Sports
Hirusha, Thashara crowned novices champions
Hirusha Abeysinghe and Thashara Jayarathna were crowned champions at the SLB Novices Age Group Championship 2024 concluded at the New Saniro Sports Complex in Naiwala, Veyangoda on Wednesday. Hirusha overcame Gimhana Yagama in straight sets, while Tharasha took the better off Nishadi Thenushika in the boys’ and girls’ Under-19 Singles finals respectively to emerge winners of the five-day competition conducted by Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB).
Hirusha faced very little opposition from Gimhana in the boys’ Under-19 final as he won both sets 21-12 and 21-9 to record an easy win, while Thashara faced a sudden setback, losing the second set 11-21, after fighting her way to claim the first set 22-20. She maintained her composure to claim the decisive final set 21-19 after a hard-fought battle to clinch the girls’ Under-19 Singles title 2-1.
Vidun de Mel and Dilanka Indusara teamed up to beat Abishek Sooriyaarachchi and Thisal Wedage and claim the boys Under-19 Doubles title 2-1, after losing the first set 14-21. But they regained momentum to claim the two following sets 21-18 and 21-19 and claim the boys doubles crown.
Rishmitha Weerasinghe proved too strong against Buddhi Shenal, as he won the boys’ Under-17 Singles title in straight sets, while Sadesna Algama made a comfortable run in the girls’ Under-17 Singles final against Thinaya Gunathilaka to earn the title. Devwin Perera and Prasad Weerasinghe overcame stiff competition from Harish Iyangaran and Ayanahta Kamburapola, who were beaten in the boys’ Under-17 Doubles final in straight sets. In the Girls Under-17 Doubles final Senuli Kulasuriya and Dahamsi Samaraweera faced some resistance from Thenuki Gunathilaka and Sayumdi Suhasna, but managed to win the title with a straight win.
Eshan Fernando claimed a double crown in the Under-15 age category, as he won the Singles and Doubles titles after a composed performance. Eshan overcame Udan Abinindu in the boys’ Singles final before claiming the title with a 2-1, and teamed up with Yoshen Fernando to record a similar win in the boys Doubles final. Ranuli Suriarachchi won her duel against Ayami Sedara to claim the Girls Under-15 Singles title with a straight win, while Rianne Rathnasiri teamed up with Dinuwari Weediyage to beat the combination of Arundie Herath and Nethaya Sithsari in straight sets to claim the girls’ Doubles title of the same age category.
Vidan Ranasinghe showed some early resistance but Ramithu Dimansith readjusted himself to bounce back and claim the boys Under-13 Singles title with a 2-1 win. Prasanasa Eliyana had very little trouble in defeating Ayeshmi Fonseka in straight sets and clinch the girls’ Under-13 Singles title. Bimsara Jayasuriya and Sadesh Kamburapola were too strong against Senula Samarakoon and Mindinu Wimalarathna, who were beaten in straight sets in the Boys Under-13 Doubles final, while after an initial setback Ayeshmi Fonseka and Oneesha Silva bounced back to beat Thisasnie de Silva and Shalani Sathkumara 2-1 to win the Girls Under-13 Doubles final.
Eshan Jayawardana claimed a double crown in the Under-13 age category, as he won the Singles and Doubles titles to become the second shuttler of the competition to earn a double crown. Eshan overcame Nesath Abeysinghe 2-1 in the boys Under-11 Singles final, and then teamed up with Lushan Kamburapola to claim the Boys Doubles title with a straight win against Kiwen Abeysinghe and Anuka Indusara. Janandi Amaya too were shaken by Thinethi Sehansa initially, but managed to bounce back and claim a 2-1 in the Girls Under-11 Singles final. Dulanya Hirundi and Yuhansa Siriwardhana faced very little opposition from Vihangi Punchihewa and Dihansa Siriwardana, who were comprehensively beaten in straight sets in the Girls Doubles final.
A record number of entries, exceeding 1,000, were received for the inaugural Age Group Novices Badminton Championship, organised and conducted by SLB and its Regional Development Committee. The competition, which kicked off on September 28, went on until October 2 at New Saniro Airport Sports Complex in Naiwala.
The organisers lined up competitions beginning from the Under-11, Under-13, Under-17 to Under-19 for boys and girls, with the Singles winners of both boys and girls of each category guaranteed with a Tab Computer as the winning prize. In addition, all winners of the Doubles in boys and girls were presented with a set of branded playing racquets, while the runners-up of Singles and Doubles of both boys and girls categories of all age groups, received Badminton Equipment Kits as rewards.
Shuttlers who reached the semi-final stage in both Singles and Doubles of all age groups and categories were presented with Pen Drives, while the players who reached the quarter-final stage were presented with branded pairs of socks, with the able sponsorship of Sunquick, McFoil, Mobil, Li Ning, Multilac, United Sports and Prime Group.
Sri Lanka Badminton and its Regional Development Committee introduced the Age Group Novices Badminton Championship with the intention of creating a pathway for school shuttlers to reach the national stage.
The winners received Tab Computers
Results of all Finals:
Boys U-19 Singles
: Hirusha Abeysinghe beat Gimhana Yagama 2-0 (21/12, 21/9)
Girls U-19 Singles
: Thashara Jayarathna beat Nishadi Thenushika 2-1 (22/20, 11/21, 21/19)
Boys U-19 Doubles: Vidun de Mel/Dilanka Indusara beat Abishek Sooriyaarachchi/Thisal Wedage 2-1 (14/21, 21/18, 21/19)
Boys U-17 Singles: Rishmitha Weerasinghe beat Buddhi Shenal 2-0 (21/18, 21/13)
Girls U-17 Singles: Sadesna Algama beat Thinaya Gunathilaka 2-0 (21/8, 21/9)
Boys U-17 Doubles: Devwin Perera/Prasad Weerasinghe beat Harish Iyangaran/Ayanahta Kamburapola 2-0 (21/12, 21/17)
Girls U-17 Doubles: Senuli Kulasuriya/Dahamsi Samaraweera beat Thenuki Gunathilaka/Sayumdi Suhasna 2-0 (23/21, 21/18)
Boys U-15 Singles: Eshan Fernando beat Udan Abinindu 2-1 (21/12, 10/21, 21/9)
Girls U-15 Singles: Ranuli Suriarachchi beat Ayami Sedara 2-0 (21/14, 21/11)
Boys U-15 Doubles: Eshan Fernando/Yoshen Fernando beat Sivanga Fernando/Sheran Kaveesha 2-1 (19/21, 21/16, 21/19)
Girls U-15 Doubles: Rianne Rathnasiri/Dinuwari Weediyage beat Arundie Herath/Nethaya Sithsari 2-0 (21/17, 21/17)
Boys U-13 Singles: Ramithu Dimansith beat Vidun Ranasinghe 2-1 (14/16, 15/12, 15/11)
Girls U-13 Singles: Prasanasa Eliyana beat Ayeshmi Fonseka 2-0 (15/12, 15/3)
Boys U-13 Doubles: Bimsara Jayasuriya/Sadesh Kamburapola beat Senula Samarakoon/Mindinu Wimalarathna 2-0 (15/9, 15/2)
Girls U-13 Doubles: Ayeshmi Fonseka/Oneesha Silva beat Thisasnie de Silva/Shalani Sathkumara 2-1 (6/15, 15/10, 15/10)
Boy’s U-11 Singles: Eshan Jayawardana beat Nesath Abeysinghe 2-1 (13/15, 15/4, 15/10)
Girls U-11 Singles: Janandi Amaya beat Thinethi Sehansa 2-1 (13/15, 15/10, 15/12)
Boys U-11 Doubles: Eshan Jayawardana/Lushan Kamburapola beat Kiwen Abeysinghe/Anuka Indusara 2-0 (15/12, 15/7)
Girls U-11 Doubles: Dulanya Hirundi/Yuhansa Siriwardhana beat Vihangi Punchihewa/Dihansa Siriwardana 2-0 (15/2, 15/6)
A depleted New Zealand attack – effectively reduced to just two-and-a-half frontline bowlers – was made to toil as a defiant West Indies rearguard stretched the contest into a fifth day on an increasingly docile Hagley Oval surface.
Forced off the field on day three by an eye infection, Shai Hope returned with sunglasses under his helmet to compile an unbeaten 116. It followed his first-innings 56 and marked his second century in three innings, a seamless extension of the defiance he showed while stonewalling India for long periods in New Delhi in October.
If Hope was the fulcrum, Justin Greaves was the anchor beside him. He reined in his instincts to play a composed, almost uncharacteristically restrained hand to finish 55 not out off 143 balls. His unbroken fifth-wicket partnership with Hope was worth 140 as New Zealand’s attack toiled under the blazing Christchurch sun.
Nathan Smith did not come out to bat and spent the entire innings off the field with a side strain. When Matt Henry left the field after the 35th over – later heading to hospital next door for scans – with West Indies 92 for 4, New Zealand may have hoped to finish off the game quickly.
But with his bowling resources rapidly thinning, Tom Latham – already standing in with the gloves due to Tom Blundell’s torn hamstring that ruled him out of not just this Test but the next – was left to lean heavily on Rachin Ravindra and Michael Bracewell’s part-time spin around pacer Jacob Duffy. On a surface that only got easier to bat on against the old ball, Hope and Greaves settled in and applied themselves admirably.
Having begun with positive intent, Hope was tested periodically with the short ball, Duffy setting a square leg halfway to the rope along with a short leg and fine leg for the pull. Hope mostly swayed and ducked out of harm’s way, and on the rare occasions he was tempted into the shot, he did well to keep it down. He brought up his fourth Test century off 139 deliveries.
Duffy employed a similar plan to Greaves, whose natural game is far more instinctive. But to his credit, Greaves appeared to take a cue from Hope, choosing restraint instead. He played only when the ball was at his body, using his height to ride the bounce and fend safely. While he was a lot more enterprising against spin, the fundamental of his knock was crease occupation.
Hope and Greaves laid down the template for those who perished prior to their arrival. Tagenarine Chanderpaul and John Campbell were put through a stern new ball test by Foulkes and Henry as they repeatedly tested both their edges in an engaging first spell. Chanderpaul’s propensity to shuffle across got him into trouble more often than not, and was out to a short ball that he inside-edged to the keeper for 6 off 45 balls.
Campbell – out an over earlier – was taken out by Foulkes as he jabbed at an away-swinger with no feet movement as Bracewell took a superb low catch at second slip. In the overs prior to his dismissal, Campbell wore a blow on his boot as he smashed one back off an inside-edge, making him groan in discomfort. This may have eventually had a hand in his dismissal.
Alick Athanaze never got going, and the frustration of being unable to score had him attempt a pull, only to be rushed into the stroke by Bracewell. He only managed to toe-end a pull to mid-on. And when Roston Chase fell in eerily similar fashion to his dismissal in the first innings – nibbling at a Henry away-swinger while being rooted to the crease – West Indies were collapsing swiftly and were 72 for 4.
A four-day defeat loomed until Greaves and Hope dug in to give West Indies some hope even as New Zealand’s tired attack wheeled away in the hope of a mistake. That wasn’t to come, as West Indies took the fight into the final day even though hopes of scaling down the 531-run target they were set seem just a pipe dream for now.
Earlier in the morning, New Zealand surprised many by choosing to bat on. Perhaps this was to give their bowlers more rest on a placid surface, considering the slew of injuries. Kemar Roach picked up three of the four wickets to fall, finishing with figures of 5 for 78 to take his wickets tally to 290.
Brief scores:
West Indies 167 and 212 for 4 (Shai Hope 116*, Justin Greaves 55*; Jacob Duffy 2-60) trail New Zealand 231 and 466 for 8 dec (Rachin Ravindra 176, Tom Latham 145; Kemar Roach 5-78) by 319 runs
(Cricinfo)
Colombo Aces officially introduced its Golf Team for the inaugural Ceylon Golf League 2025, Sri Lanka’s first franchise-based golf tournament — at a special unveiling event held recently in Colombo.
Co-founded by entrepreneurs Shamal Perera and Suhayb Sangani, along with Sri Lankan cricket legend Mahela Jayawardene, the inaugural Ceylon Golf League 2025 commenced on the 5th December at the Royal Colombo Golf Club, featuring eight franchise teams.
Across three days and three formats, eight city-based franchises will compete in a high-intensity showcase that sets a new benchmark for the sport locally.
Responding to the impact of recent floods, Ceylon Golf League 2025 is pledging over LKR 10 million from this weekend’s proceeds to support the Government of Sri Lanka in restoring affected infrastructure nationwide. In addition to the prize money already allocated to the main fund, Colombo Aces will contribute a further LKR 250,000 to the cause.
The Colombo Aces Golf Team will be led by Jehan De Saram, a highly respected PGA-qualified Sri Lankan golf professional who serves as both Captain and Head Coach. De Saram brings extensive experience to the role, having previously been the Director of Golf at the Royal Colombo Golf Club and a former national coach for the Sri Lanka golf team. Renowned for developing young talent, he has also competed in numerous local and international tournaments, adding significant depth and expertise to the Aces’ coaching setup.
Colombo Aces Golf Team – Kushal Johnpillai, Uchitha Ranasinghe (Men’s 2 & under), G.G Sathsara, Chanaka Perera (Men’s 3 to 6), Rajeev Rajapaksa, Chulaka Amarasinghe (Men’s 7 to 10), Reza Magdon Ismail, Thusith Wijesinghe, Kapila Dandeniya (Men’s 11 to 14), Fazlur Muzammil, Dhevan Peiris (Men’s 15 to 18), Usha De Silva, Sanduni Wanasinghe (Ladies’ 20 & under), Sandra Cadien, Vihara Herath and Fran De Mel (Ladies’ 21 & over) .
After an interminable break between matches following 48 hours of mayhem in Perth, the Ashes resumed with England producing a rollercoaster batting performance as Joe Root ended his century jinx on Australian soil in the day-night second Test.
In the final hour of an absorbing opening day, Root raised his arms aloft under the lights before taking off his helmet to celebrate his 40th Test century and first in Australia.
Root finished unbeaten on 135 from 202 balls and anchored an England first innings that at times showed restraint, but was also marked by reckless dismissals. Four batters fell for ducks with England again tormented by pink ball maestro Mitchell Starc, who finished with 6 for 71 to power past Wasim Akram’s record for most Test wickets by a left-arm quick.
But after the humiliation of batting just 67.3 across two innings in Perth, England batted the whole day – albeit only 74 overs were bowled – as they posted their first score over 300 in a Test in Australia since January 2018.
Brief scores:
England 325 for 9 in 74 overs (Joe Root 132*, Crawley 76, Harry Brook 31, Jofra Archer 32*; Mitchell Starc 6-71) vs Australia
Hope holds firm as West Indies drag New Zealand into fifth-day battle
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