Sports
HSBC Premier Golf winners to witness 150th Open Championship in Scotland
HSBC successfully concluded two back to back golf tournaments at the Royal Colombo Golf Club recently which brought together RCGC golfers, and HSBC Premier golfers who competed for a shot at winning a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in Scotland.
This year over 180 golfers demonstrated their golf skills at the HSBC Premier Golf Tournament held for the 9th year, while over 250 golfers from RCGC played in the annual 5-Club Stableford Tournament, marking 26-years of HSBC’s title sponsorship.
Deepal Akuretiyagama was the overall winner to take home the HSBC Premier Challenge Trophy and was also winner of the Seniors & Ladies & C division with a score of 43 points. Dihan Dedigama scored 38 points on a B/B 9 and was the winner of the A&B divisions. Anouk Chitty won the Ladies division with 39 Points, while Chandana De Silva won the Senior’s division with 37 Points.
The two overall winners were each presented with a fully sponsored 4 nights, 5 days’ hospitality package each to watch the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in Scotland from 10 – 17 July 2022, which HSBC is a patron. In addition, each winner was also awarded a global health policy with benefits up to USD 800,000 courtesy of Allianz Insurance as part of HSBC’s global partnership.
Deepal Akuretiyagama sharing his thoughts, said, “As a sportsman from my younger days, my motto for any sport, has always been to work hard to improve your skills and then you play what you learnt with passion and joy. Winning is a bonus. Although this is my first commercial tournament, HSBC provided a perfect environment to apply my belief. It was a fun filled and highly professional tournament. I am grateful to HSBC for sponsoring me to the 150th Open in Scotland, which is any golfers dream. It was a privilege to be part of this. Thank you HSBC.”
“The recently concluded HSBC tournament was as well organised as a tournament could be. The professional approach from HSBC staff to look into every little matter was amazing. The entire team put on a great display of coordination and by winning gave me a once in a lifetime opportunity, first being able to attend the momentous occasion of the 150th Open Championship and the honour and privilege to visit St. Andrews. Thank you HSBC team.” said Dihan Dedigama.
Deepal Akuretiyagama Overall Winner of the HSBC Premier Golf Tournament accepting the HSBC Premier Challenge Trophy from Mark Surgenor, CEO of HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Sanjeewa Wickramanayake and Adrian Perera also walked away with a Global Health Insurance plan each from Allianz Insurance offered exclusively to HSBC Premier customers during a special draw.
The overall winner at this year’s 5-Club Stableford Tournament was Manoj Algama who secured the highest score of 43 Points. The ladies champion was Fran De Mel who scored 40 points. Winning the A Division was W.A.K Fernando with 41 Points and the B Division winner was Manoj Algama with 43 Points. The winner of C division was Manjula Lanerolle scoring 42 Points, while Harendra De Silva won the Seniors division with a score of 39 Points.
HSBC is a long-term partner of some of the biggest events in global golf, including, the World Golf Championships, HSBC Champions in Shanghai, the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore, The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and The Open in the UK. In Sri Lanka, HSBC has helped elevate the
game through the sponsorship of HSBC Future Lions at grassroots level to increase both interest and participation in the game.
Continuing from last year, this year’s Premier Golf tournament also invited Premier Juniors to test their skills on the course with an 18-hole stroke play. Kaiyan Johnpillai won the 12 and below age group with 93 gross and Arika Wickramasinghe won the 13-18 age group scoring 75 gross.
In keeping with HSBC’s Net Zero ambitions, a key highlight this year was that every participating golfer at both tournaments received a box of recycled Bamboo tees from OCEANTEE, who will be supplying the same recycled tees to the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews, Scotland. Further, to support RCGC’s own ambition of becoming carbon neutral through Project Zero, the HSBC Premier Golf T-Shirts worn at the tournament was made from recycled pet bottles.
Congratulating both winners Deepal Akuretiyagama and Dihan Dedigama James Rebert, Head of Wealth and Personal Banking further said, “We are happy to be able to give our customers an opportunity to not just enjoy golf locally, but to also experience world-class golf events, that connect to their international lifestyle. We hope both winners will enjoy their experience this year at the 150th Open Championship. This year also marked the second junior premier event creating an opportunity for young players to enter the tournament. Congratulations to Kaiyan Johnpillai and Arika Wickramasinghe on winning this year’s event and we wish them a bright future ahead in golf.
We will continue to create these experiences and new opportunities as part of our global Premier banking proposition to support our customer’s ambitions both locally and internationally.”
The tournament concluded with the awards ceremony held at the Club House.
The India and Zimbabwe women’s teams are all set to play an international fixture against each other for the first time when Zimbabwe tour India for white-ball fixtures this October.
The tour comprises three T20Is and three ODIs and will be Zimbabwe’s first visit to India; India are yet to tour Zimbabwe for bilateral fixtures.
The three T20Is will be played in Raipur on October 16, 18 and 20, and the ODIs are on October 23, 25 and 28 in Baroda.
The fixtures were announced by the BCCI on Wednesday, along with two home series for the India A women’s side against Australia A in September and England A in December. Both those series comprise three T20s, three List A games and one multi-day fixture.
The India Under-19 women’s team will also host Sri Lanka U-19 in June and July for three T20s and three 50-over games, and England U-19 in November and December for five T20 fixtures.
The Australia A men’s side will tour India for two multi-day fixtures and three one-dayers in September and October, while the Australia U-19 side will visit India for two multi-day fixtures and three one-dayers also in September and October.
[Cricinfo]
Sports
Fast bowlers to get more opportunities as new format introduced for Under-15 Division I tourney
The Inter-Schools Under-15 Division I cricket tournament will be conducted under a revamped format this year, with organisers shifting the focus back to limited-overs cricket while introducing new rules aimed at promoting fast bowling.
The tournament, organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA), will see only the top-tier Division I competition played in a 50-over format. Meanwhile, Division II and Division III matches will continue under the one-day, four-innings structure.
SLSCA Secretary Saman Hettiarachchi said the changes were made following consultations with experts from Sri Lanka Cricket, with a clear objective of providing greater opportunities for pace bowlers.
”We opted for the limited-overs format for Division I in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket. The lower divisions will copete in the innings format as we have observed matches ending early without utilizing the full quota of overs,” Hettiarachchi told ‘The Island’.
A key feature of the revised rules is the compulsory allocation of overs for fast bowlers. In a full 50-over innings, a minimum of 20 overs must be bowled by pacemen. Additionally, during the first 10 overs, at least eight overs must be delivered by fast bowlers. If an innings is reduced to 30 overs or fewer, at least six of the first eight overs must be bowled by pace.
”It was made mandatory to give more opportunities to pacemen,” Hettiarachchi explained.
Meanwhile, the official draw for the Division I tournament has been released, featuring 70 teams divided into 16 groups from Group A to Group P for the preliminary round. Each team is guaranteed multiple matches during the opening stage.
Defending champions St. Joseph’s College headline Group A, where they will meet Nalanda College, Dharmapala College, St. John’s College, Lumbini College and De La Salle College.
With traditional cricketing powerhouses spread across the groups, it will be interesting to see how the first round pans out in the new-look tournament.
Under 15 Division I Tournament First Round Groups
GROUP A
St. Joseph’s College, Colombo
Nalanda College, Colombo
Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya
St. John’s College, Nugegoda
Lumbini College, Colombo
De La Salle College, Colombo
GROUP B
D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo
S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia
Presidents’ College, Kotte
Wesley College, Colombo
Carey College, Colombo
Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya
GROUP C
St. Anthony’s College, Wattala
St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa
Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Kottawa
St. Peter’s College, Colombo
C.W.W. Kannangara MV, Colombo
Ashoka College, Colombo
GROUP D
St. Benedict’s College, Colombo
Royal College, Colombo
Gurukula College, Kelaniya
Lyceum International School, Wattala
Bandaranayake MMV, Gampaha
St. John’s College, Panadura
GROUP E
De Mazenod College, Kandana
Isipathana College, Colombo
Christ King College, Ja-Ela
Thurstan College, Colombo
Ananda Shastralaya NS, Kotte
St. Joseph Vaz College, Vennappuwa
GROUP F
Mahanama College, Colombo
Piliyandala MMV, Piliyandala
Ananda College, Colombo
Sri Jayawardenapura NS, Kotte
Presidents College, Maharagama
St. Thomas’ College, Kotte
GROUP G
Wadduwa MMV, Wadduwa
Sri Sumangala College, Panadura
Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa
Moratu Vidyalaya, Moratuwa
Revatha College, Balapitiya
Royal College, Panadura
GROUP H
Dharmaraja College, Kandy
St. Mary’s College, Kegalle
Kegalu Vidyalaya, Kegalle
Kingswood College, Kandy
Vidyartha College, Kandy
Ibbagamuwa MMV, Ibbagamuwa
GROUP J
Maris Stella College, Negombo
Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala
Harischandra College, Negombo
Maliyadeva Adarsha MV, Kurunegala
Galahitiyawa MMV, Ganemulla
Sandalankawa MMV, Sandalankawa
GROUP K
St. Anthony’s College, Kandy
St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy
Trinity College, Kandy
Royal College, Polonnaruwa
St. Thomas’ College, Matale
Jaffna Hindu College, Jaffna
GROUP L
Sri Pangnananda MMV, Raddoluwa
St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala
St. Mary’s College, Chilaw
Sri Sumangala NS, Wariyapola
St. Peter’s College, Negombo
St. Xavier’s College, Marawila
GROUP M
Devapathiraja College, Rathgama
St. Aloysius College, Galle
Holy Cross College, Kalutara
Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda
Kalutara Vidyalaya, Kalutara
Vidyaloka College, Galle
GROUP N
Mahinda College, Galle
Tissa MV, Kalutara
Rahula College, Matara
Debarawewa NS, Debarawewa
St. Thomas’ College, Matara
Meepawala Amarasuriya MV
GROUP P
St. Servatius’ College, Matara
Richmond College, Galle
Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda
Karandeniya MMV, Karandeniya
P. De S. Kularathna MV, Ambalangoda
President’s College, Embilipitiya.
by Reemus Fernando
With the success the seven MCA men’s cricket tournaments have achieved, the Executive Committee of Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) have decided to give Women’s Cricket in Sri Lanka a boost by introducing a hard ball Women’s Cricket Tournament for the corporate sector.
With the international recognition women’s cricket has gained at present, it is no secret that there still are many talented lasses aspiring to reach the zenith of the game.
Even with the measures Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) the game’s governing body through the Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) have taken to promote girls cricket in schools, a considerable number of talented players, specially in the provinces do not have an opportunity to be recognized.
It is the MCA’s belief that with the introduction of a MCA Women’s Cricket Tournament, the corporate sector will be encouraged to field teams, and in doing so will give a hand to talented lasses and school leavers by providing them with employment as well as the opportunity to realise their aspirations in the Women’s Cricket arena.
At present in addition to the seven major Men’s tournaments the MCA organise the
Mercantile Six-a-Side tournament, the Over-40 Sixes competition, the 20×20 league, and the esteemed MCA Inter Academy Invitational tournament,
As an initial step, the MCA will be conducting a Women’s six and side soft ball cricket tournament for the corporate sector teams on Saturday 23rd May 2026 at the Mercantile Cricket Association grounds.
For further information please contact Chamara on 0759592488 or Prasad 0759809777.
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