Sports

Chappelli – a glorious life

Published

6 years ago

2020/11/22

by Rex Clementine

Age is not a matter if you intend to make an impact in other peoples’ life. Pope Francis is 83. Joe Biden is 78 and Ian Chappell is 77. What has the former Australian Test captain done now, you may wonder? Well, he is working with the United Nations who are helping Afghan refugees by appealing to the Australian government to be more considerate to rebuild their lives.

“As a former Australian captain there are times you have a louder voice. If I am cranky about an issue, I feel that it is time for me to speak for people who don’t have a voice,” says Chappell, who himself is battling some challenges in life having been diagnosed with skin cancer.

His efforts in helping out Afghan refugees are revealed in a documentary that Channel Nine has done on him titled – Chappell; a glorious life. The documentary can be viewed on YouTube and it is a must watch for cricket fans as Chappell’s contemporaries and leading Australian players of other generations admire him.

Many have witnessed Chappell’s kind deeds over the years. Once when he was in Sri Lanka, the locals in the television production crew arranged a party for the rest of the crew. Among the commentators only Chappell turned up for the party. He had quietly inquired from the Director Hemant Buch who was paying for the party. Upon being told that it was the local crew, Chappell had told the Director, ‘these guys don’t get paid that much, here’s a contribution from me’ and hands out US$ 200.

It is for things like theses that people love Chappell. Former opener Keith Stackpole’s take on him is sensational, “I would give my life for him for I know he would give his for me.”

Here’s Mark Taylor’s thoughts. ‘If Ian Chappell says, ‘boys we are having a drink down the bar this Friday in Sydney’, people like Dennis Lillee will fly down from Perth.’

Names like Clive Lloyd and Mike Brearley stand out when we talk of outstanding cricket captains. Chappell was unique as well. He was different because he always wanted to win and didn’t believe in draws.

When the Australian captaincy was handed to him, it was not the most smooth transition. Bill Lawry is sacked and a journalist calls Chappell at the bar to inform him that he has been elevated as captain. The first thought that comes to Chappell’s mind is that, ‘the b******* will never get me like that.’ He then goes onto build an aura around the team. His tenure as Australia’s captain is called ‘Chappell Era’.

Rod Marsh was a pivotal cog in that Aussie wheel. “I never recall him saying well done to me even once. I think he was the greatest sports psychologist that’s ever been. I wanted him to say that but he never did. I told myself, I am going to do it better until you finally say well done to me,” recalls Marsh.

Chappell’s relationship with Don Bradman deteriorated after he becomes captain. It centers around pay disputes and he quits the job in 1975. Brother Greg is elevated as skipper.

But two years later it changes. Kerry Packer would bankroll the World Cricket Series and steamroll the world cricket establishment. The business tycoon wants Ian to captain Australia and not Greg.

Ian has his reservations as he is no longer Australia’s captain and says so to Packer. “What do you think this is a f***ing democracy. I pay the bills and you are the captain,” Packer demands.

Chappell and England captain Tony Greig have a huge rivalry. They rarely talk to each other and the animosity continues even after they quit and enter Channel Nine’s commentary panel. They are not paired together for commentaries. Most of the hostilities are from Chappell’s side and he realizes that this can not go on and they patch up and go onto become two of the finest commentators.

But what about his relationship with another England captain – Ian Botham. ‘No that will never happen,’ says Chappell.

They first fight in 1977 in a bar in Melbourne. Then it flares up again in 2010 in an Adelaide car park. They are both grandfathers by that stage! “See, if I don’t respect someone, I have a real problem not showing it,” Chappell admits.

Chappell has lived his life being himself. He has not put on a show to impress others. His leadership style was unique but there were other common traits like loyalty and trust. Anyone who aspires to lead a sporting team will do well by getting to know Chappell better. The documentary on YouTube – Chappell, a glorious life, is a good place to start.

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Sports

Sadew, Tharushi among top contenders at Asian Junior Athletics Championship

Published

57 seconds ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Tharusha Mendis

The 400 metres relay quartet inclusive of Sadew Rajakaruna and Omel Shashintha and 800 metres specialist Tharushi Abisheka will lead the country’s medal quest in the boys and girls categories when the Asian Junior Athletics Championship starts in Hong Kong today.

‎After having run sub 46 seconds in the 400 metres recently, Rajakaruna is expected to carry huge expectations to the regional event alongside Shashintha who too came almost close to clock sub 46.

‎They will compete in both the 400 metres and the 200 metres apart from playing lead roles in the relay.

Tharushi Abisheka

‎Both athletes are among the top sprinters in the Asian region and were a part of the nationl record setting quartet in the short track 4×400 metres relay along side seniors. They are expected to use their experience in competing at top international level to good effect.

‎In the girls’ category Abisheka is the leading contender for medals.

‎The Asian Youth Champion is scheduled to compete in both the 800 metres and the 1,500 metres.

‎In the field events, Tharusha Mendis has high hopes of bringing his best in the high jump.

‎‎Team

‎Under 20 Men’s:

Omel Shashintha Silva – 400m, 200m, 4x400m Relay, Sadew Rajakaruna – 400m, 200m, 4x400m Relay, Thisen Ranvidu Pathirage – Mixed Relay, 4x400m Relay, Iresh Bogoda – 4x400m Relay, Mixed Relay, Irosha Edirisingha – 4x400m Relay, Mixed Relay, Nethsara Dineth Liyanage – 800m, 1500m, Vidushan Rajendran – 3000m, Kaveesha Kulathunga – 110mH, Shavindu Nimasha Dias – 400mH, Kalpadith Hansaja Uyanwaththa – 400mH, Deesara Sendil Herath – Long Jump, Tharusha Mendis – High Jump, Nethra Chandupa Fernando – High Jump, Thehara Ravishka Fernando- Triple Jump, Sasindu Hansana Jayasingha – Triple Jump.

Under 20 Women’s:

Risansa Hirupama Silva – 200m, Dilanma Ransini Perera – 200m, Tharushi Abhisheka – 800m, 1500m, Mixed Relay, Mihinsa Dewmini Abeyrathna – High Jump, Oshini Kavindya Kodikara – Triple Jump, Ronalee Anne Pieris – 400m, Mixed Relay, Warsha Devmini Wimalasekara – Mixed Relay.‎

Sports

International and Thai Martial Arts games in Negombo

Published

2 mins ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka is preparing to host one of the biggest international martial arts events ever staged in the country, as the International and Thai Martial Arts (Asian Games) Sri Lanka 2026 comes to Goldi Sands Hotel, Negombo, from 28 May to 1 June 2026. The prestigious championship will feature Muaythai and UBF Boxing contests, bringing together elite fighters, coaches, and martial arts enthusiasts from around the world.

The event is officially sanctioned by the World Muaythai Organization (WMO), the World Muay Boran Federation (WMBF), and the Union Boxing Federation (UBF), making it a major global platform for both traditional and modern martial arts disciplines. It has also received approval from the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau under the Ministry of Tourism, with the support of the Royal Thai Embassy in Sri Lanka and local authorities.

A total of 14 countries have already confirmed participation, including Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, the USA, England, Uzbekistan, India, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Australia, Vietnam, Russia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Fight nights are scheduled for 30 May, 31 May, and 1 June 2026, with each evening running from 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM. Ticket prices are Rs. 3,000 for Saturday and Monday, and Rs. 3,500 for Sunday’s opening ceremony show.

Organizers say the event will offer a unique beachfront atmosphere, live DJ entertainment, food and beverages, international seminars, and opportunities to meet world-class fighters and legendary grand masters. With elite athletes now being selected, the championship is expected to become a historic sporting highlight for Sri Lanka.

Latest News

Sooryavanshi’s 97 off 29 knocks Sunrisers Hyderabad out

Published

9 mins ago

2026/05/28

Priyan

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's version of holiday homework: smoking the best bowlers out of the ground [Cricinfo]

Vaibhav Sooriyavanshi is enjoying one of the most extraordinary seasons not just of the IPL, not just of T20, and not just of cricket but of all sport and all time. He produced his most extraordinary effort of this extraordinary season in the Eliminator, narrowly missing out on one of the IPL’s most coveted records but putting Rajasthan Royals (RR) on course for what turned out to be a thumping win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Sooryavanshi, 15, swept past numerous records over the course of his innings – among them the most sixes by any batter in a T20 tournament – and he came within one shot of breaking Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest IPL century (30 balls) only to top-edge an attempted uppercut to deep third to fall for 97 off 29 balls.

RR’s innings fell away after that innings and a 21-ball 50 from Dhruv Jurel, and they ended up seven short of the 250 that had at one stage seemed a formality. But it still proved more than sufficient thanks to yet another impactful new-ball burst from Jofra Archer. His spell against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday had been key to RR making the playoffs, and he followed up with three wickets in three powerplay overs to hold back a SRH top order that began the chase with an ominous flurry of boundaries.

A second-wicket stand of 51 off just 15 balls from Ishan Kishan and Travis Head was threatening to turn this game into a repeat of the last meeting between these sides – Sooryavanshi had scored 103 off just 37 balls that day, but SRH had fired from both ends where RR had fired from just one – but Archer made sure that didn’t happen, dismissing both of them. He had already bounced out Abhishek Sharma before that; this was a truly special display against one of the most dangerous top threes in all T20 cricket.

RR eventually won by 47 runs, setting up a meeting with Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 on Friday.

How do you keep Sooryavanshi quiet? Every team in the IPL has tried to come up with a method, and none of them have worked. SRH went with something like death bowling in the powerplay, with Pat Cummins and Eshan Malinga attempting to go full and straight and deny Sooryavanshi elevation, with both their outfielders stationed in front of square on the leg side, with the occasional short ball thrown in as a surprise.

It was a plan with slim margins for error, and Sooryavanshi was ruthless on anything that even slightly missed its mark. If he got half a chance to get under a full ball, he did, timing the ball with crystalline purity. Anything short disappeared over the boundary behind square on the leg side.

Soon SRH began trying Plans B, C, R, W and so forth, and Sooryavanshi had an answer to everything, revelling particularly in holding his shape and driving slower balls over mid-off and extra-cover. If there was one thing SRH didn’t really try, it was to hold a traditional good length and see what came of it. Perhaps the flatness of this New Chandigarh track made them dismiss that as an option.

Sooryavanshi hit 12 sixes in 28 balls before falling to his occasional nemesis Praful Hinge in the eighth over of the match; at that point, this contest turned into something like a normal T20 game.

Imagine being Yashasvi Jaiswal. He remains one of India’s most accomplished T20 openers, but who can match Sooryavanshi’s rate of six-hitting or run-scoring? On this day life must have been even more surreal for Jaiswal; he faced exactly as many balls as his opening partner did, and scored 29 runs to Sooryavanshi’s 97.

When RR lost Jaiswal, they seemed in danger of squandering all the early momentum, but Jurel ensured that didn’t happen with his most enterprising innings of the season. It was his sixth fifty, but if the previous ones could be accused of being out of step with the times, this one was full of urgency and innovation, including a scooped four over short fine off Cummins and an uppercut six off Hinge to bring up his half-century in 20 balls.

RR slumped after Jurel’s dismissal, though, and dramatically at that. They scored just 36 in the last five overs, losing five wickets in that period including the run-out dismissals of Donovan Ferreira and Nandre Burger. The latter summed up the dysfunctional finish: Ravindra Jadeja, the last recognised batter, had taken a single off the first ball of the final over and given up the strike, and Burger was run out attempting a non-existent second run off the next ball.

RR’s poor finish meant this was anyone’s game. Archer made them forget that finish briefly with a snorter to remove an awkwardly hooking Abhishek off the second ball of SRH’s innings, but Kishan and Head counterpunched immediately, taking 15 off that first over and 18 off Burger in the second.

The fifty came up inside the third over, as Kishan tore into Archer, but normalcy returned to proceedings when he mis-hit a slap to the fielder at cover. Burger put RR further in front with a good, hard-length ball to force a miscue from R Smaran in the fourth over, and the contest seemed all but over when Archer slipped a fast, full ball past Head and into the top of off as he tried to make room and flay it away.

SRH kept throwing punches, and they had no other choice with this being an Eliminator. There were two periods when they briefly threatened to come back into the contest. Heinrich Klaasen hit two fours and a breathtaking six over the covers in nine balls, but he was lbw missing a reverse-sweep off the legspinner Yash Raj Punja in the seventh over.

Then Nitish Kumar Reddy and Salil Arora put on a half-century stand in only 19 balls, taking SRH to 132 for 5 at the halfway point of the chase. But it was unlikely they could keep going at that rate without offering chances, and RR knew they could breathe easy once Reddy holed out off Jadeja in the 11th over.

Brief scores:
Rajasthan Royals 243 for 8 in 20 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 29, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 97, Dhruv Jurel 50, Riyan Parag 26, Donovan Ferreira 12, Ravindra Jadeja 12*; Eshan Malinga 1-40, Praful Hinge 3-54, Shivang Kumar 1-19, Nitish Kumar Reddy 1-12) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 196 in 19.2 overs (Travis Head 17, Ishan Kishan 33, Heinrich Klassen 18, Nitish Kumar Reddy 38, Salil Arora 35, Shivang Kumar 27; Jofra Archer 3-58, Nandre Burger 2-26, Yash Raj Punja 1-39, Sushant Mishra 2-21, Ravindra Jadeja 2-21) by 47 runs

[Cricinfo]