Sports

National Chess Academy inaugurated

Published

11 months ago

2024/01/9

The prestigious National Chess Academy was formally unveiled on Saturday (January 6), at the BOI Auditorium, marking a significant moment in Sri Lanka’s chess landscape. The inauguration ceremony, graced by the esteemed presence of FM/ FT Sunil Weeramantry from the USA, brought together the nation’s top chess players.

The event witnessed the active participation of all national chess players who competed in the last National Chess Championship, along with the top ten performers from the National Youth Chess Championships held in December 2023. Accompanying them were key figures from the executive committee of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, highlighting the collective commitment to advancing the sport.

The establishment of the National Chess Academy stands as a monumental stride toward nurturing Sri Lanka’s chess talent. By providing a platform for both seasoned players and emerging talent to interact with renowned trainers, the academy aims to elevate the standard of chess in the country.

This strategic initiative not only fosters the growth of individual players but also positions Sri Lanka on the global chess map by offering exposure to international standards. The National Chess Academy is poised to become a hub of excellence, driving the evolution of chess in Sri Lanka and fostering a new generation of grandmasters.

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Jason Gillespie resigns as head coach of Pakistan Test team

Published

18 hours ago

2024/12/13

Priyan

Jason Gillespie has been unhappy with the PCB in recent times (Cricbuzz)

Jason Gillespie has resigned as the coach of the Pakistan Test team. He communicated his decision to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday (December 12), hours before the team was to set out for South Africa for a two-Test series.

This was confirmed to Cricbuzz by the PCB. “He has resigned,” a spokesman for the Pakistan Board said without elaborating. Gillespie’s exit was largely on the expected lines after the PCB refused to renew the contract of his assistant coach Tim Nielsen. It is said that both Gillespie and Nielsen had a good working relations.

Late on Thursday night the PCB said Aaqib Javed will take over as red ball coach on an interim basis. Aaqib had earlier also been appointed as the interim head coach of the white-ball team following Gary Kirsten’s resignation and is with the Pakistan white-ball currently in South Africa, for the three T20Is and three ODIs.

“The PCB has named Aaqib Javed as interim red-ball head coach following the resignation of red-ball head-coach Jason Gillespie,” the Pakistan Board said in a statement.

Aaqib’s first assignment as red-ball head coach will be Pakistan’s two-match Test series against South Africa. The first Test is scheduled at the SuperSport Park in Centurion from 26 to 30 December. The second Test will be played at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town from 3 to 7 January.

The developments have come at a time when Pakistan cricket continues to be in the news and not necessarily for the right reasons. The PCB is entangled in a protracted standoff with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the Champions Trophy fiasco and there appears no end to the matter.

In the midst of the Champions Trophy impasse, the PCB is now having to deal with an on-field cricketing exigency. Gillespie, a former Australian pacer, was believed to be upset with a few recent decisions of the PCB and the Nielsen situation was the proverbial last straw that broke the back of the camel.

Gillespie was signed by the PCB earlier this year for two years for the red ball team. But he has been unhappy with PCB for quite some time as he was kept out of the loop in a few key decisions during recent home series against England.

The Gillespie affair comes close on the heels of the exit of Kirsten as the white ball coach. Kirsten was recruited along with Gillespie in April this year but the South African decided to move on in October. That two foreign coaches could not survive for even six months is not a great advertisement for Pakistan cricket. Given the Kirsten-Gillespie saga, the PCB may struggle to convince a foreign coach to take charge of its teams.

Gillespie’s first assignment was Pakistan’s home Test series against Bangladesh which the hosts lost 0-2. He also oversaw Pakistan’s 2-1 victory against England when they came back after losing the opening Test. He was also with the Pakistan white-ball team in Australia in November after Kirsten’s resignation. Pakistan won the ODI series 2-1 but were clean-swept in the T20I series by Australia.

(Cricbuzz)

Sports

All eyes on new entrants ‘Sri Lions’ as domestic rugby kicks off today

Published

23 hours ago

2024/12/13

Thilina Walpola

Last season’s winners CR&FC celebrate winning the league tournament

By A Special Sports Correspondent

All eyes will be on new entrants to rugby ‘Sri Lions Sports Club’ when they debut in the 2024/25 Inter-club league rugby tournament in Kandy on Sunday (December 15). Sri Lions are slated to take on last season’s league tournament runners-up Kandy Sports Club at the Nittawela grounds. Despite Sri Lions SC being new to domestic rugby, a thriller is expected; as the team is packed with players who are well drilled at training and the other reason being all players possess an IRB Level 1 qualification.

Sri Lions SC’s entry into division 1 rugby was not smooth. Many clubs opposed their promotion to the top league in the domestic tournament. Rugby sources told ‘The Island’ that despite the opposition shown by some clubs, Sri Lanka Rugby and other prominent sports authorities in Sri Lanka had to grant the new entrants their due place in the top league. This was largely because Sri Lions SC had made progress through the proper channel by winning the B Division rugby tournament last season.

Dr. Kelum Sujith Perera, the founder chairman of Sri Lions SC, was quoted in the newspapers saying that the club’s priority was centred around professionalism and transparency and that the club was committed to contributing to rugby development in Sri Lanka.

The club boasts of having in their line up comprising 12 former national players and a horde of talented ex-schoolboy players who have recently finished their academic commitments on a high.

The other matches scheduled for the first week of club rugby are: Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club vs CH&FC at Ratmalana (December 13), Army Sports Club vs Police Sports Club at Panagoda, Navy Sport Club vs Havelocks SC at Welisara (Both matches on December 14).

CR&FC will be one of the teams to watch this season given that they are the reigning league rugby champions. The side is led by Gemunu Chethiya. The club upgrading their stadium to have floodlight facilities should elevate player thinking to another level. The other club to offer floodlight facilities for domestic rugby matches is Havelocks SC. However CR will not have a match in the opening week of the tournament.

Last season’s league runners-up Kandy SC are led this season by seasoned scrum half Srinath Sooriyabandara who counts years of experience playing in domestic and overseas tournaments. The side is coached by Fazil Marija. Kandy SC’s dominance in domestic rugby was broken last season and much is expected of the side from Nittawela, which is going through a team building phase at present.

CH&FC is a dangerous side to play against when the team members are gelled and focused. Last season the side finished fourth. This season the Gymkhana Club is led by Janidu Dilshan.

Havelocks SC led by Abdullah Faiz is set to finish on a high this season. The Park Club finished third in the league rugby tournament last season. Police SC, which had to be satisfied winning the ‘Plate Championship’ in the league tournament last season, will be another strong contender vying for honours . The side is led for the second consecutive year by third row forward Mohan Wimalaratne.

The other sides in the tournament are Army SC, Air Force Sports Club and Navy Sport Club.

The tournament is conducted by Sri Lanka Rugby, the governing body for the sport in the island. Rugby sources reveal that an SGM has been called on December 20 for clubs to attend with the motive of announcing the date for the much looked forward to Annual General Meeting of SLR. According to International Rugby regulations, SLR has to have it’s AGM before January 31 next year.

Sports

Revaan, Shannon reach Under 12 singles final

Published

23 hours ago

2024/12/13

Thilina Walpola

(Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)

SLTA Hard Court Nationals

Revaan Amarasinghe and Shennon Senadheera reached the Under 12 boys singles final as they edged out their semi-final opponents at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association Hard Court Tennis Nationals at the SLTA courts on Thursday.

Amarasinghe of S.Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia beat Nuren Wevita 6-1, 6-1 in his semi-final.

In the other semi-final, Wesley’s Shannon Senadheera beat Yonal Dankumbura 7-6 (4), 6-2.

Results : Under 14 Boys quarter-final

Jayan Sebastian beat Buvidu Jayawardana 6-4, 6-3.

Damsath Peiris beat Thuvakar Sathiees 6-3, 6-4.

D. Wickramasinghe beat Umar Wayis 6-3, 6-1.

Under 18 Boys’ semi-final

Louis Knese beat Ganuka Fernando 6-4, 6-3

Women’s Singles quarter-final

Rukshika Wijesuriya beat Sandithi Usgodaarachchi 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.