Sports
Dialog felicitate Para medal winners
Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider and prolific promoter of Sri Lankan sports, honored Sri Lanka’s World Para Athletics Championships medallists at a ceremony held at its headquarters on Thursday. The team, supported by Dialog, showcased their exceptional talents at the recent World Para Athletic Championships in Kobe, Japan, bringing home three medals. This achievement underscores Dialog’s commitment to excellence in sports and the remarkable capabilities of its athletes.
Indika Gamage’s performance in the T-44 100 meters final was spectacular as he secured a bronze medal with a time of 11.83 seconds. Demonstrating his prowess and consistency, Gamage qualified for the final after an impressive win in heat 1, clocking in at 11.75 seconds. His achievements in the sprint category have brought pride to Sri Lanka.
Samitha Dulan captivated the audience by setting a new world record in the Men’s F-44 Javelin Throw event. The 33-year-old veteran athlete demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication, earning a silver medal in the F-64 event with a throw of 66.49 meters. Dulan’s record-setting throw on his first attempt,
followed by consistent high-performance throws of 63.96m, 53.91m, 59.81m, 56.51m, and 65.01m, has etched his name in the annals of sporting history. As a bronze medallist in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and the 2023 Paris World Championships, Dulan’s latest feat cements his status as one of the leading figures in para-athletics globally.
In the men’s Shot Put T – 42 category, Palitha Bandara secured a bronze medal with a throw of 14.27 meters, contributing to Sri Lanka’s three medals at the nine-day competition. These achievements highlighted the country’s growing presence in international para-athletics.
Dialog is a proud sponsor of the NPC and has a history spanning more than two decades with Paralympic sports in Sri Lanka. The company first sponsored the Sri Lanka Paralympic contingent in 2000, followed by 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, including sponsorship of the National Para Athletics Championship.
This partnership has been instrumental in fostering an environment conducive to the remarkable success of Sri Lankan para-athletes on the global stage. Noteworthy accomplishments include securing one gold and three bronze medals at the Paralympic Games, two silver and three bronze medals at the World Para Athletics Championships, and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. Moreover, Sri Lankan athletes have
demonstrated exceptional prowess at the Asian Para Games, amassing nine gold, 18 silver, and 22 bronze medals over the years.
“Over the years, Sri Lankan Paralympic athletes have consistently won medals and brought glory to the country. We have been a strong, encouraging, and long-term sports partner for people with disabilities in
Sri Lanka, tirelessly supporting their efforts at both national and international levels. I would like to thank our main sponsor, Dialog Axiata PLC, for their unwavering support,” said Lt. Col. Deepal Herath, President of the Sri Lanka Paralympic Committee.
“The partnership between Dialog and NPC aligns with the company’s ongoing dedication to empowering differently-abled individuals through sponsorships such as this. We are honored to give our fullest support over the years for these athletes to achieve their potentials in para sports. We congratulate the medal winners and all those involved in making them international stars. We at Dialog will continue to support them as they conquer new frontiers,” said Asanga Priyadarshana, Group Chief of Risk and Compliance, Dialog Axiata PLC.
Dialog Axiata is also a dedicated sponsor of the national cricket, volleyball, and esports teams and the primary sponsor of the Sri Lanka Golf Open. The company promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion through sponsorships in the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka and National Paralympic Committee, enabling
athletes to participate in national and international tournaments. Further, in line with its commitment towards empowering the champions of tomorrow, the company continues to power the President’s Gold
Cup Volleyball, National Junior and Senior Netball tournaments, and school rugby.
Six-a-side school cricket is set to make a high-profile return to Moratuwa when the Old Boys’ Association of Prince of Wales’ College stages the Prince of Wales’ College 150th Anniversary Inter-School Sixes Cricket Tournament on August 29 and 30 at the De Soysa Stadium.
The two-day tournament is one of the major sporting attractions of the College’s historic 150th anniversary celebrations and
will bring together 16 leading school cricket teams for a knockout competition.
The tournament is aimed at reviving the excitement of six-a-side cricket, a format renowned for its fast pace and spectator-friendly nature, which has not featured regularly in major inter-school competitions in recent years.
The Old Boys’ Association believes the 150th anniversary provides the ideal opportunity to bring the format back to the forefront while celebrating Moratuwa’s deep-rooted passion for cricket.
Cricket has long held a special place in the hearts of Moratuwa’s residents, while Prince of Wales’ College boasts a proud cricketing tradition that has produced several outstanding players who have gone on to represent Sri Lanka at the highest level.
The organizers expect more than 5,000 cricket enthusiasts from Moratuwa and surrounding areas to witness the tournament over the two days, turning the event into a major festival of school cricket.
The opening ceremony on August 29 is scheduled to be attended by Kusal Mendis, one of the leading cricketers produced by Prince of Wales’ College and a member of the Sri Lankan national team.
The tournament will feature 16 schools, including Royal College Colombo, St. Joseph’s College Darley Road, Thurstan College Colombo, S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia, Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda, Prince of Wales’ College Moratuwa, Moratu Maha Vidyalaya, D.S. Senanayake College Colombo, Sri Sumangala College Panadura, Richmond College Galle, Mahanama College Colombo, St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa, St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya, Wesley College Colombo, Ananda College Colombo and Mahanama College Panadura.
With the competition being played on a knockout basis, the compact format is expected to produce plenty of attacking cricket and give emerging players an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of a large crowd.
Apart from the competitive aspect, the tournament is also intended to promote sportsmanship, friendship and fellowship among the participating schools.
The tournament will conclude on August 30 with a ceremonial awards presentation, with the participation of Eran Wickramaratne, distinguished invitees, representatives of participating schools, past pupils and members of the cricketing community.
The Old Boys’ Association has also expressed its appreciation to the corporate sector and event sponsors whose support has helped make the tournament possible.
Their contribution, according to the organizers, reflects the continuing partnership between Prince of Wales’ College, its alumni and the corporate community in supporting educational, sporting and development initiatives.
The six-a-side tournament is therefore expected to provide not only two days of entertaining school cricket, but also a fitting sporting celebration of 150 years of Prince of Wales’ College.
India 503/9 decl (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115; Asitha Fernando 4-106, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-132) drew with Sri Lanka 290 (Sonal Dinusha 103, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80; Prasidh Krishna 3-52, Manav Suthar 3-85) and 429/9 f/o (Sonal Dinusha 133*, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92; Ravindra Jadeja 3-94, Manav Suthar 3-121)
American golfer Matt Gogel has been suspended for six months for betting on golf tournaments, the PGA Tour has said.
The 55-year-old competes on the PGA Tour Champions circuit which is reserved for professional golfers aged 50 and older.
Gogel did not bet on events in which he was participating but admitted to unknowingly violating PGA Tour policy by placing “small recreational wagers” in 2024 and 2025.
“I would never knowingly violate the integrity of the game of golf,” Gogel said in a statement.
“I made an honest mistake and I look forward to playing in 2027 on the PGA Tour Champions.”
He had two top-10 finishes across 18 PGA Tour Champions events in 2026 and was most recently in action during the Rogers Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta where he finished tied 30th last week.
Gogel, who has earned more than $760,000 (£559,000) in prize money from Champions events, won the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in 2002 – his only victory in 179 starts on the PGA Tour.
His suspension came into effect on 23 August and lasts until 22 February.
[BBC Sports]
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