Sports
Achintha, Dilni among top contenders for Asian Youth Games
St. Aloysius’ College, Rathnapura athlete Lahiru Achintha is among the top contenders to secure a berth in the country’s track and field team for the up coming Asian Youth Games, which will be held in Manama, Bahrain in October.
The 16-year-old turned tables on South Asian Junior Championship medalliat Shavindu Aviska to win the Under 18 boys’ 1,500metres at the recently held Junior National Athletics Championship. He was also the winner of the 3,000 metres at the same championship. Incidentally, Achintha established new meet records on both occations.
Achintha is in his first year in the Under 18 age category and no other athlete has excelled the way he has done in the schools circuit since winning the Under 20 Cross Country title as a 14-year-old last year.
Achintha also made his mark overseas this year when he won a bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the Asian Youth Athletics Championship in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
He became the first youth athlete from Sri Lanka to have won a medal in the challenging discipline at the six editions old championship when he returned a time of 3:59.47 seconds to finish third.
With the organisers of the upcoming Asian Youth Games changing the age limit to make the event a precursor to next year’s Youth Olympics, Achintha has a great opportunity in Bahrain.
Sri Lanka Athletics is still in the dark about the number of quota places available for track and field and are yet to decide on the ‘long list’ for the regional event.
In the girls’ category, Lyceum International, Wattala athlete Dilni Rajapaksha is among the top contenders. Dilni excelled in horizontal jumps at the Junior National Athletics Championship. Competing in the Under 16 age category she renewed her own meet records in the long jump and the triple jump.
Despite competing in the Under 16 age category, her performances have been better than those in the Under 18 and Under 20 age categories.
Both Dilni and Achintha are eligible for the Senegal Youth Olympic Games to be held in 2026. They have proven beyond doubt that they are priming for greater achievements in the future.
by Reemus Fernando ✍️
Gaby Lewis has been rested for Ireland’s upcoming T20I tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies at home in Clontarf as she recovers from a recent leg injury but has been named captain – for the first time at a global event – for the T20 World Cup in June-July in England.
Orla Prendergast, the vice-captain for the World Cup, will lead the side in the tri-series in Lewis’ absence. No vice-captain has been named for the tri-series.
In terms of ins and outs, Jane Maguire, the right-arm medium pacer, has been ruled out of contention with an injury, but her sister Aimee Maguire, the left-arm orthodox spinner, has returned from her own injury and has been included in both squads. Apart from the missing Lewis, there are no changes from the squad for the tri-series, which is a 14-member line-up, for the World Cup.
At the T20 World Cup, Ireland have been grouped with tournament hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka and past winners West Indies.
Ireland are ranked ninth in the format, ahead of only Scotland (11th) among the teams in their group, and will start their World Cup campaign on the second day of competition, against Scotland in Manchester.
Ireland were most recently in action at the T20 World Cup qualifiers played in Nepal in January-February this year, and finished second to Bangladesh.
Lewis’ fitness will be key for Ireland at the World Cup, with her being their top-ranked batter, currently at joint-14th on the ICC T20I rankings. She was also the top run getter at the qualifiers with 276 runs in seven innings, scoring her runs at a strike rate of 119.48.
Prendergast is the next best at No. 26, followed by Amy Hunter at No. 29. Prendergast is also the seventh-ranked allrounder in women’s T20Is.
Ireland squad for women’s T20 World Cup
Gaby Lewis (capt), Orla Prendergast (vice-capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
Ireland squad for tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies
Orla Prendergast (capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
[Cricinfo]
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued a statement approving the members nominated for the new Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The appointments have been made by the Sports Minister in accordance with the powers vested under Section 39 (1) of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2437/24 dated May 21, 2025.
The members of the new selection committee are:
Kapila Wijegunawardena – Chairman
Amal Silva – Member
Brendon Kuruppu – Member
Waruna Waragoda – Member
Vanessa De Silva – Member
PM meets academic experts from the British Council
Gaby Lewis to lead Ireland at T20 World Cup
PM meets Sri Lankan community living in London
Kapila Wijegunawardena to head SLC’s new selection committee
Afghanistan refugee women’s team set for England tour under ECB initiative
DR Congo cancels World Cup training camp over Ebola outbreak
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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