Sports
CICT and CMF donate US$ 41,600 to SLTA’s wheelchair tennis
Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) and the China Merchants Foundation (CMF) donated US$ 41,600 (approximately Rs 13.7 million at current rates of exchange) to the wheelchair tennis programme of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA), extending their support to the sport for the ninth year.
This latest donation takes the cumulative value of CICT’s and CMF’s monetary support to the development of wheelchair tennis in Sri Lanka to Rs 68 million. Besides the provision of funds, CICT in collaboration with the CMF has donated custom-made, professional grade titanium wheelchairs to internationally-ranked Sri Lankan wheelchair tennis players and has also funded the refurbishment of two international standard hard surface courts at SLTA.
CICT’s steadfast commitment to the cause has been acknowledged by the SLTA as the principal contributor to the recent growth of the sport and the emergence of high-performing Paralympians to represent the country.
The China Merchants Foundation is the social responsibility arm of CICT’s parent company, China Merchants Group (CMG).
Commenting on the CICT’s adoption of wheelchair tennis as a cause in Sri Lanka, CICT CEO Jack Huang said: “As a company that is committed to promoting inclusivity, CICT is justifiably proud of the progress of the SLTA’s wheelchair tennis programme. Our consistent support has enabled the SLTA to plan and execute its development programme over a longer term, achieving tangible results.”
Thanking CICT and the China Merchants Foundation for their support to the programme, SLTA President Iqbal Bin Issak said Sri Lanka is now ranked number nine in the world in wheelchair tennis, and that the SLTA wheelchair tennis team comprises of 12 players. Six of them are professionals.
SLTA’s wheelchair tennis programme was initiated in Sri Lanka in 2003 as a rehabilitation programme for differently-abled soldiers, and CICT has been supporting the programme since 2015.
CICT is the flagship overseas terminal of China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited (CMPort), the largest and a globally-competitive public port developer, investor and operator in China with investments in Mainland China, Hong Kong and overseas.
Playing just his second Test and the first in his team’s starting XI, Pasindu Sooriyabandara made Sri Lanka dream of the rarest of possibilities, but reality imposed itself on the SSC late on day four as India regained their grip on a Test match that had seemed to spiral out of control after the threat of bad weather led them to enforce the follow-on.
After Sooriyabandara put on 58 with Kamil Mishara for the second wicket and 115 with Kamindu Mendis for the third, Sri Lanka were at one stage 209 for 3, or just four runs behind with seven second-innings wickets in hand, on a day-four pitch that was still looking excellent for batting. India’s bowlers were into their 149th over across two consecutive innings, and looking short of both penetration and inspiration against a top order that had never allowed them to settle into their lengths.
Just then, however, Manav Suthar, who had borne the brunt of Sri Lanka’s positive intent, dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva and then Sooriyabandara in the space of two overs, the latter out eight short of a maiden Test hundred. Soon after, Saransh Jain trapped Niroshan Dickwella lbw, and Sri Lanka were effectively 5 for 6. By the time rain arrived to bring an early end to the day, Sri Lanka’s seventh-wicket pair had only added a further 11 runs to their tally.
If Sri Lanka still retain any hope going into the final day of this series, it will rest on the shoulders of Sonal Dinusha, batting on 7 in his final innings of a remarkable series. Earlier in the day, he had converted his overnight 85 into his second century of the series, with his only other completed innings bringing him 84.
Scores:
Sri Lanka 290 in 89.4 overs (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80, Sonal Dinusha 103; Prasidh Krishna 3-52, Manav Suthar 3-85) and 229 for 6 in 72.4 overs (f/o) (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92, Kamindu Mendis 55, Sonal Dinusha 7*; Manav Suthar 2-81) lead India 503 for 9 dec by 16 runs
[Cricinfo]
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