Sports
Entries called for NSSF National Rifle and Pistol Championship 2020
The NSSF has scheduled the National Rifle and Pistol Championship 2020 from November 12 to 21 at the Sri Lanka Navy Small Bore Range at SLNS Gemunu in Welisara.
The National Shooting Sports Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF) has set the dates to host its first major event for this year despite uncertainty caused by the spike in the COVID-19 cases.
After vigilantly observing the situation for nearly seven months, the NSSF hopes to conduct at least the most important events for the year. The NSSF has scheduled the National Rifle and Pistol Championship 2020 from November 12 to 21 at the Sri Lanka Navy Small Bore Range at SLNS Gemunu in Welisara.
This championship will include a total of 16 events in three different categories – Youth, Junior and Open. The age categories have been determined as 12 to 18 for Youth, 18 to 21 for Junior and 21 and above for Open.
Among the events lined up are Youth and Junior Male and Female in both pistol and rifle, Open events in pistol, rifle, 50m rifle, 3×40 for both male and female. Among the Open Male pistol events are 50m, 25m STD and 25m rapid fire, while a 25m sports pistol event is on cards for Open Female.
Among other events lined up are Mix air pistol and air rifle Open, Mix Junior air pistol and rifle, which will be open also for Youth as events will be conducted under individual and team segments.
The top three shooters will receive medals and certificates with points granted for national selection. Best performers in Youth, Junior and Open categories in rifle and pistol will receive special individual awards while special awards will be presented for the best teams under rifle and pistol categories. The competition will be conducted in accordance to the rules and regulations of the international shooting body, the ISSF.
The final draw for the event will be held on October 30 at 4.30pm at the NSSF office in the Old Sports Ministry building in Torrington. The NSSF secretary Pradeep Edirisinghe confirmed that the draw will be final and all club representatives should reconfirm entries before submitting.
“Clubs and affiliates can send in their entries on or before October 25, before 4.00pm to the NSSF office, at P.O. Box 33, Old Sports Ministry Building, Colombo 7. We will be highly concerned on the entries and clubs have been notified to include the signature of the secretary and the stamp of their respective clubs with entry fees,” Edirisinghe stated.
The results of the NSSF National Rifle and Pistol Championship will be considered for updating the current national pools of Open, Youth and Junior segments. The NSSF had originally planned to conduct eight local competitions throughout 2020, but due to the current pandemic situation which made its outbreak in March earlier this year, competitions were on hold pending clearance from the higher authorities. With shooting being a sport that could be conducted under the current health regulations, the NSSF is optimistic that it could complete the event, with the intention of selecting athletes for future international meets.
World Indoor Championship
Sprinter Chamod Yodasinghe reached the semi-finals of the 60 metres dash with a remarkable sprint performance on day one of the World Indoor Athletics Championship in Nanjing China on Friday.
Competing in heat two the athlete trained by Sanjeewa Weerakkody clocked a blistering time of 6.70 seconds shared by USA’s Coby Hilton and Switzerland’s William Reais. The trio were separated by photofinish with Coby Hilton, William Reais and Yodasinghe given first, second and third places respectively.
In the semi-finals which was worked off in the afternoon, Yodasinghe finished last.
Yodasinghe’s heat performance was ranked 24th among a field of 58 athletes who faced starter’s orders in eight heats.
His impressive achievement was a massive consolation for Sri Lanka after 400 metres specialist Kalinga Kumarage missed his heat due to a technical issue. Secretary of Sri Lanka Athletics said that Kumarage could not collect his accreditation in time to take part in the heat. He was scheduled to compete in the fifth heat which was won by Canada’s Morales Williams (45.85secs). Only two qualified from that heat. While the second placed Jacory Paterson of USA clocked 45.94 seconds others failed to finish under 47 seconds.
Sri Lanka’s contingent of 12 athletes is the biggest by the country to a World Indoor Athletics Championship. While Yodasinghe, Kumarage and Kaveesha Bandara compete in individual events, others will take part in the men’s and women’s 4×400 metres relay finals.
Former Royal College Colombo hurdler Bandara will compete in the 60 metres hurdles today (Saturday).
The men’s and women’s 4×400 metres relays will take place on Sunday.
In the morning, the championships’ first gold medal was won by Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez who soared to a world lead and national record of 17.80m in the men’s triple jump.
That feat moved him to fifth on the world indoor all-time list, the mark is the third-farthest leap in World Indoor Championships history and the farthest since the 17.90m – then a world indoor record – achieved by Teddy Tamgho at the 2010 edition in Doha
Three years after taking gold in Belgrade, Woo Sanghyeok won his second world indoor high jump title. The Korean was the only athlete to go clear at 2.31m, doing so on his first try. Defending champion and Olympic gold medallist Hamish Kerr was second with 2.28m, taking silver on countback ahead of Jamaica’s Raymond Richards.
by Reemus Fernando
Under 19 Cricket
An unbeaten century by Pulisha Thilakarathne powered Trinity to 222 runs for two wickets at stumps after Thisal Yapa led the bowling attack with a four wicket haul to restrict St. Benedict’s to 147 runs on day one of the traditonal Under 19 cricket encounter at Asgiriya.
Thilakarathne scored 17 fours and a six in his run a ball knock. Thilakarathne was involved in a second wicket stand of 135 runs with Aadham Hilmy who scored 59 runs.
At Uyanwatta, a less than a run a ball 59 by Shehan de Zoysa helped Richmond recover to post 185 runs after being five wickets down for 83 runs at one stage on day one of the traditional Under 19 cricket encounter against St. Thomas’ Matara.
In reply, the home team were 63 for six wickets at stumps.
Match Details
Richmond 185, St. Thomas’ 63 for 6 at Uyanwatta
Scores
Richmond 185 all out in 65.5 overs
(Thamindu Pradeeptha 20, Bevin Jayawardana 22, Shehan de Zoysa 59; Pesandu Sanjan 2/29, Dinura Pawinji 2/29, Manuga Guruge 2/33, Vihaga Sankalana 2/15)
St. Thomas’ 63 for 6 in 22 overs
(Ochintha Chamika 20; Malith de Silva 3/29, Yuri Koththigoda 2/13)
Trinity dominate at Asgiriya
Scores
St. Benedict’s 147 all out in 44.2 overs
(Dumindu Yehan 33, Mewan Dissanayake 31, Nadun Fernando 27; Thisal Yapa 4/49, Vathila Udara 2/38, Maith Rathnayake 2/34, Ranul Gunarathna 2/12)
Trinity 222 for 2 in 48 overs
(Pulisha Thilakarathne 121n.o, Mahendra Abeysinghe 31, Aadham Hilmy 59)
by Reemus Fernando
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated that the introduction of the demerit points system in its code of conduct aims to establish a deterrent mechanism – focusing on the threat of suspension rather than suspension itself. This approach is designed to encourage a change in the behaviour of players, officials, and others.
In a communique to the franchises, the BCCI explained, “The IPL believes that the threat of a suspension is the strongest deterrent to bring about a change in behaviour, hence the system of accumulated Demerit Points which is included in the Code of Conduct.”
The new system is an adaptation of features from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code but with slight differences, as reported by Cricbuzz. While the ICC carries forward points for five years, the BCCI system retains them for only three years. “The demerit points received by a player or team official under the regulations remain on their record for a period of thirty-six (36) months,” the BCCI says.
“Upon accumulation of Demerit Points, the Player or Team Official is awarded suspension(s). The details regarding the same are provided under Article 7.6 of the Regulations. An example of suspension through accumulation of Demerit Points is provided under Article 7.8 of the Regulations,” the mail mentions.
Article 7.6 specifies that the accumulation of four-seven demerit points will result in a one-match suspension, 8-11 points will lead to a two-match suspension, 12-15 points will incur a three-match suspension, and 16 or more points will result in a five-match suspension. Article 7.8 outlines the system for accumulating points over a period of three years and explains how the incremental system functions in the event of multiple breaches within these 36 months.
The BCCI also outlines how the demerits points are imposed under the new regulation. “Demerit Points will be imposed upon a Player or Team Official found to have committed an offence under the Code of Conduct. The number of Demerit Points imposed will be calculated by reference to the sanction imposed for the particular offences.”
Understandably, the levels of the breach will determine the number of demerit points. For instance, a fine of 25% of the match fee carries one (1) demerit point. A Level 2 offence attracts 3-4 demerit points, a Level 3 offence results in 5-6 demerit points, and a Level 4 breach leads to 7-8 demerit points. A key distinction is that the punishment may be imposed for a specific period or a certain number of matches. The match referee or an ombudsman determines this.
BCCI clarifies, “Where a Match Referee or Ombudsman imposes a period of suspension on any Player or Team Official, then, unless such period is for a fixed period of time (for example, one year) then, any such period of suspension shall be referenced by Suspension Points. Each Match in the League shall carry the weightage of one (1) Suspension Point. To clarify, a sanction of one (1) Suspension Point shall result in a one (1) Match suspension.”
The Pandya case
The BCCI has made it clear that Hardik Pandya will serve a one-match suspension for the breach from last season but will not incur any demerit points. “Any sanction imposed prior to the 2025 Season shall continue to be complied by the Player or Team Official. However, such sanctions imposed prior to the 2025 Season shall not result in imposition of Demerit Points.
“For example, a Player receiving a match suspension in his last game of the 2024 Season will serve the match suspension in the 2025 Season but will get no Demerit Points for this suspension,” the email states this and goes on to add, without explicitly referring to it, but clearly alluding to the Pandya case. “A minimum over-rate offence under the Regulations shall no longer carry a match suspension for the team captain. A minimum over-rate offence shall only result in the imposition of fine and fielding restrictions.”
There is also a system for an appeal against the sanctions, but it requires a payment of Rs 90 lakh. Says the mail, “Under the Regulations, any sanction imposed under Level 2 or Level 3 offence is appealable before the BCCI Ombudsman. However, any Player, Team Official or Franchisee that wishes to appeal such sanctions, may only do so upon the payment of an Appeal Fee which shall be the sum of INR 90 Lakh. This Appeal Fee is refundable only if the appeal is completely successful before the Ombudsman.”
According to the BCCI, the new regulations have been approved by the Governing Council of the IPL. The captains and managers of the teams were briefed about it at Thursday’s meeting at Cricket Centre.
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