Sports
Dharshana fit for Asian Athletics Championship
Sprinter Aruna Dharshana, whose participation at the upcoming Asian Athletics Championship was in doubt due to an injury, proved his fitness for next week’s event with an impressive performance at the fitness test conducted in Colombo on Wednesday.
Dharshana completed 300 metres in a time of 33.41 seconds at the Sugathadasa Stadium to the satisfaction of track and field authorities.
Sri Lanka Athletics announced Dharshana’s effort as ‘successful’ after the 26-year-old completed the test. That will make him eligible for his pet event the 400 metres and the two relay events, the men’s 4×400 metres and the 4×400 metres mixed relay.
He had to prove his fitness for the event in South Korea following an injury he sustained at the recently held World Relays in China.
Dharshana was a key member of the team that established a new championship record in winning the men’s 4×400 metres relay at the last edition. He was also part of the team that won silver in the mixed relay.
The Asian Championship is vital for all track and field athletes as it opens a valuable opportunity to improve their world rankings and earn qualifying standards for the World Championships which will be held in Tokyo, Japan later this year.
by Reemus Fernando
A record-breaking fourth-wicket partnership between skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and seasoned campaigner Mushfiqur Rahim put Bangladesh firmly in the box seat at stumps on day one of the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Tuesday.
The pair stitched together 247 runs – now the highest fourth-wicket stand for Bangladesh in Tests against Sri Lanka – steering the tourists to a commanding 292 for three at close after a wobbly start.
Having elected to bat first, Bangladesh were reeling at 45 for three when the duo came together. What followed was a gritty rescue act – a partnership built on sound temperament, clever shot selection and an unflinching resolve as they dug their team out of early trouble.
Mushfiqur, the most capped Test player in Bangladesh history with 97 appearances, silenced his critics with a timely ton. The veteran, under the pump after a lean patch spanning 13 innings without a half-century, rolled back the years with a knock of poise and purpose.
The 38-year-old has fond memories of Galle, having struck a monumental double hundred here in 2013 and once again turned tormentor-in-chief for the Sri Lankan bowlers. He did enjoy a slice of luck – a tough chance spilled by debutant Tharindu Ratnayake on 25 – but made it count, navigating a nervy passage in the 90s before scampering a quick single to notch up his 12th Test hundred.
Shanto, positive from the outset, kept the scoreboard ticking with deft footwork and a keen eye for the loose ball. He brought up his sixth Test century – and second against Sri Lanka – with a cheeky paddle sweep off Prabath Jayasuriya, marking his first ton since November 2023.
Earlier, Sri Lanka made early inroads with right-arm quick Asitha Fernando drawing first blood, removing opener Anamul Haque for a duck. Off-spinner Ratnayake, handed his Test cap on the back of a prolific domestic season, struck twice in quick succession – but once the Shanto-Mushfiqur duo got their eye in, it was one-way traffic.
Sri Lanka also handed a debut to opening batter Lahiru Udara, another domestic heavyweight, while the hosts paused before the start of play to felicitate retiring stalwart Angelo Mathews. The 38-year-old Mathews, playing his 119th and final Test, will hang up his boots with over 8,000 runs – behind only Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in Sri Lanka’s all-time charts.
This Galle encounter marks the curtain-raiser of the new World Test Championship cycle – and by stumps on day one, Bangladesh have already made a strong statement of intent.
Rex Clementine in Galle
Sri Lanka commenced the Billie Jean King Cup Asia Oceania Group 3 campaign with a 3-0 victory over Qatar as Akesha Silva and Dinara de Silva won their singles and doubles encounters at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts on Tuesday.
In the first singles match, Akesha Silva beat Hind Ai Mudahka (Qatar) 6-3, 3-0 (Hind Al Mudahka retired) before Dinara de Silva beat Mubaraka Ai Naimi (Qatar) 6-3, 6-0 in the second singles match.
Akesha Silva
Dinara and Akesha then joined to beat Mubaraka Ai Naimi and Dana Khalifa 6-0, 7-5 in the doubles match.
Sri Lanka are set to meet Nepal today.
The four-day Junior National Athletics Championship concluded at Diyagama on Sunday. Here are some action pictures from the final day.
Chathushka Imesh (713), Pasindu Sandaruwan (697), and Shihan Nadeeshana (973) won the first, second and third places respectively in the Under 18 boys’ 100m final.
(Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)
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- Madushani Herath won the best athlete award in the Under 23 women’s category for her notable performance in the triple jump.
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- Dilni Rajapaksha established two new meet records in the Under 16 age category. Here she is competing in the triple jump
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- Mihinsa Hasarangi clinched gold in the Under 16 girls’ 100 metres
Rumesh Tharanga established a new meet
record in the Under 23 men’s javelin throw.
Mihisara Gunarathna (1232) won the Under 20 boys’ 1,500m.
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