Sports
SL weightlifters vie for Commonwealth Games tickets in Singapore
by Reemus Fernando
Several leading weightlifters including international medallists Sudesh Peiris, Indika Dissanayake and Hansani Gomez will have to compete against their own countrymen to punch their tickets for the upcoming Birmingham Commonwealth Games when they take part in the Singapore Weightlifting International 2022 at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall in Singapore.
A team of ten weightlifters and four coaches left the country in two batches during the last couple of days to take part in the vital event starting in Singapore today.
The weightlifting authorities forwarded names of ten male and nine female weightlifters for the Sports Ministry approval for this championship but had to settle for a pruned down team after authorities agreed to fund only a part of the team. Commonwealth Games medallist Sudesh Peiris was not in the approved list but has joined the team using his own funds to compete for a place in the team for the Birmingham Games.
With only the top athlete in each weight class from each country qualifying for the major multi sports event starting in July, Peiris and Indika Dissanayake will fight for a better ranking in the 73kg weight class. Dissanayake almost secured his place when he won a medal at the last Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Uzbekistan in December but will vie again at this championship as there is a challenge from Peiris.
Chathuranga Lakmal and Manoj Wijesinghe will compete in the 67kgs weight class, while Saman Abeywickrama and Shanaka Peters fight for a place in the 109kgs class.
Commonwealth Games medallist Hansani Gomez and Commonwealth Championship medallist Srimali Samarakoon will vie for honours in the women’s 49kgs class.
Young aspirant Dilanka Isuru Kumara (55kgs) and Ushan Charuka (Over 109kg) are the others competing for places.
“This is likely to be the final opportunity for Sri Lanka weightlifters to qualify for the Commonwealth Games. With only eight weight classes being competed at the games and only one athlete being selected some of our top weightlifters were provided with this opportunity,” an official from the Weightlifting Federation told The Island.
Of the athletes who competed at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in December, medallist Chinthana Vidanage and Thilanka Palangasinghe are almost assured of their tickets to the games in Birmingham and are not taking part in the championship starting in Singapore today.
Competition Categories:
Men:
55Kg, 61Kg, 67Kg, 73Kg, 81Kg, 96Kg, 109Kg, +109Kg.
Women:
49kg, 55Kg, 59Kg, 64Kg, 71Kg, 76kg, 87Kg, +87Kg.
Weightlifters:
Isuru Kumara , Chathuranga Lakmal, Manoj. Wijesinghe, Sudesh Peiris, Indika Dissanayake, Saman Abeywickrama, Shanaka Peters, Ushan Charuka, Srimali Samarakoon, Hansani Gomes.
Coaches:
R.B. Wickramasinghe, Ruckshan Gunathilaka, Nalaka Nishantha Athukorala, M.N.R. Bandara.
Gaby Lewis has been rested for Ireland’s upcoming T20I tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies at home in Clontarf as she recovers from a recent leg injury but has been named captain – for the first time at a global event – for the T20 World Cup in June-July in England.
Orla Prendergast, the vice-captain for the World Cup, will lead the side in the tri-series in Lewis’ absence. No vice-captain has been named for the tri-series.
In terms of ins and outs, Jane Maguire, the right-arm medium pacer, has been ruled out of contention with an injury, but her sister Aimee Maguire, the left-arm orthodox spinner, has returned from her own injury and has been included in both squads. Apart from the missing Lewis, there are no changes from the squad for the tri-series, which is a 14-member line-up, for the World Cup.
At the T20 World Cup, Ireland have been grouped with tournament hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka and past winners West Indies.
Ireland are ranked ninth in the format, ahead of only Scotland (11th) among the teams in their group, and will start their World Cup campaign on the second day of competition, against Scotland in Manchester.
Ireland were most recently in action at the T20 World Cup qualifiers played in Nepal in January-February this year, and finished second to Bangladesh.
Lewis’ fitness will be key for Ireland at the World Cup, with her being their top-ranked batter, currently at joint-14th on the ICC T20I rankings. She was also the top run getter at the qualifiers with 276 runs in seven innings, scoring her runs at a strike rate of 119.48.
Prendergast is the next best at No. 26, followed by Amy Hunter at No. 29. Prendergast is also the seventh-ranked allrounder in women’s T20Is.
Ireland squad for women’s T20 World Cup
Gaby Lewis (capt), Orla Prendergast (vice-capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
Ireland squad for tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies
Orla Prendergast (capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
[Cricinfo]
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued a statement approving the members nominated for the new Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The appointments have been made by the Sports Minister in accordance with the powers vested under Section 39 (1) of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2437/24 dated May 21, 2025.
The members of the new selection committee are:
Kapila Wijegunawardena – Chairman
Amal Silva – Member
Brendon Kuruppu – Member
Waruna Waragoda – Member
Vanessa De Silva – Member
PM meets academic experts from the British Council
Gaby Lewis to lead Ireland at T20 World Cup
PM meets Sri Lankan community living in London
Kapila Wijegunawardena to head SLC’s new selection committee
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