Sports
Mihiran, Malshani adjudged best boxers at Nationals
Umayanga Mihiran of Vidyarathane Sports Club, Horana and L.I.N. Malshani of Air Force were adjudged the most scientific boxers at the National Boxing Championships concluded at Royal MAS Arena on Friday. Both Mihiran and Malshani won their maiden national titles.
Mihiran, 19, gave a flawless performance easily outpointing Army’s Raveendranath in a thrilling flyweight (under 51kg) final. He oozed class and confidence winning all his fights comprehensively with a superb exhibition of boxing skills. He received the coveted Sir William Manning Challenge Trophy for the Best boxer of the Nationals. Mihiran represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Junior and Asian Youth Championships held in UAE in 2019 and 2021 respectively. AMTS Adikhari of Navy was adjudged Best Loser (men) receiving the Donald Moonesinghe Challenge Trophy.
Malshani displayed superb technique and punching skills to outpoint Army’s MGMT Dasunika in the Flyweight (under 52kg) contest. Malshani won the bronze medal at the Asian under 22 Boxing Championships in Uzbekistan.
NS Wellappili of Police was declared the Best Loser (women) after giving a plucky display against three-time National champion Nadeesha Pushpakumari of Vidyarathena in the minimum weight (under 48kg) contest.
Army received the Sgt Selladorai Challenge Cup for the most successful men’s team at Nationals winning nine golds, a silver and bronze. Rukmal Prasanna was their most impressive winner, outpointing Navy’s MGPKP Dayarathna in the featherweight (under 57kg) contest. He received the Eddie Gray Cup for the most outstanding men’s boxer of the year.
Air Force received the Nieva Embuldeniya Challenge trophy for the champion women’s team winning three golds, two silver and a bronze medal. The Dian Gomes Challenge Cup for the most outstanding woman boxer went to Air Force’s M.P.S.S. Cooray.
The final day of the 95th Nationals Boxing Championship was graced by Dian Gomes the Board Director of the International Boxing Association (IBA) and Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) saw the completion of 24 men and women bouts with the participation of 117 men and 40 women boxers from 20 clubs.
Final results
Men’s
Minimum weight (46-48kg):
HMLP Jayawardana (SLA) beat KASK Abeygunawardana (SLAR) WO
Fly weight (48-51kg):
GPU Mihiran (VUC) beat TKGK Raveendranath (SLAA) WP 5:0
Bantam weight (51-54kg):
RMP Dharmasena (SLA) beat HI Chamara (SLAR) WO
Featherweight (54-57kg): PAR Prasanna (SLA) beat MGPKP Dayarathna (SLN) WP 4:1
Light weight (57-60kg):
RPMPKK Rasnayaka (SLA) beat WRT Weerakkodi (SLAR) WO
Light Welter weight (63.5kg):
HMKC Ekanayaka (SLP) beat LSR Nayananda (SLA) WP 5:0
Welterweight (63-67kg):
TSPS Fernando (SLA) beat IPKL Ilangarathna (SLP) WP 4:1
Light Middleweight (67-71kg):
PMLL Chandra Bandara (SLA) beat DMG Dilshan (St John’s College, Nugegoda BC) WP 4:1
Middleweight (71-75kg):
WMGKGI Ariyarathna (SLN) beat WGNC Wijeynaga (SLAF) WP 5:0
Light Heavyweight (75-80kg):
HWGP Rathnasiri (SLP) beat WAMP Wariyapperuma (SLA) 5:0
Cruiserweight (80-86kg):
YSP Sudamma (SLA) beat HMPM Silva (SLAF) KO R1
Heavyweight (86-92kg):
PARS Rupasinghe (SLA) beat KMCK Karunanayake (SLN) WP 4:1
Super Heavyweight (92+kg):
UAW Avishka (SLA) beat ADRM Abeysinghe (SLAB) WO
Women’s
Minimum weight (45-48kg):
RAN Pushpakumari (VUCW) beat NS Wellappili (SLPW) WP 5:0
Light Flyweight (48-50kg):
HS Priyadarshani (SLA) beat PM Widanagamage (SLPW) WP 5:0
Flyweight (50-52kg):
LIN Malshani (SLAFW) beat MGMT Dasunika (SLAW) WP 5:0
Bantam weight (52-54kg):
KKIT Perera (SLAFW) beat GMMA Gunathilaka (SLPW) WP 5:0
Feather weight (54-57kg):
KAK Hansika (VUCW) beat GWGC Tharuka (SLPW) RSC R1
Lightweight (57-60kg):
MPSS Cooray (SLAFW) beat ENL Udayakumara (SLPW) RSC R1
Light Welterweight (60-63kg):
BRD Mendis (SLAW) beat WWAK Thiwanka (SLAFW) WP3:2
Light Middleweight (66-70kg):
GDL Sadekelum (SLPW) beat BLS Sadareka (Narandeniya BC)
Middle weight (70-75kg):
BS Heshani (VUCW) beat RPD Rajapaksa (SLPW) RSC R3
Light Heavyweight (75-81kg):
WS Sewwandi (SLPW) beat KAGN Kaluarachchi (SLAFW) WP3:2
Heavyweight (81+kg):
MMH Kawmini (Narandeniya BC) beat PDI Sewwandi (SLPW) WP 5:0
Gurnoor Brar did his burgeoning reputation a lot of good as he ran through Sri Lanka A to set up a simple 33-run chase for India A, who completed the formalities without fuss to win the two-match series of unofficial Test matches 1-0 in Galle. Brar picked up six wickets – to go with four in the first innings – as Sri Lanka A, starting their second innings on Sunday morning 177 in arrears, folded for 209. The 10 for 145 was by far Brar’s best in his short first-class career.
The day began with India A at 541 for 8 in their first innings after B Sai Sudarshan’s 168 and half-centuries from Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel and Saransh Jain, who was in the middle alongside Yash Thakur. The innings ended soon after when Thakur became left-arm spinner Keshara Nuwantha’s fifth victim – Ruturaj Gaikwad didn’t come back out to bat after retiring hurt on the third day.
Then the Brar show began, though there was help for him up top with Aaqib Nabi and Thakur picking up a wicket each to Brar’s two, as Sri Lanka A were 49 for 4 at the start of the 11th over, captain Sahan Arachchige, their century-maker from the first innings, among the wickets to fall.
The fightback for Sri Lanka A was a solo effort, courtesy Ashen Bandara, a white-ball international between 2021 and 2023, as he smashed the bowlers around for 87 in 86 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes. His partnership with the other Bandara, Anjala, was worth 70 runs, with Anjala contributing 17 of those.
The resistance ended when Brar returned to send back Anjala Bandara and followed it up with the wicket of Ashen Bandara to leave Sri Lanka A at 141 for 6, still well behind. Contributions from lower-order batters Nuwantha (26), Dilum Sudeera (21) and Asanka Manoj (12 not out) did help Sri Lanka A wipe out the deficit and get a lead, but only just. Brar completed his five-for when he sent back Sudeera, and then the six-for when he finished the innings with Dulaj Samuditha’s wicket. Jain, meanwhile, picked up two wickets.
Sai Sudharsan and Aman Mokhade knocked off the required runs in just 6.2 overs to complete the win, India A adding to their win in the 50-overs tri-series, with Afghanistan A the third team, earlier on the tour.
Scores:
India A 543 for 9 decl in 143.3 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 168, Devdutt Padikkal 94, Dhruv Jurel 53, Saransh Jain 70*; Keshara Nuwantha 5-159, Dilum Sudeera 3-102) and 36 for no loss in 6.2 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 25*, Aman Mokhade 11*) beat Sri Lanka A 366 in 110 overs (Sahan Arachchige 127; Gurnoor Brar 4-77, Saransh Jain 4-92) and 209 in 48.3 overs (Ashen Bandara 87; Gurnoor Brar 6-68, Saransh Jain 2-66) by ten wickets
[Cricinfo]
There are a lot of similarities between Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka.
Both have won four Grand Slam titles, been top of the world rankings and built their legacies on hard courts.
The big-hitting pair broke through on the WTA Tour around the same time, but their journeys have been very different.
While one peaked early, the other had a longer wait for success.
After they first met at the 2018 US Open – with Osaka going on to win her maiden major – they did not face each other again until 2026.
The pair have now faced each other three times in the space of three months – and today ( Sunday) they will go head-to-head again in a blockbuster fourth-round clash at Wimbledon.
(BBC)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to introduce a DRS certification system and explore the possibility of accrediting more vendors capable of supplying cost-effective Decision Review System (DRS) technology. The proposal is among the agenda items for the Annual Conference in Edinburgh, where the world governing body is also expected to grant Associate Membership to Mauritius. The Annual Conference is scheduled to be held from July 8 to 11.
“The ICC needs to ensure that DRS implementation undergoes a comprehensive assessment and testing process for both current DRS suppliers and potential suppliers. A DRS certification system will also be explored with a view to making cost-effective DRS options available that can serve the global game,” a source in the know explained.
Evacuations in Guam as super typhoon Bavi approaches
India A win series after Gurnoor Brar demolishes Sri Lanka A
China and Russia to hold annual joint naval drills
A rivalry renewed – Sabalenka and Osaka meet again
Iran’s China envoy vows ‘special’ Hormuz treatment for ‘friendly’ countries
ICC plans to widen DRS supplier base
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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