Sports

Producing a continent best time smiling

Published

5 years ago

2021/01/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dilshi’s is the best time by an Asian born athlete in 2020

by Reemus Fernando

When Army’s Dilshi Kumarasinghe turned tables on senior contenders to win the women’s 800 metres title at the 98th National Athletics Championship a journalist acquainted with statistics asked in disbelief: ‘can you run a personal best smiling.’ In fact the former Ratnayake Central, Walala runner’s winning time of 2:02.80 seconds was not only her personal best but also the best time run by an Asian born athlete this year according to the statistics updated by World Athletics on Wednesday.

This piece of statistic should not be misunderstood with her Asian ranking. Her personal best has powered her from 14 in 2019 to sixth place in Asian rankings with compatriots Nimali Liyanarachchi and Gayanthika Abeyratne still occupying third and fifth ranks in Asia. Though it would take a couple of good performances to improve her Asian and World rankings further, her outstanding performance will attract the interest of many as it is the fastest time run by an Asian born athlete this year. Asia’s fastest time was run by Bahrain’s Kenyan born Nelly Jepkosgei in October.

What was remarkable in Dilshi’s victory was the ease in which she produced the notable performance. She was actually smiling, and as pointed out later by her coach Susantha Fernando she was very relaxed even during the punishing phase of the race and ‘did not use up everything in the tank.’

The 21-year-old also shattered a psychological barrier in winning as she edged out the higher ranked favourites. At the 2019 Nationals she played second fiddle to experienced Nimali Liyanarachchi finishing second in 2:04.48 seconds. That was a year after she had won the Asian Junior Championship and the South Asian Junior Championship medals.

Last year, when she was entrusted with the task of taking the place of experienced Nimali and 400 metres champion Nadeesha Ramanayake at the South Asian Games she did it with aplomb. She won three golds and emerged as the most successful athlete from Sri Lanka. Despite training being hampered at times due to the pandemic this year, she has kept up to her promise kindling new hopes. Up until last week talk was of a two horse race to the Olympic spot in the women’s 800 metres. But now there are three which augur well for the discipline.

It is no easy task slashing seconds from her personal best and achieving the direct Olympic entry standard of 1:59.50 seconds. But with a few months remaining for the cutoff date and Sri Lanka Athletics looking forward to conduct a couple of meets ahead of the Asian Athletics Championships and the Olympics enthusiasts can keep their fingers crossed.

Sri Lanka Athletics took a tough decision to conduct the 98th National Athletics Championship before the year-end under trying conditions. Athletes were without competitions since the South Asian Games in 2019. Special emphasis had to be given to conduct the four day event under strict health guidelines due to the outbreak of a second wave of the Covid 19 pandemic. With athletes like Dilshi performing up to expectations Sri Lanka Athletics’ decision to conduct the Nationals has paid off.

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Sports

St. Benedict’s, Devapathiraja record victories

Published

2 hours ago

2025/12/22

Thilina Walpola

St. Benedict’s registered innings and two runs win over Sri Dharmaloka College Kelaniya as Mevan Dissanayake excelled with impressive all round performances for the home team in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘B’ Cricket encounter at Kotahena.

‎It was a baptism of fire for the team from Kelaniya as they faced a well established school in the Tier ‘B’ two-day tournament for the first time after being promoted to the top Division of the premier schools cricket tournament.

‎They faced St. Joseph Vaz’s College earlier but their opponents were making their return to the top division. They managed to draw the first encounter.

‎At Kotahena they were dismissed for 188 and 105. Dissanayake bagged eight wickets including a five wicket haul in the second innngs to follow up his knock of 91 which set the stage for victory.

‎‎Meanwhile in another Tier B encounter Devapathiraja bounced back to pull off one wicket victory over St. Anthony’s Wattala.

‎The boys from Wattala did well to restrict Devapathiraja to 95 runs and take a lead of 29 runs. But Pijith Wathsuka, Gimhan Rasanjana, Sandaru Malshan and Yasiru Lakshan teamed up well to pull off a stunning win

‎‎‎Bens in innings win at Kotahena

‎‎Scores

‎‎St. Benedict’s 295 for 9 decl. in 56.4 overs (Mevan Dissanayake 91, Vihanga Rathnayake 42, Yohan Edirisinghe 31, Ayesh Gajanayake 49; Sathindu Praboda 4/98, Tharusha Mihiranga 2/66)

‎Sri Dharmaloka

188 all out in 56.3 overs (Senuka Pehesara 53, Kaveen Deneth 79; Ayesh Gajanayake 2/31, Mewan Dissanayake 3/55, Vihanga Rathnayke 4/19) and 105 all out in 35.4 overs (Vipun Sasanka 21, Tharush Mihiranga 32; Mewan Dissanayake 5/29, Vihanga Rathnayake 2/36, Lithika Jayasundara 3/34)

‎‎Devapathiraja in exciting one wicket win at Wattala

‎‎Scores

‎St. Anthony’s 124 all out in 30.4 overs (Shehara Dewthilina 51, Sandil Chathuranga 21, Rima Bashika 21n.o.; Sandaru Malshan 2/23, Puljith Wathsuka 4/19, Gimhan Rasanjana 3/13) and 100 all out in 43 overs (Hithesh Ruwanda 42n.o., ; Sandaru Malshan 5/40, Gimhan Rasanjana 2/37)

‎Devapathiraja

95 all out in 33.2 overs (Gimhan Rasanjana 24n.o., Ridma Bashika2/36, Vishmitha Saroj 2/22, Kavindu Senadi 4/33) and 131 for 9 in 26.3 overs (Yasiru Lakshan 26, Pulgith Wathsuka 28, Gimhan Rasanjana 42; Rima Bashika 2/18, Kavindu Senadi 4/48, Wishmitha Saroj 2/43)

by Reemus Fernando ✍️

Latest News

Rodrigues fifty leads India’s chase after bowlers set up victory against Sri Lanka

Published

9 hours ago

2025/12/21

Priyan

Jemimah Rodrigues got off to a brisk start [BCCI]

There was a little bit of rustiness as India returned to action 50 days after becoming ODI world champions, but not so much to prevent them from registering a dominant win in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam.

Despite dew being a constant presence on a cool evening, India’s spinners rallied to keep Sri Lanka’s top order in check – even if they did not pick up wickets in a heap – thus restricting them to 121 for 6. It was a below-par total given that the dew was only going to increase as the temperatures reduced – something Harmanpreet Kaur had alluded to while choosing to chase at the toss. India made easy work of it to get home with eight wickets and 32 balls to spare, starting their road to the T20 World Cup 2026 in June on the right note.

Jemimah Rodrigues, batting for the 100th time in T20Is, struck a 14th half-century in the format to help the hosts canter. There was a mild intrigue around India’s No. 3, with Harleen Deol batting at that spot for two games in England, and Harmanpreet signaling her intent to be India’s one drop at the last T20 World Cup. But Rodrigues’ 69 not out from 44 balls should dispel any doubts India would have had.

This was India’s sixth win in ten games since being knocked out in the league stage of the 2024 iteration.

Brief scores:
India Women 122 for 2 in 14.4 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 69*, Smriti Mandhana 25, Harmanpreet Kaur 15*; Kawya Kavindi 1-20, Inoka Ranaweera 1-17) beat Sri Lanka Women 121 for 6 in 20 overs (Vishmi Gunaratne 39, Chamari Athapaththu 15, Hasini Perera 20, Harshita Samarawickrama 21; Deepti Sharma 1-20, Kranti Gaud 1-23, Shree Charani 1-30) by eight wickets

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

Sameer Minhas 172 powers Pakistan to Under-19 Asia Cup title

Published

9 hours ago

2025/12/21

Priyan

Sameer Minhas made the highest score by a Pakistan batter in Youth ODIs [Cricinfo]

Opener Sameer Minhas blitzed his way to 172 off 113 balls, setting up Pakistan’s demolition of India in thDeepeshe Under-19 Asia Cup final in Dubai. In response to Pakistan’s 347 for 8, India folded for 156 in 26.2 overs.

Minhas’ knock was the highest individual score for Pakistan, and also, the highest individual score by any batter in a final in Youth ODIs. He hit 17 fours and nine sixes during his stay, and fell in the 43rd over, finishing with a strike rate of 152.21.

In response, Vaibhav Suriyawvanshi – having scored 5, 50, 9 and 26 in tournament since his 171 against UAE – made an explosive start to India’s chase. He smashed three sixes and a four, but Ali Raza had him nicking off for 26 off 10 balls. India had reached their fifty in the fifth over and by the end of the powerplay, they were 68 for 5.

Pakistan came into the final having bowled out each of their opposing batting line-ups in the tournament. This contest was no different – four Pakistan bowlers shared wickets among them, with Raza prising out three more wickets to finish with match figures of 4 for 42.

India were reduced to 120 for 9, but Deepesh Devendran offered some late resistance with 36 off 16 balls, including six fours and two sixes. No other India batter passed 30 in the chase. India’s innings ended when Raza had Devendran holing out in the 27th over.

Earlier in the day, Devendran had copped punishment from the Pakistan batters, conceding 83 runs in his ten overs though he took three wickets at the death.

Minhas was well-supported by Ahmed Hussain – the only other batter to cross fifty in the innings. Hussain made 56 off 72 balls and added 137 for the third wicket along with Minhas.

Pakistan faced a slight slowdown in the death overs, especially once Minhas was dismissed – they only managed 71 runs in the final ten for the loss of five wickets. Devendran took three of those wickets, but his death bowling was a footnote by the time he swung for the hills in India’s chase, and was eventually caught at point.

Pakistan wrapped up a 191-run win and tuned up nicely for the upcoming Under-19 World Cup.

Brief scores:
Pakistan Under 19s 347 for 8 in 50 overs (Sameer Minhas 172, Ahmed Hussain 56, Usman Khan 35; Henil Patel 2-62, Deepesh Devendran 3-83, Khilan Patel 2-44 ) beat India Under 19s 156 in 26.2 overs (Deepesh Devendran 36, Vaibhav Suryawanshi 26; Ali Raza 4-42, Mohammed Sayyam 2-38, Huzaif Ahsan 2-12) by 191 runs

[Cricinfo]