Sports
Tharushi: Following in the footsteps of Asian Games legends
by Reemus Fernando
Asian Games medallist Tharushi Karunaratne is following in the footsteps of some Sri Lankan legends who stole the limelight at the Asian Games while pursuing university education in the US. The 19-year-old who represented Sri Lanka at the Paris Olympics was scheduled to leave for the US on Saturday (31) to follow a management degree at the Tulane University, Louisiana which had offered her a full scholarship. Will she replicate the legendary achievements of the likes of S.L.B. Rosa and the late Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam or will she fade into the oblivion like many who disappeared from the sporting radar after commencing higher education in the US?
Hailing from a not so well to do family and after encountering numerous obstacles which would have otherwise forced her to give up sports prematurely, Tharushi has accomplished targets many top level athletes had dreamt of achieving for decades. Her predecessors, Gayanthika Abeyratne and Nimali Liyanarachchi had toiled hard for nearly two decades before they came closer to breaking Sriyani Dammika Menike’s 1992 national record. The Sooriyawewa duo had won Sri Lanka honours at regional level in the 800 metres but Asian Games medals kept eluding them. Susantha Fernando transformed Tharushi from a mere schools games record holder to a near sub two minute athlete and an Asian Games gold medallist while she was still in her teens.
The gold medal has transformed Tharushi and her family as the financial rewards that came her way has helped her take independent decisions. Whether it will work for her or not in the sports front she is going to a university of her choice and the scholarship she has received will enable her to concentrate on her education fully. When current national high jump record holder Ushan Thivanka went to the US for higher education he had to work extra hours to pay for his education and to support his parents.
Of the Sri Lankan athletes who sought higher education opportunities in the US, Olympians Ethirveerasingam, Rosa and Manjula Kumara stand out as they continued to represent Sri Lanka at international events while pursuing higher education. Ethirveerasingam and Rosa went on to win Asian Games medals while pursuing education in the US. Thivanka improved the national record to South Asian regional record heights but has not represented Sri Lanka for years now. Thrower Charith Kapukotuwa too went on to break national records while studying in the US though he did not get opportunities to represent Sri Lanka.
Asian Junior Championship (2012) medalist Supun Viraj Randeniya was one of the brightest prospects to emerge. The former Ranabima Royal athlete did well in his first couple of years in the US. But the athlete whom many enthusiasts predicted would one day break Mahesh Perera’s national record never represented Sri Lanka thereafter.
High jumper Poornima Gunarathna was the last Sri Lankan (top level) female athlete to seek higher education in the US. She had a personal best of 1.80 metres (2018) before she went to the US. Her last (World Athletics) recorded performance is a mediocre 1.60m (2022). Like Gunarathna, there had been many others who had shown a lot of promise in their teenage years but had either given up on sports or had failed to strike a balance between sports and education in the ‘land of opportunities’.
Tharushi earned Sri Lanka its first Asian Games gold medal in track and field in decades. Will she go on to win more accolades or will the Ratnayake Central athlete be remembered only for her heroics in China?
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports to establish the proposed National Higher Performance Centre for atletes.
India opener Shafali Verma has received an official reprimand and a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second T20I against Zimbabwe on Sunday.
Shafali, an ICC release said, breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”
It was Shafali’s first offence in a 24-month period.
The incident occurred in the 12th over of Zimbabwe’s innings when Shafali threw the ball into the ground in frustration after dropping a chance at mid-off offered by Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano off Sree Charani.
Shafali admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee GS Lakshmi, which meant there was no need for a formal hearing.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
India currently lead the three-match series 2-0 with the third game to be played on Tuesday evening. The T20Is will be followed by three ODIs in Vadodara from October 23.
(Cricinfo)
A total of 146 players will be competing for 27 available slots in the WPL 2027 mini auction on October 28 in Kochi. Of these, England batter Sophia Dunkley and Australia captain Sophie Molineux are the only two players who have listed themselves at the maximum base price of INR 50 lakh.
The auction pool has 119 Indian players, including 22 capped and 97 uncapped players, with 20 slots available for Indian players. The overseas pool has 27 players – 14 capped and 13 uncapped – including six from Associate teams, with seven slots available.
G Kamalini (released by Mumbai Indians), Kiran Navigre (released by U P Warriorz), Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen have registered at the second-highest base price of INR 40 lakh, while a total of 30 players have registered at INR 30 lakh.
Among the notable absentees are West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin, who was released by UPW, and Australia legspinner Alana King, who was released by Delhi Capitals. Lizelle Lee, who was DC’s highest run-scorer last season, has also not listed herself after being released by the franchise.
What the teams look like going into the auction
Only two English players – Dunkley and Kira Chathli (INR 10 lakh) – have registered for the auction, with several others, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Dani Gibson, Lauren Filer and Linsey Smith opting to skip the WPL next year.
Cricinfo has learned that England are likely to play three T20Is in Sri Lanka in early February, which will clash with the final week of the WPL. While the ECB is likely to allow players to stay in India to complete the tournament, most players have instead chosen to prioritise their international commitments ahead of the Champions Trophy later that month.
The relatively low salaries on offer at the WPL are also understood to be a factor in many English players deciding not to register, with most internationals earning significantly more to play in the Hundred (up to £190,000 last year) than the highest permitted base price in the WPL of INR 50 lakh (£40,000 approx).
Molineux was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru [RCB] title-winning squad in 2024, and had bagged 12 wickets in ten games at an economy rate of 7.31. She was retained by RCB for the 2025 season but a knee injury ruled her out of the season. Dunkley, meanwhile, played for Gujarat Giants [GT] in 2023 before opting not to register for the 2024 season. She went unsold in the 2025 auction.
Among the premier internationals who have listed themselves for INR 30 lakh are Australia allrounder Grace Harris (released by RCB), Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, South Africa left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and South Africa allrounder Chloe Tryon.
UPW, who released nine players, will go into the auction with the biggest purse of INR 3.75 crore.
[Cricinfo]
Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 08 of 2026
Draft Bill of the Public Private Partnership Enterprises Act to be gazzetted
Amendment of the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961
Cabinet nod to amend the Sri Lanka Development Administration Institute Act No. 9 of 1982
Establishment of the National Higher Performance Centre
State patronage for the cremation ceremony of the late deputy prelate (Anu Nayaka Thero) of the Sri Laka Ramangya Maha Nikaya, Gatambe Rajopawanramadhipatha, Siri Chandawimala Wanshalankara, Chandrakeerthi Sri Amarawansha, Sadhdharmawageeshwara, Shasanashobhanna Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimalabhidhana Thero
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