Sports

Yupun off to a blistering start before injury scare

Published

3 years ago

2023/05/26

Thilina Walpola

Yupun Abeykoon clocked 10.01 seconds to be placed second in the men’s 100 metres final

by Reemus Fernando

Sprinter Yupun Abeykoon produced a remarkable season-opening time before leaving fans wondering as to what slowed him down dramatically in the last few metres to be placed second in the 100 metres final of the Savona International Meet in Italy on Wednesday.

The Italy-based sprinter clocked 10.04 (+2.7 wind) in the heats before returning a wind-aided 10.01 seconds (+2.7) in the final. He was placed second behind Reece Prescod of Britain who clocked 9.94 seconds.

Soon after the final, the fans who watched his impressive performance online were left to wonder whether it was an injury that slowed him down in the last few metres of the race.

In a social media post yesterday Abeykoon said that he had been advised by his physiotherapist to go for a MRI scan 72 hours after the event to assess his situation. The athlete’s Sri Lankan manager was not available for comments.

The wind-aided performance was the fastest start the Sri Lankan record holder had in a season-opening meet. Incidentally, Yupun is the only Sri Lankan athlete to have run that fast with or without the support of the wind. Abeykoon became the first South Asian to clock sub 10 seconds in the track and field’s most glamorous discipline when he returned a time of 9.96 seconds in a meet held in July last year.

Since then Sri Lanka Athletics has been looking forward for him to end Sri Lanka’s medal drought at international competitions. The former Joseph Vaz College athlete ended the country’s long wait for a medal when he clinched a bronze medal at the last Commonwealth Games.

Currently, Abeykoon is the highest-ranked Sri Lankan male athlete. He is also the only athlete to be within the required range of the World Rankings to be eligible for this year’s World Championships to be held in Budapest. Currently, Abeykoon is in the creditable 19th position in the ‘Road to Budapest 2023’ rankings which lists eligible athletes for the respective events of the World Championships.

He was set to compete against a star-studded lineup that includes world champion Fred Kerley, Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs and Kenyan world leader in the 100 metres this season, Ferdinand Omanyala at the upcoming Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Florence on June 2. His availability for the event will be known only after the MRI scan which will be performed later this week.

All News Advertisement

Up Next

Which teams can qualify for the Cricket World Cup 2023

Don't Miss

Zimbabwe knocked out of World Cup contention

Click to comment

Sports

India closing in on big win in Colombo

Published

4 mins ago

2026/08/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sonal Dinusha’s impressive run in the series continued as he posted back to back hundreds, but India are in total control of the game

by Rex Clementine

India are closing in on a big win at SSC after Sri Lanka slumped to 229 for six at stumps on day four of the second Test having been forced to follow on yesterday.

Sri Lanka lead by just 16 runs with four wickets in hand and with three sessions remaining, the tourists will be looking to wrap up victory and complete a 2-0 series sweep. India won the first Test in Galle by 165 runs.

Sonal Dinusha, who batted superbly for a hundred in the first innings, was unbeaten on seven when rain brought play to a premature end. With Sri Lanka now into the tail, Dinusha has his work cut out. He has been the hosts’ standout performer in the series, having also made 100 and 84 in Galle.

Sri Lanka resumed the day on 265 for eight, still needing 39 runs to avoid the follow on, but were bowled out for 290 and asked to bat again.

Although they lost both openers early, Kamindu Mendis and Pasindu Sooriyabandara gave Sri Lanka hope with a 115 run stand for the third wicket.

Sooriyabandara, who had made 80 in the first innings, once again played spin superbly, using clever footwork, while Mendis took on the fast bowlers.

But India had plenty of runs on the board and persisted with the short ball against Mendis, stationing three fielders on the boundary. Eventually, the plan paid off. Mendis took on Mohammed Siraj and perished for 55, with captain Shubman Gill running in from square leg to complete a fine catch.

That was the breakthrough India desperately wanted and the spinners quickly turned the screws. Three wickets fell for just nine runs as Sri Lanka surrendered the initiative and India regained control.

Sooriyabandara missed out on a well deserved hundred when he charged Manav Suthar. The left-arm spinner cleverly fired the ball wide, leaving the batter stranded as Rishabh Pant whipped off the bails in a flash. Sooriyabandara’s 92 came off 173 balls and contained ten fours and a six.

Having spent considerable time in the field, India’s bowlers were beginning to tire, evident from the number of loose deliveries they sent down. But Sri Lanka’s batters lacked the patience to drive home the advantage, with several throwing away their wickets just when the hosts appeared to be clawing their way back into the contest.

Sports

Sri Lanka Air Force win Overall Championship at 14th Defence Services Badminton Championship

Published

4 mins ago

2026/08/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Sri Lanka Airforce Men's and Women's Badminton Teams with officials

Sri Lanka Air Force emerged Overall Champions in both the Men’s and Women’s categories at the 14th Defence Services Badminton Championship concluded successfully on 21 August 2026 at the Sri Lanka Army Indoor Sports Complex, Panagoda.

The SLAF Men’s Team secured the Open Men’s Doubles and Men’s Team Championships, while the Women’s Team excelled by winning the Open Women’s Singles, Open Women’s Doubles and Women’s Team Championships.

In the Open Men’s Doubles, Leading Aircraftman Lochana De Silva and Aircraftman Achintha Imeshaqe secured the championship, while Aircraftwoman Praveena Wijesundara and Aircraftwoman Anurangi Masakorala claimed the Open Women’s Doubles title with Aircraftwoman Praveena Wijesundara winning the Open Women’s Singles Championship.

Major General Mohan Premaratne, President of the Sri Lanka Army Badminton Federation, was the Chief Guest at the awards ceremony while SLAF’s Director Sports Air Commodore Prabath Dissanayake, former Chairman Badminton Sri Lanka Air Force Air Commodore Poojana Gunathilake, Secretary Air Force Sports Council Group Captain Eranda Geeganage and Secretary Badminton Sri Lanka Air Force Wing Commander Thushara Wijeratne. were also present.

Sports

Malki and Shashini bowl Sri Lanka Air Force to a 169 run win

Published

5 mins ago

2026/08/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

Malki Madara / Shahini Fernando

Malki Madara and Shashini Fernando shared nine wickets between them to help Sri Lanka Air Force Women beat Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women by 169 runs and propel their team to the semi finals of the Major Club Womens Limited Over cricket tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket.

In the game played at their home ground in Katunayake on Monday [24], Sri Lanka Air Force posted 276 runs for the loss of eight wickets with Ashani Kaushalya topping the score card with 57 runs off 81 balls with ten hits to the ropes.Sasini Alwis and Wethumya Wijesuriya captured three wickets each.

Chasing 277 to win Shashini Fernando captured five wickets while Malki Madara captured four wickets to restrict the Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women to 107. Skipper Sanduni Nisansala scored 38 off 61 balls with four boundaries and a six.

Sri Lankan Air Force Women will meet Panadura Sports Club Women for the semi-final at the LRDC ground on Friday (28)

Scores:

Sri Lanka Air Force Women 276/8 in 50 overs [Ashani Kawshalya 57, Malsha Shehani 32, Savindi Cooray 34*; Sasini Alwis 2-48, Wethumya Wijesuriya 2-67]

Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women 107/10 in 43.5 overs [Sanduni Nisansala 38; Malki Madara 4-14, Shashini Fernando 5-09]