Sports
Aruna, Kalinga, Rajitha promise blockbuster final
102nd National Athletics Championship
by Reemus Fernando
Olympic qualifying standards continued to elude javelin throwers on a wet track but 400 metres sprinters kept hopes alive with promising performances in the heats on day one of the 102nd National Athletics Championship at Diyagama on Tuesday.
All top contenders in the 400 meters secured their places in the final which promises to deliver a thrilling finale today. Aruna Dharshana and Kalinga Kumarage won their respective semi-finals with the former clocking 45.97 seconds. He was the only sprinter to clock sub 46 seconds. Kumarage returned a time of 46.33 seconds. Asian medallists Rajitha Rajakaruna (2nd in 1st semi-final 46.37), Pabadara Niku (3rd in first semi-final 46.76) and Pasindu Kodikara (2nd in 2nd semi-final 46.44) all clocked sub 47 seconds in the semi-finals.
Any chance of a javelin thrower (men’s) qualifying for Olympics looked a distant reality even before the event started as the rain-soaked track delayed the start of the event by nearly an hour. And that remained the same with Sumeda Ranasinghe bagging his sixth national title with a seasonal best throw of 77.68 metres(direct Olympic qualifying standard 85.50m). Rumesh Tharanga who won the Asian Throwing Championship gold with a new national record (85.45m) recently settled for a throw of 77.10 metres. Now the duo will have the National Open Stage II competition on Sunday to make amends.
The day’s opening event, the women’s 10,000 metres produced a new national champion. Methmi Wijesuriya maintained nearly a half a lap lead from the 2000metres mark and extended it to nearly a full lap and a half to stop the clock at 35 minutes and 9.35 seconds. The 21 year old is among the two fastest finishers in the 10,000 metres at National Championships during the last ten years. Of the rest, S.D. Liyanage (37:18.73) and Kumari Sugathapala (37:26.17) finished second and third respectively.
The women’s 400 metres saw Asian Relay medallists Nadeesha Ramanayake, Harshani Fernando and Lakshima Mendis producing sub 55 seconds in the heats. Jayeshi Uththara who won the third heat clocked 55.81 seconds.
In the women’s shot put Ovini Chandrasekara won with a performance of 12.95metres while national record holder Tharika Fernando was placed second with a throw of 11.87 metres. Minoli Fernando won the women’s high jump with a feat of 1.74 metres.
Nannapurawa MV athlete Madushani Herath turned tables on veterans to win her maiden national title in the women’s long jump. The Asian Junior Championship medallist could win the top spot of the podium with a jump of 5.94 metres.
Olympian Nimali Liyanarachchi was the winner in the women’s 1,500 metres with a feat of 4:24.11 seconds.
A.P. Maduranga won the men’s 10,000 metres in a time of 31:16.37 seconds, while the women’s hammer throw was won by A.A. Lakshika with a throw of 44.66 metres.
Sri Lanka has named a young squad for the forthcoming T20Is against India, bringing in the likes of 17-year-old ambidextrous spinner Shashini Gimhani, 23-year-old seamer Kawya Kavindi, while 19-year-old Rashmika Sewwandi has also been named.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu also has some experienced hands in her ranks for the series, with spinner Inoka Ranaweera, 39, also in the squad, alongside a top order that has now had significant exposure at the top level. But as the team builds towards next year’s T20 World Cup in England, there is now a drive within the squad to blood younger players.
There is no room in the squad for wicketkeeper-batter Anushka Sanjeewani (35), who has played 86 T20Is. Also omitted are Udeshika Prabodhani (39), Sugandika Kumari (33), or Achini Kulasuriya (34), who had all been part of the squad for the team’s most recent T20I assignment, the tour of New Zealand in March this year.
Gimhani, one of Sri Lanka’s most exciting young talents, delivers wristspin with either arm, though left-arm wristpin is her primary suit. She earns her place in this squad through solid showings against Australia Under 19 in September. She had already made a promising start to her senior international T20I career, however, having taken six wickets at the top level from five matches, with an economy rate of 5.53.
Seamer Kavindi also has some top-flight experience under her belt, with 10 T20Is to her name. Sewwandi, also a seamer, has one T20I against her name, but did not bowl in that match. Nimasha Madushani, the 26-year-old left-arm spinner, is uncapped in internationals.
While Sri Lanka seek fresh talents in the bowling department, the batting is more familiar. Hasini Perera, Vishmi Giunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshika de Silva, and Kavisha Dilhari – all of whom played significant roles in the recent ODI World Cup – are in this squad. Kaushini Nuthyangana is likely to take the gloves in Sanjeewani’s stead.
Seamer Malki Madara, 24, has impressed with the ball this year in ODIs, is also there. Malsha Shehani, who bowls both seam and spin, finds a place as well.
The five-match T20I series begins in Visakhapatnam on December 21, before moving to Thiruvananthapuram for the last two games.
Sri Lanka squad: Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshika De Silva, Kavisha Dilhari. Imesha Dulani, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Malsha Shehani, Inoka Ranaweera, Shashini Gimhani, Nimesha Madushani, Kawya Kavindi, Rashmika Sewwandi, Malki Madara
[Cricinfo]
Former Sri Lanka cricketer D. S. de Silva has passed away in London on Monday following a brief illness. He was 83.
A stalwart from the game’s formative years in the island, de Silva was part of Sri Lanka’s XI for their inaugural Test in 1982 against England. A year later, with injuries sidelining Duleep Mendis and Roy Dias, de Silva was handed the captaincy for the tour of New Zealand, a late call-up that came after he had already crossed his 40th birthday.
A classical leg-spinner with a cultured approach, de Silva was a familiar name in Ceylon colours long before Test status arrived, operating tirelessly in an era when opportunities were few and recognition scarcer still.
He featured in both the 1975 and 1979 World Cups, back when Sri Lanka were still associate members, and played a decisive role in the famous upset of India in the 1979 tournament, claiming three wickets in a win that proved a watershed moment on the road to Test recognition.
De Silva was also among the rare professionals of his generation, having plied his trade in English league cricket, broadening his horizons at a time when overseas exposure for Sri Lankans was the exception rather than the norm.
After hanging up his boots, de Silva continued to serve the game as a selector and coach, leaving his imprint on the next generation. He coached Sri Lanka to the Under-19 World Cup final, nurturing young talent with the same patience he once showed at the crease and at the bowling mark.
He later moved into administration, heading Sri Lanka Cricket from 2009 to 2011 as chairman of the Interim Committee. During his tenure, the Hambantota and Pallekele International Cricket Stadiums were built ahead of the 2011 World Cup, which Sri Lanka co-hosted.
De Silva’s passing marks the end of an era, as one of the quiet architects of Sri Lanka’s rise in world cricket finally leaves the field.
The second edition of the National Short Track Athletics Championships will be held at the 200 metres track of the Sugathadasa Stadium on January 3, 2026.
The event scheduled for a 1.00 pm start is limited to a few track and field events generally held at indoor stadiums.
It will be the first track and field event of the year and will be held when Sri Lanka Athletics is governed under a convening committee.
Sri Lanka Athletics is without an elected body after Sports Ministry’s attempt to conduct the election of office bearers under new sports regulation ended up in a fauxpass.
Now the Sports Ministry is scheduled to conduct a Special General Meeting next week where an Election Committee will be reappointed to hold the election of office bearers.
The short track meet will be held under the observation of the convening committee.
The events to be held at the meet are (Men & Women) 60m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 60m, Hurdles, High Jump, Long Jump, TripleJump and Shot Put.
The 60m, 60m Hurdles and 400m events will be held as heats and finals, where the best times will qualify for the finals.
Other track events will be held as time finals (Final A/ Final B).
All the field events will have only 3+1 rounds.
(RF)
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