Sports
Sri Lanka Junior National Sailing Team makes waves at IODA Championship
Royalist Yusef Hazari, reigning national champ placed 7th
The Sri Lankan junior national sailing team successfully completed seven days of the IODA Asian and Oceanian championship in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday.Sri Lanka’s reigning national sailing champ, Yusef Hazari of Royal College, clinched seventh place in the Silver fleet, coming in second in the final race.
“It was my first experience at an international sailing event on seas outside Sri Lanka, and it was fantastic,” said Yusef. “I hope to win a podium place next year,” he said.
Despite being the underdogs amongst the 101 participants, the team sailed alongside champions of the seas including Thailand, the US, Belgium, Japan and Singapore. For most of the youngsters aged between 13 and 15, this year’s IODA Asian and Oceanian championship was the first international event, as they missed out on the previous two years’ championship due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and they are determined to win next year.
“Out of all the sporting events we have participated in, this has been the most competitive and exciting one,” said twins Kyoshi and Kyasha Samarakkody. “We’re looking forward to qualify and win at the next one.”
The young Sri Lankans made up for their lack of experience on international waters, with grit and determination. While other teams funded by government bodies including the army and the navy, participate in at least six international events throughout the year, for the self-funded Sri Lankan team, the annual Asian and Oceanian championship is the only international event they participate as a team.
“We have a fantastic team with incredible talent,” said Krishan Janaka, Sri Lanka’s national sailing coach. “The more the children participate in different seas with different sailors, the more experience they will gain. We have world champion material amongst our midst, they just don’t have enough experience,” he said. “With the right exposure, these are world class sailors.”
This year 13 teams with 101 participants raced at the annual IODA Asian and Oceanian championship, which is one of the most prestigious Optimist racing events.
The event began with a gala opening ceremony on December 13, followed by practice races December 14. The individual races kicked off on December 15 where the Sri Lankan team was placed in the Silver Fleet. The young sailors did well throughout the individual races on December 16 with Yusef Hazari placed 9th, followed by Tharen Nanayakkara in 17th place.
Team racing kicked off on day four, with Sri Lanka’s A team consisting of Yusef Hazari, twins Tharen Nanayakkara and Nikhil Nanayakkara, Minuga Hettigamage and Chathuni Marapperuma, pitted against Thailand, that won overall second place. Sri Lanka’s B team made up of Akash De Simon, Vinuk Senaratne, twins Kyoshi Samarakkody and Kyasha Samarakkody and Sohanya de Mel went up against the final winning team Singapore.
The last two days of individual racing on December 18 and 19, saw trials and tribulations by the young Sri Lankan team as they fought alongside experienced sailors. Yusef Hazari sailed in 2nd place with Kyoshi Samarakkody coming in 10th position and Nikhil Nanayakkara following close behind in 11th place on the last day.
At the end of the seven-day event, Yusef Hazari was placed 7th, Kyoshi Samarakkody came in 22nd place, Kyasha Samarakkody in 26th place, Nikhil Nanayakkara in 28th , followed by Tharen Nanayakkara in 30th place. Minuga Hettigamage was placed 35th, Sohanya de Mel came in 42nd, Vinuk Senaratne in 44th place, Akash De Simon following close in 45th place and Chathuni Marapperuma in 47th place.
The sailors raced in low winds of 6 to 9 knots and low tides the first three days. The winds picked up in the last two days of racing to 15 to 19 knots. The last of the 10 races was cancelled due to time constraints.
This year’s 10-member Sri Lanka team is made up of Yusef Hazari and Minuga Hettigamage from Royal College; Twins Tharen Nanayakkara and Nikhil Nanayakkara, Akash de Simon and Vinuk Senaratne from S. Thomas’s College, Mt. Lavinia; twins Kyoshi Samarakkody and Kyasha Samarakkody and Sohanya de Mel from Ladies’ College; and Chathuni Marapperuma from Visakha Vidyalaya.
Thailand’s Chanatip Tongglum was the overall winner of the IODA Asian and Oceanian championship this year, with Ethan Chia and Nicol Lim from Singapore coming in second and third respectively.
“Although we did not obtain a medal, our sailors have done really well and gained a wealth of experience,” said Sarath Kuragama, COO of the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka
This year’s IODA Asian and Oceanian championship participants came from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Belgium, the USA, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Taipei, the UAE and host nation India.IODA holds world championships as well as regional championships each year, and next year’s Asian and Oceanian championship is scheduled to be held in the UAE.
England Women 81 for 3 in 13.5 overs (Sophia Dunkley 22, Mala Bouchier 19*, Heather Knight 18; Bree Illing 1-20, Nensi Patel 1-07, Melle Kerr 1-18) beat New Zealand Women 80 in 19.1 overs (Isabella Gaze 17, Maddy Green 14, Jess Kerr 20; Linsey Smith 2-15, Issy Wong 1-20, Sophia Ecclestone 1-11, Charlie Dean 3-13, Dani Gibson 3-14) by seven wickets
Royal Challengers Bengaluru [RCB] might look at Gujarat Titans [GT] across the ring in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026, and wonder if they helped create this monster. When GT went to Bengaluru on April 24, they were still a conservative side straddling the middle of the table, and happy with a 57-ball hundred from their opener. But they have been a changed unit since RCB cruised to that chase of 206 against them that day.
Since that match, the halfway point for GT, their run rate has increased by nearly a run per over. That is 20 runs per innings. By the time they faced RCB next, they were giving more importance to balls remaining than to wickets in hand while chasing. When batting first, GT were looking to score above par; there has been a pair of 229s in the two matches they have batted first in since that Bengaluru debacle.
The thing with GT is that they have a team with such strong basics that they don’t need to make only subtle changes to their approach. Their control rate has gone from 80% to 75%. A little more risk, a lot more rewards. Their bowling has only become more streamlined over this period with Jason Holder adding constant threat to an already good attack. The result is a 6-1 win-loss record in the second half of their tournament.
RCB, though, have been solid throughout, carrying forward the change in approach that took them to the title last year. They won five in the first half and four in the second. They have consistently looked to finish matches early or set above-par scores when batting first. A second consecutive top-two finish is just rewards for being the most consistently good side over this period.
They will want to make it straight from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad, where they won their first title last year. Not only to make the final but to also hope to avoid meeting GT in a final at their home, something that should be the right of defending champions. Not least because GT are on a four-match winning streak at home, which includes two wins despite losing the toss.
RCB have used the fewest number of players this IPL, a sign of a settled unit. It would certainly have been fewer if not for the injury to Phil Salt, who is now back in India and racing against time to be ready in time for the playoffs. If he doesn’t make it, though, it brings in the temptation to drop Suyash Sharma for Jacob Duffy considering Suyash has not had a great IPL, and night games in Dharamsala can negate spinners. In fact, Dharamsala hosted the only completed match this season where no spin was used.
Venkatesh Iyer has made a case for himself in the limited opportunities he has got, but Salt should be a no-brainer as opener if he is fit.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable): Virat Kohli, Phil Salt/Venkatesh Iyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Jitesh Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy/Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam
GT have played the second-fewest number of players. They seem to have their first XI figured with Nishant Sindhu being persisted with as the extra batter. Their only doubt remains around the Impact Player: extra fast bowler in Prasidh Krishna or extra spinner in R Sai Kishore or Manay Suthar.
Gujarat Titans (probable): Shubman Gill (capt), B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Nishant Sindhu, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna/R Sai Kishore/Manav Suthar
[Cricinfo]
Aken Thilakawardhana produced an impressive all-round display as St. Sylvester’s registered a huge 101-run victory over Sri Rahula, Katugastota in their Under 17 Division I first round cricket encounter at Katugastota on Monday.
Chasing a target of 219 runs for victory, the home team never looked in contention as wickets fell at regular intervals before they were bowled out for 117 runs in the 34th over.
St. Sylvester’s bowlers struck early to put Sri Rahula under pressure, with Sasiru Dineth and Sakuna de Silva reducing the hosts to 18 for three wickets. Aken then joined the attack to further dismantle the batting line-up, claiming three wickets to cap an outstanding all-round performance.
Aken, who had earlier contributed a valuable 48 runs with the bat, finished with impressive figures of 3 for 24.
Sri Rahula’s innings was led by Savinu Mendis, who top scored with 28 runs, but lacked support from the other batsmen as St. Sylvester’s maintained control throughout the chase. Sasiru Dineth returned figures of 3 for 33, while Sakuna de Silva too two for 23.
Earlier, put to bat first, St. Sylvester’s posted a competitive 218 all out in 49.2 overs after receiving a brisk start from opener Adithya Ranamukage. He raced to a half-century in just 35 deliveries, smashing nine boundaries and two sixes in an aggressive knock.
Nithil Herath contributed 25 runs, Keshan Perera made 27, while Aken added 48 to strengthen the innings. Vihanga Perera also chipped in with 23 runs.
For Sri Rahula, Chamindu Sathsara was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 55, while Shehan Weddagala, Praboth de Silva and Savinu Mendis claimed two wickets apiece.
Scores:
St. Sylvester’s
218 all out in 49.2 overs (Adithya Ranamukage 50, Nithil Herath 25, Keshan Perera 27, Aken Thilakawardhana 48, Vihanga Perera 23; Shehan Weddagala 2/31, Chamindu Sathsara 3/55, Praboth de Silva 2/24, Savinu Mendis 2/31)
Sri Rahula Katugastota
117 all out in 33.2 overs (Savinu Mendis 28; Sasiru Dineth 3/33, Sakuna de Silva 2/23, Aken Thilakawardhana 3/24). (RF)
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