Sports
Can exhausted junior players hold their fitness at open badminton nationals?
By A Special Sports Correspondent
The 71st badminton national championship will take place from December 4-10 in three venues in Colombo with the organizers of the event receiving a record number of entries for this year’s event.
As many as 1139 players have entered the tournament and according to officials of Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) all ranking players in the country are expected to contest the event. The tournament will be worked off at three venues; SLB Headquarters, Mercantile Badminton Association Stadium and D.S Senanayake College sports complex.
The only little hitch would be that most of the junior players having showed interest in the tournament have already played in three other tournaments and the question arises whether they can hold their fitness; playing in back to back tournaments. SLB officials attending a press conference, held in Colombo on November 28 in connection with the badminton nationals, said that the tournament calendar of the governing body for badminton was released very early in the year and other associations conducting tournaments knew about the dates of the nationals and should have made the adjustments accordingly to avoid a clash of events. SLB President Rohan De Silva said that the Sri Lanka Schools Badminton Association is working closely with the SLB, but the former is struggling to finish off the remaining events in their tournament calendar.
SLB President Rohan De Silva (Centre) stresses a point to media representatives who attended a press conference regarding the upcoming 71st Badminton Nationals and held at the 80 Club in Colombo. Also in the picture from left are Jaliya Jayasekera (Secretary Tournament Committee), Dinesh Jayawardana (Chairman Tournament Committee), Roshan Fernando (Chairman Technical
Committee) and Ajith Wijesinghe (SLB Secretary) (Pic by Kamal Wanniarachchi)
Just prior to the badminton open nationals were at least two much looked forward to inter- school badminton events that drew entries from hordes of schoolboys and girls. According to the Secretary of the Tournament Committee Jaliya Jayasekera the junior players entering the open badminton nationals will feature in as many as 20 events.
According to a press release issued by SLB ‘the badminton nationals will encompass a diverse range of events spanning from under 11 to 19 in the junior category and over 30 to 70 in the senior category. Notably the spotlight will be on the open events category showcasing men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles as the focal point of this grand annual event’. The organizers of the nationals have also obtained the services of 70 technical officials for the badminton nationals.
The prize money on offer at the badminton nationals is Rs 2 million. SLB President De Silva elaborating on the need to play the nationals at venues scattered around Colombo said that Sri Lanka Badminton had requested past sports ministers to help the governing body to establish one large sports complex for badminton, but the requests were not met.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has removed Nazmul Islam as chairman of the board’s finance committee, following the CWAB’s player boycott of cricket in country until he resigns from his position.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to inform that, following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the BCB President has decided to release Mr. Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as Chairman of the Finance Committee with immediate effect,” the BCB said in a statement.
“The decision has been taken in accordance with the authority vested in the BCB President under Article 31 of the BCB Constitution and is aimed at ensuring the continued smooth and effective functioning of the Board’s affairs. Until further notice, the BCB President will assume the role of Acting Chairman of the Finance Committee.
“The BCB reiterates that the interests of the cricketers remain its highest priority. The Board remains fully committed to upholding the honour and dignity of all players under its jurisdiction.
“In this regard, the BCB hopes that all cricketers will continue to display the highest standards of professionalism and dedication to the betterment of Bangladesh cricket during what is a challenging period for the game, and will do their utmost to ensure continued participation in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).”
Both BPL matches on Thursday – the first between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express, and the second between Rajshahi Warriors and Sylhet Titans – have been postponed due to the player boycott.
Even though there seemed to be movement on the issues – the BCB agreed to the player body CWAB’s demands and removed Nazmul Islam from his position as head of the board’s finance committee – but it came too late in the day for the matches to go ahead as scheduled. There was no confirmation yet whether the boycott would be called off or not, and whether the BPL matches on Friday would also be impacted.
[Cricinfo]
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has issued a show cause notice to its director M Nazmul Islam over his “objectionable comments” in public against the country’s cricketers on Wednesday.
The notice came a couple of hours before the scheduled start of the BPL matches for the day, though the players’ body CWAB has called for a nationwide boycott on all forms of cricket unless Islam tenders his resignation.
The four first-division matches in the Dhaka Cricket League scheduled for the day didn’t start on Thursday morning, which caused serious concern in the BCB. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express players, who were supposed to play the first BPL match on Thursday, are sticking to the boycott.
“The board has already initiated formal disciplinary proceedings against the board member concerned,” the BCB statement read. “A show cause letter has been issued, and the individual has been instructed to submit a written response within 48 hours. The matter will be dealt with through due process and appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome of the proceedings.”
ESPNcricinfo understands that some board directors contacted the CWAB president Mohammad Mithun late on Wednesday night, offering that they would make Nazmul stand down from his role as the finance committee chairman. But Mithun said the cricketers’ call for the boycott remained in place.
The toss of the first BPL match on Thursday is at 12.30 pm local time. Once the start time for the match has passed, the CWAB leaders are supposed to hold a press conference, where they will present the BCB with their demands, including the resignation of the director.
[Cricinfo]
Sadio Mane fired Senegal into the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory over seven-time winners Egypt.
The two-time African Footballer of the Year broke the deadlock in the 78th minute on Wednesday when he let fly from just outside the penalty area inside the bottom left corner after Lamine Camara’s initial effort was blocked.
It sparked joy and relief among the Teranga Lions’ fans in Tangier, where the 2021 champions – after beating Egypt in the final – had taken the initiative but struggled to create clear chances against the Pharaohs’ stubborn defence.
Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly will miss the title match – against either host Morocco or Nigeria, who were to play in Rabat later on Wednesday – after picking up a yellow card that meant a suspension and then going off injured in the 23rd minute.
Koulibaly was booked in the 17th for a tactical foul on Omar Marmoush. The captain was also sent off in the group-stage win over Benin and consequently missed the win over Sudan. His tournament was effectively ended when he had to be replaced by Mamadou Sarr because of injury.
Nicolas Jackson had fired over just before Senegal displayed more attacking intent. Habib Diarra and Pape Gueye also had efforts saved.
Tensions boiled over when Mohamed Salah fouled his former Liverpool teammate Mane, but Senegal coach Pape Thiaw and Egypt counterpart Hossam Hassan managed to cool tempers.
Senegal’s Habib Diarra was booked for arguing, however, meaning he will miss the final, too.
[Aljazeera]
BCB removes Nazmul Islam as head of finance committee
Another crane collapses in Thailand, killing two, after 32 die previous day
India shuts Kashmir medical college – after Muslims earned most admissions
Singapore’s opposition leader stripped of title after conviction for lying
BCB issues show cause notice to Nazmul Islam but Bangladesh players firm on boycott
From behind bars, Aung San Suu Kyi casts a long shadow over Myanmar
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Business5 days agoDialog and UnionPay International Join Forces to Elevate Sri Lanka’s Digital Payment Landscape
-
News5 days agoSajith: Ashoka Chakra replaces Dharmachakra in Buddhism textbook
-
Business15 hours agoKoaloo.Fi and Stredge forge strategic partnership to offer businesses sustainable supply chain solutions
-
Features5 days agoThe Paradox of Trump Power: Contested Authoritarian at Home, Uncontested Bully Abroad
-
Features5 days agoSubject:Whatever happened to (my) three million dollars?
-
News4 days agoLevel I landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended
-
Business2 days agoNew policy framework for stock market deposits seen as a boon for companies
-
Opinion7 days agoThe minstrel monk and Rafiki, the old mandrill in The Lion King – II