Sports

Royalist becomes the youngest champ in sailing history, Navy dominates Nationals

Published

4 years ago

2021/12/20

Sri Lanka Sailing Nationals

The Sri Lanka Sailing Nationals 2021 concluded on December 11 after two days of sailors of all ages battling it out on the clear waters of the Bolgoda Lake.

With a record number of 117 sailors fighting for the coveted titles under clear skies on December 10 and 11 at this year’s nationals, the races concluded with clear wins as well as close shaves.

The Sri Lanka Navy emerged as winners in five of the seven classes including the GP14, Enterprise, Laser Standard, Laser Radial and Windsurfing.

This year’s races also saw the emergence of 13-year-old Yusef Hazari, the youngest sailor ever to win the nationals. Racing in the Optimist class, Hazari, a grade eight student of Royal College, Colombo, raced to clear victory in the back-to-back races that lasted six hours on Friday. Hazari came in first in five of the six races, claiming victory, with Tharen Nanayakkara and Nikhil Nanayakkara of S. Thomas’ College coming in second and third places.

With low and sudden pockets of winds, this year’s nationals tested the skill of sailors. “Sailing is like chess on water. This time it was about catching the wind at the right moment working with it. It was pretty intense, and we had to sail without a break for six hours because of this reason,” said Hazari. “Everyone did well, despite so many challenges. I’m happy to win the nationals, thanks to my school and our coaches.”

The Laser Radial saw J.M.P.L Jayasuriya and P.N.P.K Dissanayake of the Navy battling for first place, with Jayasuriya winning by a margin. Dhanika Nanayakkara of S. Thomas’ College came in first in the Laser 4.7 class with Jehan de Silva and Niveyn Nanayakkara, also of S. Thomas’ College coming in first and second runners up respectively.

W.M.C Marambe and GPP Karunaratne of the Sri Lanka Navy won the GP 14, while N.G.M.U Ghanawardene and ASK de Soyza of the Navy and Devin Goonawardene and Kaif Sally racing for the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club came in a close second and third respectively.

In windsurfing Priyantha Gunawardene of the Sri Lanka Navy beat reigning champ Chaminda Silva of the Bentota Windsurf Club in a close contest to emerge as the winner.

“It’s great to have the nationals back again after a lapse of almost two years,” said Sarath Kuragama, the Chief Operating Officer of the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka. “All the younger sailors did well despite their lack of practice. We have great coaches, perfect sailing waters and a lot of talent in sailing in Sri Lanka, we just need more of the right equipment,” he said.

Despite the record number of entrants this year, many competitors belonging to schools could not participate in the races due to the shortage of sails in some senior classes.

“We need to rectify this,” said National Coach W.P. Krishan Janaka, who coaches both the Navy as well as the national pool. “In sailing fifty percent is skill and the other fifty percent depends on the boat, and we need better boats, sails and equipment.”

The 2021 Nationals, organised by the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka and the National Olympic Committee, resumed after a year’s break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All sailing events including the Nationals and the International Optimist Dingy Association (IODA) Championship, scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka last year were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Although the Navy continued to sail in protective bubbles, others, including students have come back to sailing after almost two years.

Sri Lanka has produced many international class sailors through the years.

J.M.P.L Jayasuriya, who won both the Laser Radial and the Enterprise class says he owes his win purely to “skill and experience.” Jayasuriya won silver at the South Asian Games in 2006 in the Enterprise class.

“The winds were bad on Saturday, the salmonella on the water didn’t help and with our battered sails, it came down to skill and experience,” he said.

WMC Marambe of the Navy who won the JP14 class called the 2021 Nationals, “one of the best.” Marambe has won many international events and has been sailing for the Navy for 20 years.

Chairman of the National Olympic Committee Suresh Subramanium was present as chief guest of the event.

Currently, the sailors are getting ready for trials for the Asian Games scheduled to be held in September 2022 in China.

Optimist Class

Winner –

Yusef Hazari – Royal College

1st Runner Up –

Tharen Nanayakkara – S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia

2nd Runner Up –

Nikhil Nanayakkara – S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia

Laser Radial

Winner –

JMPL Jayasuriya – Sri Lanka Navy

1st Runner Up –

PNPK Dissanayake – Sri Lanka Navy

2nd Runner Up –

Dhanika Nanayakkara – S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia

Laser Standard

Winner –

KGCUS Bandara – Sri Lanka Navy

1st Runner Up –

UD Rajapaksa – Sri Lanka Navy

2nd Runner Up –

JS Senaviratne – Sri Lanka Navy

GP14

Winner –

WMC Marambe and GPP Karunaratne – Sri Lanka Navy

1st Runner Up –

NGMU Ghanawardene and ASK De Soyza – Sri Lanka Navy

2nd Runner Up –

Devin Goonawardene and Kaif Sally – Ceylon Motor Yacht Club

Enterprise

Winner –

JMPL Jayasuriya and TDS Perera – Sri Lanka Navy

KC De Soyza and JPS De Silva – Sri Lanka Navy

JHMPI Jayapadma and SPPN Kumara – Sri Lanka Navy

Laser 4.7 Class

Winner –

Dhanika Nanayakkara – S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia

1st Runner Up –

Jehan De Silva – S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia

2nd Runner Up –

Niveyn Nanayakkara – S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia

Windsurfing

Winner –

Priyantha Gunawardene – Sri Lanka Navy

1st Runner Up –

Chaminda Silva – Bentota Windsurf Club

2nd Runner Up –

Chameera Gunawardana – Bentota Windsurf Club.

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Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh help India edge run-fest to go 4-0 up

Published

15 hours ago

2025/12/29

Priyan

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma put on a record opening stand for India (BCCI)

After three one-sided, low-scoring encounters, the fourth T20I between India and Sri Lanka exploded into a run-fest in Thiruvananthapuram, with both sides posting their highest totals in women’s T20Is. India’s big score of 221 for 2 proved too much for Sri Lanka, who fell short by 30 runs, handing the hosts a 4-0 series lead with one match remaining. India missed two catching opportunities and a stumping chance, while Sri Lanka gave away three, but the batting dominance was decisive.

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma set the tone with blistering half-centuries to power India’s innings, while Chamari Athapaththu kept Sri Lanka in the chase with a fighting 52. Despite a few late cameo efforts, the visitors couldn’t overcome India’s dominant batting display.

Shafali and Mandhana delivered a masterclass in aggressive opening batting, putting together 162 runs off just 92 balls – the highest opening partnership for India in women’s T20Is. Shafali continued her purple patch with a third successive T20I half-century, while Mandhana, who had managed only 40 runs in the first three matches, roared back to form. The innings also saw Mandhana climb to the top of the charts for most runs (1,703) in women’s internationals in a calendar year, underlining her dominance.

India’s openers were relentless from the outset, racing to 61 without loss in the powerplay with 12 boundaries. Shafali’s innings was built on control and placement – her first six came only after her fifty, a loft over long-off in the 11th over – and she finished with 12 fours and a six.

Mandhana, meanwhile, struck 11 fours and three sixes, though her innings briefly dipped in tempo. After racing to 24 off 14 balls, she moved to 28 off 24 during a short lull before accelerating sharply to reach her half-century off 35 deliveries. From there, she cut loose, using the feet to loft the spinners and driving straight with authority.

The contest decisively tilted in overs 11 to 13, when India tore into the attack. The 11th over went for 15 runs, followed by a 20-run 12th and an 18-run 13th, each featuring two fours and a six. Any hopes Sri Lanka had of restricting the damage vanished as India surged from 85 for no loss to 120 in just two overs.

India brought up 150 in only 14.2 overs, making light of the Sri Lanka captain’s assessment at the toss that 140 would be a competitive total.

Sri Lanka had to wait 92 balls for their first breakthrough and struck again in the following over, the 17th, but any momentum was swiftly snuffed out by Richa Ghosh. With Harleen Deol replacing Jemimah Rodrigues, who was recovering from a mild fever, India promoted Ghosh to No. 3 for the death overs – a move that paid rich dividends. Having faced just one delivery in the series before this match, Ghosh made an impact, blasting 40 off 16 balls and adding an unbroken 53-run stand with Harmanpreet Kaur.

Ghosh announced herself by heaving her second ball over Nimasha Meepage’s head for four. After a relatively quiet 17th over, she found her range against the same bowler, striking two more boundaries. The onslaught peaked against Kavisha Dilhari, one of Sri Lanka’s more experienced bowlers, as Ghosh went into overdrive. She smoked three sixes and a four to plunder 23 runs from the 19th over, punishing anything in her hitting arc and underlining India’s ruthless finish.

Sri Lanka began their chase aggressively, with Hasini Perera taking charge. She tore into Renuka Singh’s first over, hitting three boundaries, while Arundhati Reddy, making a comeback in place of the rested Kranti Gaud, conceded 17 off the second over. By the end of four, Sri Lanka had raced to 52 for 0, with the opening stand between Perera and Athapaththu putting on 59 runs off 34 balls.

Athapaththu struck the chase’s first six, charging down the track and clearing long-off off Deepti Sharma in the third over. Both left-handers punished anything too full or short, though Perera fell in the sixth over, holing out to Harmanpreet at mid-off off Reddy’s offcutter.

Athapaththu kept the momentum going, adding 57 runs off 46 balls with Imesha Dulani for the second wicket. Athapaththu moved from 20 off 15 balls to fifty in the next 19 deliveries, hitting three sixes and as many fours. However, her innings ended when she mistimed a charge over the off side, gifting a catch to Mandhana at long-off off Vaishnavi Sharma. At that stage, Sri Lanka needed 106 runs from 42 balls. Despite a few late cameos, the chase fell short.

On a night dominated by big scores, Vaishnavi emerged as the standout bowler, picking up two crucial wickets for just 24 runs. Introduced into the attack after the powerplay, she began by floating the ball outside off stump to entice the batters before gradually attacking the stumps and testing the left-handers with clever variations.

After dismissing Athapaththu in the 13th over, she also removed Harshitha Samarawickrama for a 13-ball 20 in the 17th, when the batter looked threatening. Her disciplined lines and sharp changes of pace helped India keep Sri Lanka’s scoring in check.

Brief scores:

India Women 221 for 2 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 80, Shafali Verma 79, Richa Ghosh 40*, Harmanpreet Kaur16*; Malsha Shehani 1-32, Nimasha Meepage 1-40) beat Sri Lanka Women 191 for 6 in 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 52, Hasini Perera 33, Imesha Dulani 29, Harshitha Samarawickrama 20, Kavisha Dilhari 13, Nilakshika de Silva 23*; Arundhati Reddy 2-42, Vaishnavi Sharma 2-24, Shree Charani 1-46) by 30 runs

(Cricinfo)

Sports

Gurusinha’s Boxing Day hundred celebrated in Melbourne

Published

17 hours ago

2025/12/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Any Test hundred is a moment to remember, but to do it against Australia, facing McDermott, McGrath, Warne and Reifel at the MCG is very special - Asanka Gurusinha.

A private function will be held on Monday, December 29 at Melbourne’s Spicy Wicket Restaurant to celebrate Asanka Gurusinha’s iconic Boxing Day century at the MCG, the first and still the only hundred by a Sri Lankan at the grand old ground that staged the game’s inaugural Test and has long been cricket’s festive showpiece in Australia.

Sri Lanka featured in the 1995 Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a match remembered as much for controversy as for courage. Umpire Darrel Hair repeatedly no-balled Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing in front of a stunned crowd of 55,000, turning the contest into a cauldron.

It was a one-sided affair dominated by Mark Taylor’s Australians. Forced to follow on, Sri Lanka were staring down the barrel before Gurusinha dug in to produce a back-to-the-wall 143. It was the left-hander’s career-best Test score and more importantly helped Sri Lanka avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat.

“Any Test hundred is a moment to remember, but to do it against Australia, facing McDermott, McGrath, Warne and Reifel at the MCG is very special,” Gurusinha told Telecom Asia Sport. “It didn’t sink in 30 years ago, but I know now why it’s special. I always enjoyed batting on pitches with bounce and seam and Australia was a place I loved playing.”

“Coming up against the best team in the world at the time and that formidable bowling attack is something that will stay with me forever,” he added.

Gurusinha also paid tribute to those behind the celebration. “I want to thank my good friends David and Cathy Cruse for organising this event. All my family will be there and it’s great to have Aravinda de Silva as chief guest. I played against him at school level for eight years and then alongside him for 12 years for Sri Lanka. He’s a dear friend.”

Gurusinha made his Test debut in 1985, straight out of school as a 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter. His sound technique soon demanded promotion and he settled into the No. 3 slot, becoming the side’s human sandbag, valuing his wicket, batting time and wearing down attacks during marathon vigils that tested bowlers’ patience as much as their stamina.

A key member of Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning squad in 1996, Gurusinha willingly shelved his natural strokeplay to play the anchor’s role, allowing the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva to cut loose. He struck a vital half-century in the final against Australia, earning praise from captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who famously labelled him the unsung hero of Sri Lanka’s World Cup triumph.

Gurusinha retired prematurely at the age of 30 soon after that World Cup success, migrated to Australia and has since made Melbourne his adopted home, fitting, perhaps, that the city where he played his finest innings will now raise a glass to a knock that has aged like fine wine.

(Telecom Asia Sport)

Sports

Royal record first innings win over Gurukula

Published

17 hours ago

2025/12/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

‎‎Royal scored a first innings win over Gurukula after they restricted the team from Kelniya to 215 runs in reply to their 302 in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ match at Reid Avenue on Sunday.

‎For the home team open bat Hirun Liyanarachchi scored back to back half centuries. He remained unbeaten on 56 in the second innings.

‎For the visitors Ohas Sadew picked up six wickets.

‎‎Scores

‎Royal 302 for 9 decl. in 80 overs (Hirun Liyanarachchi 50, Dushen Udawela 25, Ramiru Perera 60, Yasindu Dissanayake 41, Thevindu Wewalwala 36, Manuth Disanayake 42, Udantha Gangewatta

‎22n.o.; Ohas Sadew 6/101) and 130 for 2 in 39 overs (Hirun Liyanarachchi 56n.o., Rehan Peiris 59)

‎Gurukula

215 all out in 75.2 overs (Sahas Induwara 35, Denura Dimansith 79, Janith Mihiranga 44; Himaru Deshan 2/65, Ramiru Perera 2/58) (RF)‎