Sports
Biology teacher Rukshika wins tennis double
by A Special Sports Correspondent
Rukshika Wijesooriya (23) ended years of frustration by winning the coveted Singles Crown at the recently concluded 107th National Tennis Championships, held at the SLTA courts in Colombo.
The Rukshika we know had the potential to win titles, but her journey in most tournaments, till this big win, ended somewhere in the quarterfinal or semi-final stages of most tournaments; except in 2019 when she went on to win the singles title at the SSC Open. However she worked on her game and a two year stint in the US –for studies between 2020 and 2022- brought the change in her game which she was aiming at. In the US she also completed her Degree in Biology and was always a straight ‘A’ student.
She was born in Oman and resided there till she was 12 years old. By that time she had put in four years at tennis. Afterwards it was a matter of visiting Sri Lanka continuously and playing in tournaments here. “I must say that the SLTA has been very supportive of my tennis and accommodated me for trials aimed at finding the players to represent Sri Lanka and compete at overseas tournaments,” said Rukshika.
She was knocking on the door for national selections and showing potential to win since 2015. But she needed that big win and the guidance to reach that next level of playing. “I improved my tennis while pursuing my education in the US. Before that I almost gave up the sport in frustration. But what’s good in America is that you get the right people for the right job both in sport and education. I started believing in myself and now my head is in the right place. What I also liked in the US was that you play for the team and not for yourself,” she said during an interview done at an academy named ‘Tennis by Guy’ at Nawala where she comes under the guidance of her present coach Guyanga Weerasekara.
Rukshika’s life story is an interesting one given that she is a teacher at Alethea International School Dehiwala when not playing tennis. She has completed her degree in Biology and expects to do a masters and a PHD later in her pet subject. She enjoys the time spent on teaching and has decided for the time being to spend time with her parents and remain in Sri Lanka. This is a time when most academics are leaving the country for better prospects, but Rukshika thinks differently. “Deciding to stay here and find employment given the situation in the country was a difficult decision, but it’s one that I took due to personal reasons. I take it day by day and I am happy that I am able to inspire and guide the next generation to be successful in my roles as an educator and sportswoman,” she said.
Rukshika’s life story is an interesting
one given that she is a teacher at
Alethea International School Dehiwala
when not playing tennis.
(Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)
She beat Anjalika Kurera in a hotly contested singles final and latter teamed up with her close friend to win the women’s doubles event. She and Anjalika have been roommates during many of the foreign tours and they have had much to share in life in the form of chit chats when on tours. But according to Rukshika much of that talk is far removed from tennis. This is largely because Rukshika has a happening life outside tennis. Most individuals in her close circle of friends have no relationship with tennis. She slips into her running shoes and goes for a run or engages in cooking or baking at home when thoughts are overwhelming and takes a toll on her. She agrees that she is a very emotional person.
Her school where she teaches gave her a celebration for winning the nationals and Rukshika said that she was moved by all what they had organised for her. Asked whether she didn’t use social media to put posts of her achievements and gain some mileage she responded in the negative. “I am a very private person and keep my achievements to myself. I don’t mind someone maintaining a page for me on social media and highlighting my sporting achievements, but I wouldn’t do it. Tennis in Sri Lanka comprises a small community and everyone knows how the players are performing and who has won what. The little disadvantage in this small community is that you might end up playing the same person over and over again,” she said.
According to Rukshika tennis is an expensive sport. Playing at her level demands she spends about Rs 150,000 per month which goes basically for food, travelling and the other needs to play at that competitive level. “It’s good to have got some grips or some tennis equipment as gifts for winning the nationals. I like to be encouraged to go further in the sport,” she said.
She is aware that in Sri Lanka players, especially ladies, tend to see a drop in their game after they reach age 18; not because of ageing, but largely because they start focusing on other aspects in life. As for Rukshika she said that she still has the passion for the game and will continue playing tennis.
Interestingly she is a vegetarian and this makes her being choosy about what he eats. She said that she eats healthily and added, “My decision to go off meats was because I love animals. I have four dogs and three cats at home”.
She took this opportunity to thank her parents Mahesha (Mother) and Ruknil (father) for the support extended to her to pursue tennis and also for not pushing her too hard in this competitive world where children have to run the rat race and live up to the expectations of those around them. “My advice to parents who have children is for them to know that it’s important to be supportive and push them to a certain extent, but not to the extent that they lose joy in the sport or education they are pursuing”.
91st Battle of the Saints
St. Joseph’s hold the edge when they meet arch rivals St. Peter’s in the 91st Battle of the Saints’ big match starting today. After having beaten Petes by nine wickets in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ quarter-final at Polonnaruwa the Joes arive at the SSC ground to prove that the victory registered two months ago was not a fluke.
St. Joseph’s captained by wicketkeeper batsman Kenath Liyanage are concluding a successful season after having remained unbeaten until they were eliminated in the semi-final by St. Sebastian’s .
A strong batting lineup and a dynamic spin department are making them a formidable outfit.
Experienced campaigner Yenula Dewthusa and Demion de Silva with their left-arm spin and Aveesha Samash and Nushan Perera with off spin provide the Joes variety in the spin department. Dewthusa, Demion de Silva and Nushan Perera are their leading wicket takers. Spinners doing well at schools matches have not been effective at the SSC during the last few big matches. It will be interesting to watch as to how the spinners in these two teams would fare during the three days.
For pace the Joes will look to Maanasa Madubashana and Dunick Perera who are expected to share the new ball.
Abishek Jayaweera and Aveesha Samash will open batting, while Senuja Wakunugoda, skipper Liyanage, Dewthusa and Rishma Amarasinghe form the rest of the top order batting lineup.
St. Joseph’s registered three outright victories this season (beat St. Servatius’, St. Benedict’s and St. Peter’s) and remained unbeaten.
St. Peter’s under Oween Salgado’s captaincy did well to reach the business end of the Tier ‘A’ tournament. But the Petes were uncertain of Salgado’s participation in the big match as they were yet to assess his fitness yesterday morning. He was wounded during a match and the stitched wound had not fully healed according to team sources.
Petes beat Gurukula, St. Aloysius’ and Holy Cross this season. Their only defeat was at the hands of their arch rivals. They will look forward to avenge the defeat at the big match.
The Petes will rely on the likes of Dilana Damsara, Thareen Sanketh, Nathan David and Jason Fernando to take a greater share of batting responsibilities. The middle order batsman Sanketh is their leading batsman and has maintained an average of over 50 runs.
Speedsters Ethan Ransilige and Joshua Sebastian will share new ball duties for the Petes.
Lashmika Perera and Sanketh will share most of the slow ball duties.
St Peter’s are in the possession of the coveted Rev. Fr. Maurice J. Le Goc Trophy having last won the big match under the captaincy of Vinu Mohotty in 2016.
St. Joseph’s lead the series tally 12-10. They last won under Ruwantha Fernandopulle’s captaincy in 2008.
St. Peter’s College Team
(Seated from left) Harsha Prabath Perera (Asst. Physio/Trainer & Massuer), Thushara Maduhanka (1st XI Asst. Coach),
Nalin Wijesinghe (Head Coach), Priyadarshana Cooray (MIC – Senior & Junior), Oween Salgado (Captain), Rev. Fr.
Rohitha Rodrigo (Rector), Rev. Fr. Praveen Wijesekara (Priest in Charge – Cricket), Lashmika Perera
(Vice Captain), Dilana Damsara, Rohan Fernando (MIC – 2nd XI), Dinuka D. Godakanda (2nd XI Coach).
(Standing 1st row from left) Dinsara Rathnaweera, Dineth de Silva, Tharin Senvidu, Nathan David, Hiruka Silva, Thareen
Sanketh, Virul Amarapala, Yatheendra Jayaweera, Salith Gallage, Raphael Hettige. (Standing 2nd row from left) Jason Fernando,
Joshua Sebastian, Savi Fernnado, Ethan Ransilige, Asadisa De Silva, Sadeesha Kariyawasam, Enosh Peterson
by Reemus Fernando
120th Lovers’ Quarrel
The stakeholders of the Lovers’ Quarrel Big Match were still pursuing to make the historic 120th edition a reality on the eve of the match after Richmond authorities threatened to pull out citing that Mahinda had violated an accepted norm by included a newly recruited player in the big match team.
The historic edition was scheduled to commence as a three day encounter at the Galle International Stadium today. But the match remained doubtful at the time this edition went to press. The officials of both teams were unavailable for comments on the eve of the match. According to sources close to the two teams the joint big match committee was scheduled to meet in the evening yesterday to take a final decision regarding the match.
Richmond threatened to pull out after Mahinda included Charya Paranavithana in their big match team. Paranavithana captained St. Aloysius’ this season. He is not eligible to play matches that come under the purview of Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association as he is yet to be registered as a Mahinda player. Big Matches are not played according to SLSCA rules but Richmond authorities had raised concerns over the player registration citing that the two schools had honoured the norm even at the big match.
According to sources Richmond were threatening to pull out if Paranavithana’s name was included in the playing XI on the match day morning.
Mahinda concluded a highly successful season as the team captained by Kaveen Rukshan earned the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ promotion this year. They were also the joint champions of the Tier ‘B’ tournament with Thurstan. In contrast former Division I champions Richmond had to fight relegation scares. The team captained by Thamindu Pradeeptha later successfully retained their Tier A position by recording an outright victory.
Mahinda College Team
Seated left to right: T.D. Ajantha Kumara (Head Coach), Y. Nishantha Kumara (Master in Charge – Senior), L. P. Weeraman (Deputy Principal –
Sports), Kaveen Rukshan (Captain), Mr. Janaka Peduruheva (Principal), Arosha Udayanga (Vice Captain), Mr. M.W. Ajith (Prefect of Games), Mr.
Jagath Samarakoon (Master in charge – Junior), Mr. Sachith Lakmal (Asst. Coach)
Standing (Middle row) – left to right – Dineth Pahasara, Thiyon Helika, Vinupa Nethmira, Sahanjith Irugalbandara, Dulisth Darshana, Senuka
Dangamuwa, Sadew Nethmina, Manitha Rajapaksha, Vishmitha Sathsara, Charya Paranavithana, Randula Mabarana
Standing (Back row) – left to right – Sajeew Punsara, Sehas Ashinsa, Kaveesha Githmal, Thevindu Rashmika
by Reemus Fernando
CR & FC huffed and puffed before beating Havelocks Sports Club 25-24 in a keenly contested Clifford Cup semi final game worked off in Colombo yesterday before booking their berth in Sunday’s rugby final, scheduled to take place in Kandy.
In Sunday’s final, CR will meet Kandy SC, the winner of the first semi final.
CR dominated the first half, but Havies came from behind in the second half to be in contention of pulling the game off till the last minute. Havelocks’ chances were boosted with two powerful tries coming from Chathura Dilshan late in the second half. But unpardonable mistakes by the men in the pink and chocolate jerseys helped CR to slip away with the game. Havelocks gave away two yellow cards during extra time in the second half.
The winners collected their points through three tries, two conversions and two penalties while Havelocks responded with three converted tries and a penalty. The winners led 15-10 at half time. Referee Raveen Alexander controlled the game.
By A Special Sports Correspondent
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