Sports

Arushi going from strength to strength to clinch U14 title

Published

5 years ago

2021/03/6

Arushi Thomas receives her trophy from Nishan Gunasekara, Honorary Chairman SSC Tennis House Committee while runner up Dulkini Ranasinghe and Manoj Lakmal, Assistant Referee look on. (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)

SSC Open Ranking Tennis

by Reemus Fernando

Newstead Girls School, Negombo player Arushi Thomas toppled top seeds and top ranked players on her way to clinch the Under-14 girls’ singles title at the SSC Open Ranking Tennis tournament in Colombo on Friday.

Thomas beat Dulkini Ranasinghe 6-2, 6-2 to win the title after ousting top seeds in the last two stages.

In the quarter-finals, Thomas beat top seed and number two ranked Under 14 player Melasha Randini 7-5, 6-4 before scoring a hard fought 6-7, 7-5, 10-6 to edge out Onali de Silva in the semis.

Thomas commenced the year reaching the last 16 at the Tennis Nationals (Under-14 tournament) in January and improved to reach the semi-finals at last month’s Colombo Championships where she was eliminated by Dinara de Silva.

Meanwhile, top ranked Under-14 player Lisal Goonethlleke ensured a Royal-Thomian clash in the semi-finals when he beat Aweesh Ganegoda 6-3, 6-3 in the quarter-final. The S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia player is set to meet Tharuk Marasinghe of Royal College. The third seed Marasinghe beat Senuk Herat 6-3, 2-6, 10-6 for his semi final place.

Sandas Usgodaarachchi beat fourth seed Dhanushka Dias in his match to meet number two ranked Methwan Wijemanne in the semi-final. Wijemanne advanced to the semi finals on Thursday when he beat Janava de Saram.

Results

Under-14 girls singles final

Arushi Thomas beat Dulkini Ranasinghe 6-2, 6-2

Under-14 boys singles quarter-finals

Methvan Wijemanne beat Janava de Saram 6-3, 6-4,

Tharuk Marasinghe beat Senuk Herat 6-3, 2-6, 10-6

Lisal Goonetilleke beat Aweesh Ganegoda 6-3, 6-3

Sandas Usgodaarachchi beat Dhanushka Dias 6-2, 6-3

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Sports

Dharmaraja and Kingswood set for historic rugby clash today

Published

17 mins ago

2026/07/11

Thilina Walpola

Dharmaraja Rugby Captain Gayan Samarathunga, and Kingswood Rugby Captain Samantha Nadeesha. with William Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy

The annual rugby encounter between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, played for the William Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy, is set to take place today (July 11, 2026), at 4:00 PM at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.

The official unveiling of the trophy took place this week at the Dharmaraja College premises with the participation of the Principals of the two schools, teachers-in-charge of sports, coaches, the Rugby teams, and several distinguished guests, including Dharmaraja College Old Boys’ Association President Mahesh Wijetunga, Kingswood College Old Boys’ Association President Muditha Abeykoon,

Text and Pic by SK Samaranayake

Latest News

Dharmaraja and Kingswood set for historic rugby clash on Saturday

Published

15 hours ago

2026/07/10

Priyan

Dharmaraja Rugby Captain Gayan Samarathunga, and Kingswood Rugby Captain Samantha Nadeesha. with William Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy.

The annual rugby encounter between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, played for the William Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy, is set to take place tomorrow (July 11, 2026), at 4:00 PM at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.

by S K SAMARANAYAKE

Latest News

Mbappe and Dembele net as France beat Morocco to reach World Cup semifinal

Published

24 hours ago

2026/07/10

Priyan

Kylian Mbappe of France, centre,celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with Dayot Upamecano, left, and Ousmane Dembele, right, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match [Aljazeera]

Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele were on target as France surged past Morocco 2-0 to book their place in the World Cup semifinals.

Mbappe curled in his eighth goal of the tournament on 60 minutes on Thursday before Dembele doubled Les Bleus’ lead six minutes later to settle a clinical victory at the Gillette Stadium outside Boston.

The win sends the 2018 champions into a last-four showdown against either Spain or Belgium in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday.

African champions Morocco had been tipped to pose a serious threat to France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final.

But Didier Deschamps’ men were always in control against a limited Morocco side who failed to register a single shot on goal until an 83rd-minute free-kick by Azzedine Ounahi was parried away by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

France, though, struggled to find a breakthrough, and missed the opportunity to take the lead on 28 minutes when Mbappe saw a penalty saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Mbappe had won the penalty after being brought down by Noussair Mazraoui but was forced to wait several minutes before being allowed to take the kick after a protracted VAR check.

Morocco managed to hold out to half-time, but it was always only a matter of time before France’s relentless pressure paid off.

The breakthrough came on the hour mark, with Mbappe bending a brilliant right-foot shot past Bounou from the edge of the area.

Paris Saint-Germain star Dembele made the game safe in the 66th minute, striding forward menacingly from midfield before steering a low finish into the bottom corner.

France now await the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal in Los Angeles between European champions Spain and Belgium.

[Aljazeera]