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Dharshana and 400 metres sprinters lead year end rankings

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(from left) Aruna Dharshana, Rajitha Rajakaruna, Kalinga Kumarage and Pabasara Niku enjoyed medal success at Asian level this year.

By Reemus Fernando

The 400 metres sprinters led by Aruna Dharshana are the highest ranked athletes in the men’s category in Sri Lanka according to the World Athletics year end overall rankings. It is the first time three 400 metres sprinters are leading the year end overall rankings. The number of ranking points gained during the Asian Athletics Championships and the Asian Games have stood in good stead for the likes of Dharshana to dominate the Sri Lankan rankings.

While Dharshana is Sri Lanka’s highest ranked athlete in the men’s category, fellow 400 metres specialists Kalinga Kumarage and Rajitha Rajakaruna are ranked second and third respectively. Triple jumper Shreshan Dananjaya who decamped during a competition in Switzerland is ranked fourth despite not competing since June.

Sprint hurdler Janidu Lakvijaya who renewed record books couple of times during the year and 400 metres hurdler Danuka Dhrshana are in the fifth and sixth positions respectively in the list of the highest ranked athletes.

The US based jumper Dhanushka Sandaruwan who had at least one jump of over eight metres in June is ranked seventh, while Asian Games medallist Pabasara Niku is ranked just below Sandaruwan.

Sprinter Chamod Yodasinghe and Pasindu Kodikara are ranked ninth and tenth.

Incidentally, of the top twelve athletes seven are 400 metres specialists. That is indicative of better days ahead for the discipline which had won the country numerous medals at Asian level since early 70s. These 400 metres specialists also have the age advantage. Except Kalinga Kumarage all others are either 24 years of age or younger.

Sri Lanka Athletics now has a strong talent pool needed to build a formidable team for the future. The year 2024 will offer a valuable opportunity for them to test the teams as Sri Lanka has the potential to field teams at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 in May.

The country enjoyed medal success at Asian level in men’s 4×400 metres relay and the mixed relay after a long time this year. The men’s 4×400 metres relay team inclusive of Aruna Dharshana, Kalinga Kumarage, Rajitha Rajakaruna, Pabasara Niku and (Pasindu Kodikara – heats) established a new championship record to win the Asian Championship gold. They beat mighty India with a 3:01.56 seconds finish in the final. Dharshana and Kumarage formed the mixed relay with Tharushi Karunaratne and Nadeesha Ramanayake to win silver in a new national record (3:15.41 secs) performance. At the Asian Games the men’s team settled for the bronze behind India and Qatar as they clocked 3:02.55 seconds.

The relay events in Bahamas in May will be vital for the team to reach qualifying standards for the Paris Olympics.



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Australia great Alyssa Healy to retire from cricket

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Alyssa Healy made her Australia debut as a 19-year-old in February 2010 (BBC)

Australia captain Alyssa Healy will retire from all forms of cricket following the upcoming series against India.

The 35-year-old wicket-keeper has more than 7,000 runs and 275 dismissals to her name in all formats of the game and led Australia to a historic 16-0 whitewash of England 8n the Ashes in 2025.

She has won the World Cup twice, with the highest individual score of 170 in a World Cup final  coming against England in 2022, and the T20 World Cup on six occasions.

Healy said: “I’m still passionate about playing for Australia, but I’ve somewhat lost that competitive edge that’s kept me driven since the start, so the time feels right to call it a day.

“I’ll genuinely miss my team-mates, singing the team song and walking out to open the batting for Australia. Representing my country has been an incredible honour and I’m grateful for one last series in the green and gold.”

Healy is married to Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc and is the niece of another Australian great in wicket keeper Ian Healy. She also already has a successful broadcasting career as a pundit and commentator.

Todd Greenberg, Cricket Australia CEO said: “Alyssa is one of the all-time greats of the game and has made an immeasurable contribution both on and off the field over her 15-year career.

“We look forward to celebrating her achievements throughout the series against India.”

Australia host India in a Test match, three one-day internationals and three T20 matches in February and March

(BBC Sports)

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Grace Harris’ day out helps RCB thump Warriorz

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Grace Harris celebrates her 22-ball fifty with gusto (Cricinfo)

They began with a scrappy last-ball win to kick off  WPL 2026, but there was nothing scrappy about Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) second win, over  UP Warriorz, on Monday night.

Grace Harris tore into her former franchise with a breathtaking assault, sending the ball to all parts of the DY Patil Stadium. By the time she was out for a 40-ball 85, RCB needed just seven runs to win with 50 deliveries remaining.

In an effort similar to her opening-night honours, Lauren Bell swung the new ball and troubled Warriorz’s openers in her first two overs. In trying to break the stranglehold, Harleen Deol attempted to jailbreak in her third, but could only spoon a catch to Smriti Mandhana at mid-off for a 14-ball 11. And just like that, UP Warriorz had seen two different opening pairs come and go without giving them the start they were after.

She was denied a wicket in her first over – the sixth of the innings – when Meg Lanning’s swipe landed agonisingly short of Arundhati Reddy at backward square leg, but Shreyanka Patil had Lanning hack uncharacteristically to Radha Yadav at deep midwicket off her next.

In the same over, she also had a second wicket when Phoebe Litchfield flat-batted a short ball straight to Mandhana at mid-on, shortly after having reverse-swept her for six

Coming off a four-for and an unbeaten half-century against Mumbai Indians, de Klerk began with two wickets off her first two deliveries. Kiran Navgire fell first when she heaved a length ball to cow corner, while Shweta Sehrawat was brilliantly caught at backward point by Reddy. Warriorz were in all sorts of trouble at 50 for 5.

This was the perfect fire-and-ice combination on paper. But on Monday, they were both mellower and batted risk-free for much of their unbeaten 93-run partnership. Deandra Dottin signalled a change of intent when she went after Patil in her third over – the 15th – by muscling a length ball for six over long-on. That galvanised both batters to break free; Deepti Sharma gave the perfect finish by going after Patil in a 15-run final over that helped them finish with 143.

With two rookies in their top four, RCB could’ve chosen to play safe by having Gautami Naik partner Mandhana. But they took the aggressive route, and Harris justified that decision by muscling a 22-ball half-century as RCB wiped out 78 in the powerplay alone.

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AFCON 2025 organisers investigate clashes at Nigeria, Morocco games

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Nigeria's Raphael Onyedika, Algeria's goalkeeper Luca Zidane and other players argue at the end of their AFCON 2025 quarterfinal at the Grand Stadium in Marrakesh, Morocco on January 10 (BBC)

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has opened an investigation and warned of possible disciplinary action for “unacceptable behaviour of players and officials” as they clashed on the pitch on Saturday at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinal between Algeria and Nigeria.

“CAF has referred the matters to the disciplinary board for investigation and has called for appropriate action to be taken if the identified persons were to be found guilty of any wrongdoing,” said African football’s governing body in a statement on Monday.

Tensions spilled over on the pitch at the end of the January 10 game in Marrakesh, Morocco, which Nigeria won 2-0 thanks to second-half goals by Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams.

Referee Issa Sy was shielded from irate Algeria team staff and was escorted off the field. Video clips showed Sy was still being pursued in the mixed zone for media and broadcasters as he made his way to his cabin.

Any disciplinary action could have an impact on the Super Eagles as they prepare for their semifinal showdown on Wednesday against Morocco.

“CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organisers,” CAF said.

Video showed accredited media fighting in the mixed zone as they waited for players to pass through for interviews after the match.

issa Senegalese referee Issa Sy leaves the pitch after the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) quarter-final football match between Algeria and Nigeria at the Grand stadium in Marrakesh on January 10, 2026. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)
Senegalese referee Issa Sy leaves the pitch after the match between Algeria and Nigeria [BBC]

Algeria’s federation also confirmed it had filed a complaint with CAF over Sy’s performance

“The Algerian Football Federation cannot ignore the refereeing performance observed during the last match, which raised numerous questions and caused considerable confusion,” it said in a statement.

“Certain decisions ‌have damaged the credibility of African refereeing and do nothing to enhance the value of continental football on the international stage.”

CAF said it was also investigating incidents in Friday’s last-eight tie between the hosts and Cameroon.

Morocco won that game 2-0 in Rabat, Morocco, and the Indomitable Lions were notably unhappy at the officiating in particular the refusal to award them a penalty for a challenge on Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo in the second half.

(BBC Sports)

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