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Athletes Salamuthu, Nethmika deliver strong message with top grades at O/L Exam

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All Island Schools Games Athletics Championships

By Reemus Fernando  

Asian Youth Athletics Championship participants, sprinter Salamuthu Jayathilaka and jumper Nethmika Madushani Herath have a strong message to deliver when they vie for honours on day one of the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championships which starts at the Sugathadasa Stadium today.

Thurstan College athlete Jayathilaka and Nannapurava MV, Bibila long jumper Nethmika are the favourites in their respective age group events when the Education Ministry conducted event makes a return after a lapse of two years. The duo who competed at the recently held Asian Youth Athletics Championships in Kuwait have obtained top grades at the GCE O/L exam.

Their ability to match outstanding sports achievements with top grades at the crucial exam sends a strong message to parents who discourage children from taking sports seriously.

While Jayathilaka has obtained nine ‘A’s, Herath has acquired eight ‘A’s and a ‘B’ at the exam. The two youth athletes who are the top ranked in their respective disciplines in the Under 18 age category in Sri Lanka were part of the youth team that returned with a rich haul of medals from Kuwait.

In the boys’ 400 metres, Jayathilaka won the silver medal at the Asian event in a time of 48.56 seconds. Though she could not win a medal Madushani has proven beyond doubt that she is among the best in Asia in her age category. Her 6.09 metres long jump feat in Colombo in September is still the third best performance in Asia this year in her age category.

It requires a great deal of hard work and commitment from the part of the athlete, his or her coach and parents and the support from the school to achieve such outstanding feats.

Speaking to The Island, Nethmika’s coach Krishantha Kumara said that a couple of teachers at her school Nannapura MV, Bibila went out of their way to give her lessons when she missed classes due to training.

“At Nannapurawa she cannot start training early because the earliest bus that she can take from Yakunnawa, Bendiwewa reaches school around 6.45 am. With some training sessions lasting for two to three hours she misses the first few classes in the morning. Some of the teachers went out of their way to help her. She also took private tuition. I am happy that she could obtain high grades at the exam despite following a tough training schedule. She has set an example,” said Kumara.

He said that her outstanding achievement has attracted the interest of a private tuition institute in her area, namely Universence, which has come forward to provide free tuition for her advance level.

Speaking to The Island Asanka Rajakaruna, the current coach of Jayathilaka said that the sprinter’s parents had helped meticulously plan the time table for their son to balance both studies and sports. He thanked both the parents and the school administration for the support extended.Nethmika who established a national junior record in the long jump in September will compete in the Under 18 triple jump final today, while Jayathilaka is set to compete in the Under 18 boys’ 400 metres heats.



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Wolvaardt ton crushes Sri Lanka

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This was Wolvaardt's first century in T20Is (Cricbuzz)

Laura Wolvaardt (102 off 63 bals) smashed her first century in T20Is as South Africa crushed Sri Lanka by 79 runs in the opening game of the three-match series at Willowmoore Park, Benoni on Wednesday (March 27). Put into bat on a good batting surface, South Africa’s innings hit top gear from the outset. Tazbin Brits’ stay at the crease was brief but Marizanne Kapp (60 off 40 balls) along with Wolvaardt stitched a rollicking 116-run stand that came off just 79 deliveries. The South African captain continued her recently-acquired avatar of the aggressor as she took apart the Lankan bowling that lacked penetration.

Wolvaardt struck 12 fours and three sixes in her emphatic knock, overshadowing Kapp’s power game as the duo put the visitors to the sword. In the process, South Africa also registered their second highest team total in the format. Chasing a mammoth target of 199, Sri Lanka understandably needed their biggest matchwinner in skipper Chamari Athapaththu to come good but the opener fell to Kapp in the first over of the chase to virtually kill any minor chance that the Lankans might have had.

Harshitha Samarawickrama (38 off 33) and Hasini Perera (30 off 18) produced some crisp strokes but the target was well beyond their reach. With a big total to defend, South Africa’s bowlers kept the pressure up on Sri Lanka’s batters who caved in rather meekly to make it a one-sided contest.

Brief scores:
South Africa
198/5 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 102, Marizanne Kapp 60; Achini Kulasuriya 2-39) beat  Sri Lanka 119 in 18.2 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 38, Hasini Perera 30; Annerie Dercksen 2-15, Tumi Sekhukhune 2-25) by 79 runs

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President commends victorious National Football Team

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As a symbolic gesture of honour, FFSL President Jaswar Umar presented President Ranil Wickremesinghe with a customized National Football Jersey.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe met with the victorious Sri Lankan National Football Team on Tuesday (26) at the Presidential Secretariat. He commended the team’s efforts in their recent triumph over Bhutan, marking the first win in a decade.

The President expressed his support for the football team’s aspiration to claim the South Asian Championship (SAFF) next year, pledging his commitment to advancing football infrastructure in the near future. Football’s popularity has surged in Sri Lanka in recent months, with the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) assembling a formidable national team comprising talented players of Sri Lankan descent from various professional leagues worldwide. Sri Lanka’s national team secured victory against Bhutan in the recently concluded FIFA Series 2024.

During the visit, FFSL President Jaswar Umar, Head Coach Andy Morrison, and the entire national team had the opportunity to meet with the President and pose for photographs.

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Injured Rajitha ruled out of second Test against Bangladesh

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Rajitha had a good outing in the first Test (Cricbuzz)

Sri Lanka received a blow ahead of the second Test against Bangladesh as pace bowler Kasun Rajitha is ruled out of the series concluding match, scheduled at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium from March 30. Asitha Fernando joined the squad as a replacement for Rajitha while the latter returned home to start rehabilitation work.

“Kasun Rajitha will not be available for the second Test match as the player has suffered an injury to his left upper back area,” SLC said in a statement on Wednesday. Rajitha, who grabbed eight wickets in the opening Test against Bangladesh at Sylhet, played a key role behind their win by picking a five-fer in the second innings to help them earn a massive 328-run win.

The right-arm medium fast bowler sustained the injury while playing the first Test and played the game by managing his injury. Both the teams reached Chattogram ahead of the second game and will start their preparation from Thursday for the second Test which is part of the ICC Test Championship.

Shakib Al Hasan, who made himself available for this contest, will be joining the team as well before they begin their preparation. The ace all-rounder featured for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club against Gazi Group Cricketers in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League, the country’s traditional list A tournament, at BKSP on Wednesday (March 27).

Shakib scored a 65-ball 53 and later picked two for 14 run to help his side win the game by 39 runs and in the process prepare for the important encounter against the islanders.

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