) and Feroza (3 off 4).

Despite batting on a challenging surface that played slow and gripped, Zulfiqar timed the ball well as she struck six boundaries. She hit a few sparkling cover drives and stitched a sparkling partnership of 47 off 34 with Zafar before the latter fell in the 10th over. No Pakistan batter, barring Zafar and Fatima, was able to emulate the 21-year-old in an innings which saw only four batters post in the double digits.

Zulfqar was eventually outsmarted b Joyleen Kaur as she smashed a flighted ball outside off right back to the bowler to be caught and bowled in the 12th over. Pakistan seemed well in control until she was at the crease, but could add only 51 runs in 8.4 overs after her dismissal.

Joyleen brings joy to Hong Kong

Dubai has played slow throughout this women’s Asia Cup and naturally the idea was to make the most of the surface by bowling slow. While all the Hong Kong bowlers followed it, none of them executed it as perfectly as Joyleen as she hung the ball outside the hitting arc of the Pakistan batters who were desperate to post a big total.

It resulted in Zafar handing a simple catch at point while trying to slash hard at a tossed-up delivery outside off and Zulfiqar mis-hit a smash down the ground. She continued with the plan and it brought her two more wickets in her last over as Sadaf Shamas holed out to long-on and Eyman Fatima played all around a lobbed off-break to be trapped in front.

Joyleen finished with career-best figures of 4 for 19, the first time she took four wickets in a T20I.

Pakistan’s bowlers too good for Hong Kong

Hong Kong needed to overhaul the 144-run target inside 12.3 overs to beat Pakistan in the race to the semi-finals but it was always going to be an uphill task considering Pakistan’s strong bowling. They may have been subpar with the bat or in the field this tournament, but their bowling has been rated highly.

Sana defeated the defences of Mariko Hill at the end of the first over and Sadia Iqbal started the second by trapping Natasha Miles in front with an arm ball. From there it was a struggle for Hong Kong. Kary Chan struck a few boundaries as she finished with the highest score (30 off 47) in the innings.

Nashra Sandhu makes history

The left-arm spinner is known for her immaculate line and length bowling and Hong Kong never stood a chance against her. Introduced into the attack after the powerplay, as is often the case with her, Sandhu returned incredible figures of six for seven, the first time a Pakistan bowler has bagged a six-for in a women’s T20I.

Her loopy length ball, which turned away, had Yasmin Daswani in trouble. She then bowled Marina Lamplough and had Maryam Bibi caught across four balls in her next over. She took three wickets in five balls in her last over, the first two coming on consecutive balls. Each dismissal left her with a smile bigger than the last.

Scores:
Pakistan Women 143 for 8 in 20 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 47, Ayesha Zafar 26; Fatima Sana 14; Iqra Sathar 2-27, Kary Chan 2-33, Joyleen Kaur 4-19) beat Hong Kong Women 71/10 in 19 overs (Yasmin Daswai 13, Kary Chan 30, Joyleen Kaur 10; Fatima Sana 1-07, Sadia Iqbal 1-08, Um e Sabi1 1-21 Nashra Sandhu 6-07, ) by 72 runs

[Cricinfo]

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INS Udaygiri makes port call in Colombo

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/8

Priyan

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Udaygiri arrived at the Port of Colombo on an official visit today, 8 September 2026, where it was received by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with time-
honoured naval traditions.

INS Udaygiri is a 149.02m long Frigate, Commanded by Captain Vikas Sood. Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the visiting ship is scheduled to call on Commander Western Naval
Area, Rear Admiral Harsha De Silva at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.

Captain Sood served as the Defence Adviser at the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka from July 2020 to October 2023.
During their stay in the island, the crew of INS Udaygiri will participate in several goodwill events organized by the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance camaraderie between the two forces.

The visiting personnel are also scheduled to visit prominent tourist and cultural locations across the island.

Additionally, Sri Lanka Navy personnel are expected to visit the ship for capability observation and knowledge sharing, and will conduct onboard training during its stay.

Sports

Calm Harshitha takes Sri Lanka to Asia Cup semis

Published

15 hours ago

2026/09/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Vice-captain Harshitha Samarawickrama’s match winning knock helped Sri Lanka overcome Bangladesh and book their place in the Asia Cup semi-finals in Dubai.

Sri Lanka’s women continue to provide compelling evidence that they could be genuine contenders for the next World Cup, while their male counterparts have, in recent years, largely been making up the numbers at global events.

The defending Asia Cup champions, who stunned formidable India in Dambulla two years ago to lift the title, marched into this year’s semi-finals with an unbeaten record.

Sri Lanka topped their group with three wins from three games and importantly, will avoid India in the semi-finals. Their opponents in Friday’s knockout clash will be either Pakistan or Thailand.

For years, Sri Lanka have leaned heavily on their talismanic captain Chamari Athapaththu, one of the greats of the women’s game. More recently, however, others have begun putting their hands up when the skipper has fallen cheaply. That growing depth has also given Chamari greater freedom to play her natural, attacking game.

Last week, Nilakshika de Silva produced a rescue act against Indonesia. On Sunday, after the captain fell to only her second ball, it was the turn of vice-captain Harshitha Samarawickrama to take charge and steer Sri Lanka home through choppy waters.

Chasing 115 to win their final group game against Bangladesh at Dubai Sports City, Sri Lanka were quickly in trouble as seamer Marufa Akter sent both openers packing cheaply. With wickets continuing to tumble at the other end, Harshitha kept her head while others were losing theirs.

At 44 for five, with half the side back in the pavilion, Sri Lanka were staring down the barrel. Harshitha and Nilakshika then began the repair job, adding 38 for the sixth wicket to drag the innings back from the brink.

Marufa has been an outstanding find for Bangladesh and they rely heavily on her for breakthroughs. With one over remaining in her quota, she was summoned back to break the partnership and did precisely that, removing a well set Nilakshika as she attempted to improvise.

There was, however, no stopping Harshitha.

She found a reliable ally in wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana and the pair calmly took Sri Lanka across the line with an unbroken 33 run stand for the seventh wicket. Harshitha finished unbeaten on 38 off 47 balls, striking four fours and two sixes.

Sri Lanka got home with four balls to spare, maintaining their perfect record in the competition. Yet beneath the celebrations there will be a nagging concern: the batting has collapsed too often, leaving one or two players with far too much heavy lifting to do. That is something they will need to address before the stakes rise further.

Sri Lanka will play the second semi-final on Friday, with the final scheduled for Sunday.