Sports

Anjalika is back with a bang after a break for studies

Published

4 years ago

2021/12/31

by A Special Sports Correspondent

Young tennis sensation Anjalika Kurera has returned to tennis with a bang after a break for studies and bagged two major women’s open singles titles thus far.

She is one of those players who knows where she is going, has a plan and works her plan. Stopping to complete her GCE O’ Levels was intentional because she is hell-bent on balancing both studies and sport. And she agrees it was hard to comeback after the layoff because she had little practice and hardly any time for physical training.

She beat two of the most competitive players in the women’s circuit Neyara Weerawansa in the Colombo Championships and Janali Manamperi in the ongoing Nationals. “It was really hard for me to win because all the players are playing well,” said Anjalika in an interview with The Island.

She is modest, humble and values her beginnings and the people who helped her in her tennis journey; where she aims at playing in the Wimbledon and becoming world number one hopefully. These are her thoughts and she is willing to work hard because tennis is a demanding sport where talent needs to be supplemented with financial backing if one aspires to reach great heights.

She hails from Negombo and was first coached by one Pahirathan before receiving input from several other reputed coaches. Sudantha Soysa, Sylvester Francis, Renuk Wijemanna, Barathi Pillai, her school tennis teacher Miss Pushpa Perera and Niranjan Casichetty, as her present coach, have contributed immensely towards her tennis achievements.

Away from the tennis court’s hustle and bustle and excitement there is another source of strength where she draws inspiration and strength from. As a devout Christian she also spends time in prayer and said “I’m small made, but God has given me the talent to play tennis”.

She is a member in a closely knit family and receives the backing from her mom, dad, sister and brother. But she has chosen an individual sport and that makes it harder for her to keep playing and pursue more glory. Her commitment for the sport is such that she travels daily to Colombo from Negombo for training. That could be because she knows that the tennis hub is in Colombo and she has to be rooted in the island’s business capital where sports and other exciting and money spinning activities take place.

Tennis is an expensive sport and it would be lovely if a sponsor comes her way and boosts her career like it happens in other parts of the tennis world. According to Anjalika there have been occasions where financial constraints have come in the way of her participating at ‘women’s future tournaments’.

All this has been achieved by age 17. And the demands of the game have perhaps had a toll on her thus far. She said she has a troubling back injury at present, but she managed to overcome all the challenges in the present tournament she is competing in. Perhaps every player will encounter a back injury sometime during his/her career and it seems Anjalika has faced it rather prematurely. Looking on the bright side of it such injuries teach valuable lessons and make you a better player; example Wasim Akram in cricket. The good news for her is that she is quite young hence with proper conditioning of the back muscle and strength training she could have complete recovery of the injury.

She has contested many overseas tournaments as a national player. Anjalika was ranked 575 in the world among under 18 girls by the ITF in 2019. She hopes to play in ITF tournaments lined up for the coming year.

She needs guidance, exposure and to maintain her will to become the top contender at all future tournaments here in Sri Lanka. No challenge at a tournament played here in Sri Lanka is complete without the participation of Anika Senewiratne. “I love playing against Anika because she is so talented. She is the toughest player to beat from the ones around and I managed to overcome her in past tournaments at the Colombo Championships and Nationals,” said Anjalika.

She praises her school Ave Maria Convent in Negombo, its Principal Sister Shirmila Jayawardena, teachers and her best friends for the constant support and encouragement extended to her during her career in tennis.

She said that she constantly judges herself because she wants to make improvements. And most importantly she believes in the fact that she was born to play tennis and has the talent to pursue the sport. She concluded by saying “I love tennis. Tennis is my life”.

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Sports

Sri Lanka Under 19s pull off two wickets win against Afghanistan

Published

18 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka Under 19s scored back to back victories as Mahanama College batsman Chamika Heenatigala anchored the tail with an unbeaten half century to seal two wickets victory over Afghanistan U19s in their second group match of the Under 19 Asia Cup in Dubai on Monday.

‎Chasing 236 runs to win Sri Lanka U19s were eight wickets down for 217 runs in the 48th over but Heenatigala with Rasith Nimsara kept their cool to seal the victory with four balls to spare.

‎In their chase, Viran Chamuditha top scored with 62 runs and put on a first wicket stand of 55 runs with Dimantha Mahavithana (27).

‎While Kavija Gamage (34) and Dulnith Sigera (22) made vital contributions with the bat, Sethmika Senevirathne and Sigera took three wickets each.

‎It was Sri Lanka Youth team’s second consecutive win in the tournament after registering their first win against Nepal.

Sports

Dasun Shanaka’s all-round effort can not hold Vipers

Published

18 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sam Curran bagged two wickets before scoring an unbeaten fifty. (ILT20)

Dasun Shanaka scored an unbeaten 29 and took two wickets but that could not hold Desert Vipers becoming the first team to seal a playoffs spot as they made it six wins out of six on Sunday (December 14) halfway through the league stage of the ILT20 2025-26.

‎Sam Curran produced an all-round effort as Vipers chased down Dubai Capitals’ 166/4 with five wickets in hand and a ball to spare.

‎Asked to bat, Capitals lost Shayan Jahangir to Naseem Shah in the third over and were kept on a tight leash by the Vipers pacers in the powerplay, reaching 35/1. Gulbadin Naib and Leus du Plooy then added 39 at close to a run-a-ball before Noor Ahmad removed his Afghanistan teammate. Capitals were 68/2 at the halfway mark and in need of momentum through the second half of the innings.

‎Du Plooy injected some urgency with two fours off Lockie Ferguson in an over, followed by a six off Naseem Shah to bring up a 38-ball fifty. But Curran turned the innings again with a double-wicket over, dismissing du Plooy and Rovman Powell off successive deliveries. Jordan Cox and Dasun Shanaka, however, ensured a strong finish, striking six fours and three sixes in an unbroken 72-run stand off 40 balls.

‎Max Holden set the tone in the chase, accounting for six of the seven fours Vipers struck in the powerplay. Fakhar Zaman fell to Mustafizur Rahman in the fifth over but Vipers still reached 50 in six overs. Holden was dismissed for 34 by Haider Ali while attempting a slog sweep, and although Hasan Nawaz struck three sixes, he fell to Waqar Salamkheil to leave Vipers at 88/3 after 10 overs.

‎Dan Lawrence and Curran steadied the chase with a 32-run stand before Lawrence was dismissed by Shanaka for 20 in the 14th over. In the same over, Shimron Hetmyer struck a four and a six and was later reprieved by Shanaka. A couple of tight overs followed, but Vipers remained in control, needing 31 from the final four overs.

‎Curran took them closer with two fours off David Willey and a six off Muhammad Jawadullah. With three required in the final over, Hetmyer fell to Shanaka, but Curran finished the chase with a six off the fourth ball, completing a 33-ball fifty to cap a fine all-round performance.

‎‎Brief scores:

‎Dubai Capitals 166/4 in 20 overs (Leus du Plooy 54, Jordan Cox 49*; Sam Curran 2-17)

‎Desert Vipers

171/5 in 19.4 overs (Sam Curran 52*, Max Holden 34; Dasun Shanaka 2-19)

Sports

Akbar Brothers crowned MBSA A-Division champions

Published

1 day ago

2025/12/15

Priyan

Akbar Brothers Ltd delivered a commanding all-round performance to clinch the ‘A’ Division title at the 33rd MSBA League Basketball Tournament, defeating defending champions Fairfirst Insurance 70–60 in a thrilling final held recently.

Despite a group stage loss to Fairfirst, a revitalized Akbar Brothers team returned for the final with renewed focus, executing a strategic and disciplined game plan with some excellent passing and defense. Akbar Brothers came in with all guns blazing right from the outset. The first quarter was all Akbar’s that stacked up a 13 to 4 lead. Fairfirst mounted a strong challenge in the second quarter, narrowing the margin, but Akbar’s momentum secured a 35–28 lead at halftime, a margin they maintained with composure through to the final whistle.

Dasun Mendis led the charge for Akbar Brothers with 18 points and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Chenura De Alwis added 17 points to the tally, while Shehan Udayanga posted a valiant 22 points for Fairfirst. Dimitri Grebe anchored Akbar Brothers with strong leadership, with Hiran Wijesooriya captaining Fairfirst.

Earlier in the tournament Akbar Brothers beat Sampath Bank (82-71), Seylan Bank (91-68) David Pieris (110-78) and Seylan Bank in the semi final (83-60)

The final, held at the Royal College Indoor Sports Complex, saw a vibrant turnout of supporters as Akbar Brothers proved their championship mettle with teamwork, resilience, and clinical execution.

Akbar Brothers – Dimitri Grebe (Captain), Dasun Mendis, Chenura De Alwis, Randil Henry, Taher Akbarally, Selvam Savarimuttu, Franklyn Morais, Sanketha Jayarathne, Jeewan Priyankera , Praneeth Udumalagala, Ajith Kuruppu (Coach), Adrian Gabriel (Asst. Coach)

Fairfirst Insurance – Hiran Wijesooriya (Captain), Shehan Udayanga , Lakshan Kulathunga, Roshan Randima, Arnold Brent, Isuru Perera, Denzil Nicholas, Nimesh Fernando, Keshawa Perera, Charaka Anuhas, Asanga Perera (Coach)