Sports
Dulwan Jayaratne honoured at Western Province Colours Awards
Dulwan Jayaratne, a former karate captain of Thurstan College and a decorated South Asian Karate Championship medalist, was awarded the prestigious “Best Player All Games 2023” at the Western Province Colours Awards Ceremony held at Royal College, Colombo.
Jayaratne’s outstanding performances in 2023 and 2024 set him apart in the competitive karate arena. At the 2023 National Karate Championship, he secured a gold medal in kumite and a silver medal in kata. His dominance extended to the All Island Schools Games, where he claimed two silver medals in kata and team kumite events.
The 2024 season saw Jayaratne continue his winning streak, capturing another gold medal in kumite and a silver medal in kata at the National Karate Championship. He added a bronze medal in the team kumite at the All Island Games.
Jayaratne has been a key representative for Sri Lanka at three South Asian Karate Championships since 2019. His international awards include a bronze medal in kata at the 5th South Asian Karate Championship in Bangladesh (2019), a silver medal in kumite at the 6th South Asian Karate Championship held in Sri Lanka (2022), and two bronze medals in kumite and team kumite at the 7th South Asian Karate Championship in Nepal (2023).
Madison Keys saved a match point before stunning world number two Iga Swiatek to set up an Australian Open final against two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
Keys claimed a shock 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8) victory over five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek to reach the second major final of her career.
Poland’s Swiatek served for the match at 6-5 in the third set and held match point but Keys saved it, broke back and then recovered from 7-5 down in a fraught tie-breaker to advance.
Keys said: “The third set was so up and down. There were so many big points and break point chances. I feel I blacked out at one point and I was just there running around.”
Keys’ victory came after Belarusian top seed Sabalenka earned the chance to become the first woman in 26 years to win three successive Australian Open titles with a commanding 6-4 6-2 win over close friend Paula Badosa.
While Keys has achieved a career-best Australian Open run, Sabalenka is aiming to emulate Martina Hingis’ three straight titles between 1997-99.
“I have goosebumps. I am so proud of myself and my team that we were able to put ourselves in such a situation,” Sabalenka said.
“If I put my name in history it will mean the world for me. I couldn’t even dream of it.”
Swiatek’s loss also means Sabalenka will retain the world number one ranking after the tournament.
Swiatek had been in imperious form in Melbourne, losing just 14 games across her five matches before the semi-finals.
For context, only three players in history have dropped fewer games in making the last four at the Australian Open in a 128-player draw during the Open era.
However, the four-time French Open winner was undone by an inspired Keys, determined to win an Australian Open semi-final at the third attempt.
A messy start featuring five breaks of serve in the opening six games set the tone for an awkward night under Rod Laver Arena roof for Swiatek, who broke for a fourth time to take the first set before capitulating in the second.
Keys took just 27 minutes to overwhelm Swiatek reeling off five straight games to force a deciding set.
Both players saved numerous break points as the tension ramped up during an enthralling, high-quality deciding set.
Swiatek eventually took her eighth opportunity to break for a 6-5 lead but, after failing to take her first match point, conceded serve with a double fault.
A winner-takes-all tie-break was what Keys and the match deserved but Swiatek looked to be in control of it at 7-5 up.
However, in a final impressive show of physical and mental resilience, Keys won five of the next six points to complete a sensational win after two hours and 35 minutes.
On facing Sabalenka in the final, Keys said: “There will definitely be some big hitting and not a lot of long points, but I’m really excited for the challenge.”
[BBC Sports]
The sixth edition of the Battle of the Ends between Hartley College Point Pedro and Rahula College Matara is scheduled to take place at the Hartley College grounds on Sunday 26th January.
‘Battle of the Ends’ played between two schools situated in the Northern and Southern tips of the island is played for the ‘Manimaran – Wijesiriwardena trophy’ and is the brainchild of Lal Wijesiriwardena and Ramakrishnan Manimaran two illustrious past cricketers of the two schools presently domiciled in Australia and have funded the game from its inception.
The annual encounter was first hosted at the Uyanwatta Stadium Matara in 2017 and is jointly organized by the Rahula Old Cricketers Association [ROCA], the Hartlian Sports Club and the Old Boys Association of Hartley College.
The series has been one sided as Rahula have dominated the series winning the past five encounters and would be looking forward to extending their lead while Hartley playing on their home ground would go all out to end the hoodoo.
The Rahula College team for the sixth Battle of the Ends will be led by Sadew Gamage and will be selected from Sasinu Battage, Minuga Wedamulla, Nadil Sandesh, Janiru Wijewardena, Oshan Thenuka, Pawara Pabasara, Uchitha Nethara, Ishantha Gimhan, Aayu Kaviraj, Pramuditha Nawanjana, Nehan Nirmala, Dewmina Gamanpila, Naviru Nethvan, Hirun Manyuga, Sandalu Rajapaksha, Dulmina Pathirana, Yenula Dethusa, Jineth Methmira
Officials:
Tharindu Narasingha [Head Coach], Yuraj Chalaka [Assistant Coach], PrasadShanaka [Master in Charge]
The Hartley College team will be led by Jeyanimalan Thivyan and will be selected from Piratheepan Dinojan Arulnavukkarasar Janushan, Vigneswaran Akash, Thavendran Abishaan, Sivakumar Thuvikaran,, Jeyakanthan Saaisandar, Kiritharan Kanalventhan, Ravikumar Paviththiran, Sritharan Mathushan, Kunarasa Akaliyan, Rajan Kishaaran, Prabagaran Atheesh, Sureshkumar Vikasan, Mathiyalakan Mathusshanth, Ashokath Abishan, Vimalathas Smith, Kapilraj Abhishan, Davidraj Blesshin, Thiruchsothy Jishnuram
Officials:
Thavarajasingam Kirubakaran [Coach], Sivakumar Nishanthan [Assistant Coach], Yogeswaran Vathanaseelam [Master in Charge]
A stalwart who played a pivotal role in shaping Sri Lanka’s cricketing fortunes both before and after the country gained Test status, Mr. Neil Perera passed away yesterday at the age of 95, following a brief illness.
An engineer by profession at the Ceylon Electricity Board, Mr. Perera’s heart always beat for cricket. He donned the whites for Panadura Sports Club before swiftly transitioning into cricket administration, where he made an indelible mark. He managed several Sri Lankan teams, both in the pre-Test era and after the nation stepped onto the grand stage of Test cricket. Notably, he was at the helm as Team Manager when Sri Lanka registered their maiden overseas Test victory in Napier in 1995 – an achievement that put Sri Lanka on the cricketing map.
Mr. Perera also served as Secretary and Vice President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), but his crowning glory came when he orchestrated a masterstroke – bringing India and Pakistan together to submit a joint Asian bid for the 1996 Cricket World Cup. Up against stiff competition from England, the Asian bloc, with Mr. Perera’s astute diplomacy, clinched the rights to host what is widely regarded as one of the finest World Cups in history.
The late Jagmohan Dalmiya, the influential Indian cricket supremo, once penned a heartfelt letter to SLC, stating, “If not for Neil’s timely intervention, the World Cup wouldn’t have come to the sub-continent.”
Although Mr. Perera had lost the cricket board election in 1995 and had initially planned to give the tournament a miss, Mr. Dalmiya extended a special invitation for him to witness the semi-final in Calcutta and the grand finale in Lahore. There, he watched Sri Lanka create history, lifting the coveted trophy and etching their name in cricketing folklore.
Mr. Perera’s final rites will be held at the Borella Cemetery (old crematorium) on Sunday (26th January) at 4:00pm. His remains will lie at Jayaratne Respect from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Saturday (25th January) and from 9:00 am to 3:30pm on Sunday until the funeral proceedings.
Sri Lanka has lost a true cricketing visionary – one who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring the country’s rise to prominence in the international arena.
Firefighters battle huge blaze near Los Angeles as winds pick up
Keys stuns Swiatek to set up Sabalenka title showdown
Showers in six provinces and several districts today [24th January 2025]
-
Features5 days agoIS THIS THE FINISH OF THE SRI LANKAN ELEPHANT?
-
News5 days agoElectricity tariff reduction: 20% inadequate says consumers
-
Editorial6 days agoGovt. taken for a ride again ?
-
Business3 days agoCustomer service to new heights with Digitalized Contact Centre for Union Bank
-
Editorial5 days agoThe rice crisis
-
Features5 days agoPaddy-Rice Data Gap: How much grown? How much sold?
-
Business5 days agoDialog continues patronage of Kelani Duruthu Maha Perahera for the 8th year
-
News6 days agoNPP MP Selvaraj vows to end parochial aid distribution on estates by regional parties