Janith wins triple jump silver

Sri Lanka experienced mixed fortunes on day one of the Asian Youth Athletics Championship as St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy athlete Janith Lakshan Jenkins won a silver medal before the country’s 1500 metres medal prospects Niduki Prarthana and Ayesha Sewwandi missed their pet event due a faux pas in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Jenkins reached his personal best 15.10 metres in his final attempt to win the siver medal. The athlete trained by Indika Etipola and China’s gold medal winner Dong Zhiyuan were the only athletes to clear the 15 metres mark. China’s Ma Boyu who was placed third cleared 14.97 metres.

Ayesha Sewwandi

According to sources Niduki Prarthana and Ayesha Sewwandi had missed the 1500 metres after they arrived late to the call room. They had been with one of the coaches on tour. Veteran coaches Sujith Abeysekara and Madhura Perera who train the two athletes were not part of the touring team.

Ayesha Sewwandi of Namadagasweva MV, Hambantota, and Niduki Prarthana of Baranakankattuwa KV, Mundal were ranked among the top three and were looking foward for podium places. It is learnt that the official incharge of the athletes had not guided the two young athletes to reach the call room in time.

Sri Lanka were looking forward for at least couple of other medals in the evening yesterday after several athletes booked places in the finals schedled for evening.

Sri Lanka are fielding their biggest contingent to the Asuan Youth Championship.

Boys’ Team

Shavindu Awishka (Boys Captain- 800m), Imesh Silva (100m, 200m., Medley Relay), MP Sandaruwan Silva (100m, Medley Relay), Shanuka Costa (400m, Medley Relay), BIM Bogoda (400m, Medley Relay), Rehan Perera (800m), Lahiru Achintha (1500m., 3000m), MM Shavindu Nimasha Dias (400m Hurdles), P Nethya Sampath (High Jump), P Dinuka Dilshan (High Jump), Hansana Jayasingha (Triple Jump), JL Jenkins (Triple Jump)

Girls’ Team

Niduki Prarthana

Tharushi Abisheka (Girls Captain – 800m), Dhananjana Fernando (100m, 200m), K Niduki Prarthana (1500m), M.P. Ayesha Sewwandi (1500m), UM Sansala Himashani (400m Hurdles), KM Sachini Maduhansika (2000m Steeplechase), M. Dilki Nehara (triple jump)

Officials:

NAT Jayasinghe (Team Manager), Anuradha Nanayakkara (Coach), N. Indika Etipola (Coach), Buddika Nuwan (Coach), Lakna Waravita (Lady Chaperone).

by Reemus Fernando

Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC made a remarkable debut at the Mercantile Badminton Association (MBA) Novices Championships 2025, securing multiple podium finishes across different categories. The tournament was held from 22nd to 30th March 2025, at the Mercantile Badminton Courts, Malalasekara Mawatha, Colombo 07. Demonstrating exceptional skill and determination, the players delivered an outstanding performance to clinch the following titles,

Men’s Veterans Singles –

Champion: Harsha Nissanka

Men’s Veterans Singles –

2nd Runner – up: Nirmal Dissanayake

Men’s Veterans Doubles –

2nd Runner – up: Harsha Nissanka & Nirmal Dissanayake

Over 35 Mixed Doubles –

Runner – up: Kumari Nissanka & Harsha Nissanka

Over 35 Women’s Doubles –

The DCSL Badminton team

2nd Runner – up: Arunamali Henthanna & Kumari Nissanka

Their achievements highlight the strength and potential of DCSL’s badminton team, as they continue to make their mark in the mercantile badminton circuit.

Here are some action pictures from the final day of the Schools Relay Carnival held from April 9 to 11 at Diyagama.

(Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)

St. Benedict’s College won the overall boys title of the Schools Relay Carnival. They collected more than one third of the 155 points they won through their Under 20 relays. Here St. Benedict’s win the Under 20 boys’ 4×100 metres relay.

St. Joseph Vaz’s College Wennappuwa, the second runners up of the meet, in action in the Under 18 boys’ 4×400 metres.

Maris Stella College Negombo (246) and Dharmapala College Pannipitiya (120) were the winner and runners up respectively in the Under 16 boys’ 4×100 metres relay. Maris Stella (103 points) were the first runners up in the boys’ category behind St.
Benedict’s.

Rathnayake Central Walala were the overall runners up in the girls’ category. They dominated the Under 18 and Under 16 age categories to collect most of their points. Here they are in action in the Under 16 4×400 metres relay.