Sports
Hurdlers Dharshana and Amesha smash records
Junior National Athletics Championships
by Reemus Fernando
Despite the uncertainty surrounding their participation in the World Junior Athletics Championships the two hurdlers who had already qualified for the major event showcased their readiness with some noteworthy performances on day two of the Junior National Athletics Championships at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Wednesday.
Top on the list was the record breaking feat of Dhanuka Dharshana of Ambagamuwa Central who won the Under 20 boys’ 400 metres hurdles event with a new meet record mark of 52.11 seconds.
Girls High School Kandy hurdler Amesha Hettiarachchi who is the other 400 metres hurdler to have qualified for the World Junior Championships smashed the meet record held by Yamani Dulanjali with a feat of 1:01.04 seconds in the Under 20 heats on Tuesday with a time of 1:04.40 to win the gold.
Later in the day Amesha set a new meet record in the 100 metres hurdles with a time of 14.86 seconds. She was pushed hard in the final by Swarnamali Balika athlete Samadhi Lakshani who also bettered the previous record. She clocked 14.93 secs.
A number of junior athletes have reached qualifying standards for the World Junior Championships but the participation of the full strength team still remains uncertain due to lack of funds. Some athletes have received the backing of sponsors and Sri Lanka Athletics is yet to receive the support to field the entire team.
Ratnayake Central runner Tharushi Karunaratne who has the experience of taking part in the last Junior World Championship also won her pet event (800 meters) clocking 2:10.18 seconds. The day’s best 800 metres performance in the girls category was by Shanika Lakshani who returned a time of 2:08.44 seconds to win the Under 23 event.
Kavishka Sri Bandara of Elapatha MV, Ratnapura produced the fastest time in all four age categories in the boys 800 metres. He clocked 1:54.09 seconds to win.
Madushani Herath of Nannapurawa MV, Moneragala continued to improve her profile winning the second gold medal of the meet. The athlete who won the long jump on May 9, sat for her O/L exam and returned to win the Under 18 girls’ triple jump with a feat of 11.24 metres yesterday.
Ambagamuwa Central had success in the Under 18 400 metres hurdles as Ayomal Akalanka clinched the gold in that event.
The second day began with Sadeesha Anusanka of Moratu Maha Vidyalaya winning the Under 20 boys 10,000 metres (35:14.57 secs).
A feat of 13.5 metres in the Under 16 boys’ triple jump by Heshan Dulanjna Jayathilika of Lyceum International, Wattala, a throw of 15.13 metres by S. Mithunraj of Hartley College, Point Pedro in the Under 20 boys’ shot put and Isali Malkethmi of Lyceum International, Wattala winning the Under 18 girls’ discus throw (28.54m) ahead of her teammate Chethana Kavindi (28.14) were among the highlights in the morning session of the meet.
Sri Lanka Athletics was yet to announce the official results of the events held in the afternoon when this edition was ready for press.
With just one round left in the group stage, Dambulla hit the top of the National Super League (NSL) table like a runaway train, pulling off a breathtaking run chase that left Kandy shell-shocked at the R. Premadasa Stadium. In a high-octane encounter that had lot of twists, Dambulla played out of their skins to snatch victory from the jaws of what looked like certain defeat.
Chasing a towering 392 in just 69 overs, the Dambulla batters threw caution to the wind and came out swinging. They crossed the finish line with 25 balls to spare, making the improbable seem routine.
At the top of the order, Nishan Madushka dropped anchor and played the sheet anchor role to perfection, compiling a masterful 126 off 153 balls. He stitched together a solid 136-run opening stand with Ron Chandraguptha, who chipped in with a stylish 64, laying the perfect foundation for the fireworks to follow.
But the real show-stopper was none other than Dasun Shanaka. Despite being courted by a slew of T20 leagues flashing big bucks, Shanaka stayed loyal to red-ball cricket — and he makes it count. He walked in with the scoreboard ticking and turned the game on its head with a whirlwind century off just 56 deliveries. It was a blitzkrieg that featured nine sizzling boundaries and six towering sixes. When Shanaka’s in the zone, bowlers might as well be bowling with a bar of soap.
From 286 for 1, Dambulla had a minor hiccup, losing quick wickets and stumbling to 326 for 5. But the damage had been done — Shanaka’s thunderous assault had knocked the stuffing out of the Kandy attack. All that remained was for the tail to wag, nudge a few singles, and coast home with room to spare.
Akila Dananjaya, meanwhile, continued to turn heads with a match bag of ten wickets. But while his performance was eye-catching, any talk of a national recall should come with a pinch of salt — his action, having been under the microscope before, will need a clean bill of health before selectors roll the dice.
Down south in Hambantota, Galle all but booked their ticket to the final, thanks to a first-innings win over Jaffna. Unless they somehow manage to shoot themselves in the foot in their last group game, they should be packing their bags for the final.
Ramesh Mendis played the unlikely hero, batting at number eight and top-scoring with a gutsy 124 to take Galle to 374, well past Jaffna’s 305.
Jaffna’s response in the second innings was spirited, with Angelo Mathews rolling back the years and crafting a classy century as they made 354 for five.
Rain played spoil sport with only 6.4 overs possible on day one and a further 55 overs on day two and that left little room for a result.
North Korea has held the Pyongyang International Marathon for the first time in six years, welcoming some 200 foreign runners to the streets of the reclusive country’s capital.
The marathon, which was launched in 1981, took place annually in April to celebrate the birth of its founding leader Kim Il Sung.
Before Sunday’s marathon, the race was last held in 2019, wherein 950 foreigners participated. North Korea sealed itself off the following year, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
North Korea has been slow to reopen since, allowing only Russian tourists into its capital since last year.
Runners have had to enter the country as part of an organised tour group, as was the case before the pandemic.
Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based travel agency listed as an “exclusive partner” on the event website, offers six-day marathon tours at 2,195 euros ($2,406) including flights to and from Beijing.
“The Pyongyang Marathon is an extremely unique experience as it provides an opportunity to interact with locals,” the agency wrote on its website.
Sunday’s marathon route took participants past landmarks across the city, including the Kim Il Sung stadium, the Arch of Triumph built to commemorate Kim Il Sung’s role in resisting Japanese rule, and the Mirae Future Scientists’ Street said to be a residential district for scientists and engineers.
Pictures online show the stadium – where runners start and finish their race – filled with spectators, many of them cheering and waving gold-coloured paper flags.
Pak Kum Dong, a North Korean runner, told Reuters news agency: “The eyes of our people on me helped me to bear the difficulties whenever I feel tired.”
There is no publicly available information on race results.
North Korea had only statred to scale back Covid-19 restrictions in the middle of 2023.
In Feburary, it allowed some Western tourists into the remote, eastern city Rason, but suspended those tours just weeks after.
[BBC]
Noor Ahmad, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) left-arm wristspinner, continues to head the Purple Cap table with ten wickets from four games. His spell of 4 for 18 in CSK’s first game against MI, remains his best so far.
DC’s Mitchell Starc who picked up his maiden five-for in T20s, against SRH remains second on the list with nine wickets in three games.
GT’s Mohammed Siraj equalled Starc’s tally on Sunday night with his own IPL best, albeit he has played four games to Starc’s three. Siraj picked up 4 for 17 against SRH to hand them their four successive loss, and was named the Player of the Match.
Sun directly overhead Nainamadama, Sandalankawa, Kundasale, Mahiyanganaya and Kalmunanai at about 12:12 noon today [08]
Showers or thundershowers will occur in Western and North-western provinces and Galle and Matara district in the morning and at most places of the island during the afternoon or night
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