Sports
Madhushani, Meron, Abisheka among juniors to reach qualifying standards for Asian Junior Championships
by Reemus Fernando
Nannapurawa MV Bibila athlete Madhushani Herath, Wickramabahu NS, Gampola runner Tharushi Abisheka, Ananda College sprinter Meron Wijesinghe and Lyceum jumpers reached locally set qualifying standards for the Asian Junior Athletics Championships at the Sri Lanka Athletics conducted First Selection Trial at Diyagama.
Herath reached standards in both the long jump and the triple jump as she cleared six metres and 13.01 metres respectively to win the two Under 20 girls’ events.
Anandian Wijesinghe clocked 10.56 seconds in the Under 20 100metres heats. He was the only athlete to clock under 10.60 seconds, the qualifying standard set for the regional event.
Abisheka continued from where she stopped last year as she returned a remarkable time of two minutes and 9.16 seconds in the 800 metres. Sri Lanka Athletics had granted permission for Asian Junior Championship aspirants to compete against seniors in a bid to achieve standards. The athlete who shattered Asian Games medallist Tharushi Karunaratne’s junior records last year competed alongside seniors in the 800 metres.
The two-day event was conducted in open and under 20 age categories to gauge the standards of athletes in both categories as the athletics government body is set to send teams for a number of international events including the World Relays and the Olympics this year.
In the Under 20 high jump, Lyceum Wattala duo of Tharusha Mendis and Deneth Anuhas both cleared the 2.10 metres height to reach qualifying standards.
In the Under 20 girls 400 metres Nuhansa Kodituwakku of Matara Central and Jithma Wijetunga of Lyceum Wattala came almost close to achieving qualifying standards as they clocked 56.24 and 56.25 seconds respectively to share the first two places.
In the senior events, top ranked national athletes Kalinga Kumarage and Aruna Dharshana finished first and second as both clocked sub 56 seconds in the 400 metres finals. Pasindu Kodikara and Dinuka Deshan finished third and fourth respectively.
Incidentally, Asian Games relay medallists Rajitha Rajakaruna and Pabasara Niku finished in the fifth and seventh places respectively.
In a highly anticipated 110 metres hurdles final former national record holder Dhammika Ranatunga turned tables on Janindu Lakvijaya to win in a time of 14.15 seconds.
In the men’s 100 metres, Chamod Yodasinghe was the undisputed winner as he clocked 10.50 seconds.The former champion Rumeshika Ratnayake was the winner of both the 100m (11.93) and the 200 metres (23.97).
Asian Games medalist Dilhani Lekamge cleared a distance of 52.35 metres to win the women’s javelin throw.The men’s triple jump saw Asian Junior Championship medallist Malith Yasiru turning tables on seniors to win.
Gaby Lewis has been rested for Ireland’s upcoming T20I tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies at home in Clontarf as she recovers from a recent leg injury but has been named captain – for the first time at a global event – for the T20 World Cup in June-July in England.
Orla Prendergast, the vice-captain for the World Cup, will lead the side in the tri-series in Lewis’ absence. No vice-captain has been named for the tri-series.
In terms of ins and outs, Jane Maguire, the right-arm medium pacer, has been ruled out of contention with an injury, but her sister Aimee Maguire, the left-arm orthodox spinner, has returned from her own injury and has been included in both squads. Apart from the missing Lewis, there are no changes from the squad for the tri-series, which is a 14-member line-up, for the World Cup.
At the T20 World Cup, Ireland have been grouped with tournament hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka and past winners West Indies.
Ireland are ranked ninth in the format, ahead of only Scotland (11th) among the teams in their group, and will start their World Cup campaign on the second day of competition, against Scotland in Manchester.
Ireland were most recently in action at the T20 World Cup qualifiers played in Nepal in January-February this year, and finished second to Bangladesh.
Lewis’ fitness will be key for Ireland at the World Cup, with her being their top-ranked batter, currently at joint-14th on the ICC T20I rankings. She was also the top run getter at the qualifiers with 276 runs in seven innings, scoring her runs at a strike rate of 119.48.
Prendergast is the next best at No. 26, followed by Amy Hunter at No. 29. Prendergast is also the seventh-ranked allrounder in women’s T20Is.
Ireland squad for women’s T20 World Cup
Gaby Lewis (capt), Orla Prendergast (vice-capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
Ireland squad for tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies
Orla Prendergast (capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
[Cricinfo]
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued a statement approving the members nominated for the new Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The appointments have been made by the Sports Minister in accordance with the powers vested under Section 39 (1) of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2437/24 dated May 21, 2025.
The members of the new selection committee are:
Kapila Wijegunawardena – Chairman
Amal Silva – Member
Brendon Kuruppu – Member
Waruna Waragoda – Member
Vanessa De Silva – Member
PM meets academic experts from the British Council
Gaby Lewis to lead Ireland at T20 World Cup
PM meets Sri Lankan community living in London
Kapila Wijegunawardena to head SLC’s new selection committee
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