Sports

SL Athletics team leaves for India with new ‘BELIEVE’ kits

Published

4 years ago

2021/06/24

National athletes who left the island yesterday (23rd) to compete in the 65th Interstate Athletics Championship in Patiala, India were geared with new competition kits by ‘BELIEVE’ Sportswear.

‘Believe’ is the sports and active wear arm of Ceylon Sports which is to be launched in the near future. The groundbreaking initiative by Ceylon Sports will see international style running gear manufactured in Sri Lanka for the first time. The trendy and modern collection include a wide range of sports gear seen in international competitions in the likes of two-piece running kits, one piece running kits, stylish calf wraps, headbands, warm up wear which are especially manufactured in consultation with experts. With the help of experts and athletes, ‘Believe’ has created customized collections for each athletic discipline named ‘Run’, ‘Jump’, ‘Throw’ which will cater to specific needs of the respective events.

‘We are grateful to ‘BELIEVE’ sportswear for providing kits for the National athletic team who will be competing at the 65th Interstate Athletics Championship in Patiala, India. The Athletes will be pushing for Olympic qualification, and we are thankful to ‘BELIEVE’ for coming forward to support our athletes. We hope to continue this partnership for all future National team involvements,” said Maj.Gen Palitha Fernando, President -Sri Lanka Athletics, expressing his admiration.

The team which took wing to India yesterday consists four athletes who are on the borderline of the Olympic qualification quota. Nilani Ratnayake who is already within the Olympic quota is also part of the team. The addition of women’s 4x100m relay team is a notable move as it is the first time they feature in an overseas competition outside the South Asian Games in 2016 and 2019. The team comprises of the first five athletes at the last National Athletics Championship. Four of the five athletes are below 21 years. Amasha de Silva, Shelinda Jansen, Medhani Jayamanne and Safiya Yamic will compete in the relay, while hurdler Lakshika Sugandhi is included as the fifth member.

Young sprinter, Shelinda Jansen of youth Olympic fame also expressed her admiration of ‘BELIVE’ sportswear. “It’s brilliant that Ceylon Sports have come up with the ‘BELIVE’ sportswear, as a young female athlete it’s very difficult to find trendy comfortable running gear in Sri Lanka for a decent price, I ran in ‘BELEIVE’ gear at the Nationals, and it was a perfect fit. I am excited to don this gear in India.”

Ceylon Sports provided running kits for athletes during the National Athletics championship and National Trials held at the Sugathadasa Stadium earlier this year and are hoping to join hands for upcoming International events such as World Junior Championship, Asian Athletics Championship, Asian Junior Championship and World Athletics championship 2022.

Ceylon Sports & Ceylon Athletics was Sri Lanka’s first web and social media platform which initiated providing much needed context and awareness on Sri Lankan Athletics aiding in the upliftment of the sport at a time athletics in the country was experiencing a dip in popularity. With several campaigns and coverage which included live streaming of all National and major international events and unique coverage methods it was able to increase athletes’ interest and desire for better performance while was able to bring fans back to athletics.

Extending beyond popularizing the sport, Ceylon Sports identified that Sri Lankan athletes did not have an avenue to get affordable international style running gear which will provide comfort during the events apart from paying hefty sums for major global brands.

‘BELIEVE’ is eyeing to fulfill this requirement in the local market and will soon be available for purchase online. National athletes will receive special discounts while a percentage of the income will be used to create a charity fund which will help underprivileged athletes, a service Ceylon Sports has been engaged in silence for many years.

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Sports

Sri Lanka Under 19s pull off two wickets win against Afghanistan

Published

15 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka Under 19s scored back to back victories as Mahanama College batsman Chamika Heenatigala anchored the tail with an unbeaten half century to seal two wickets victory over Afghanistan U19s in their second group match of the Under 19 Asia Cup in Dubai on Monday.

‎Chasing 236 runs to win Sri Lanka U19s were eight wickets down for 217 runs in the 48th over but Heenatigala with Rasith Nimsara kept their cool to seal the victory with four balls to spare.

‎In their chase, Viran Chamuditha top scored with 62 runs and put on a first wicket stand of 55 runs with Dimantha Mahavithana (27).

‎While Kavija Gamage (34) and Dulnith Sigera (22) made vital contributions with the bat, Sethmika Senevirathne and Sigera took three wickets each.

‎It was Sri Lanka Youth team’s second consecutive win in the tournament after registering their first win against Nepal.

Sports

Dasun Shanaka’s all-round effort can not hold Vipers

Published

15 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sam Curran bagged two wickets before scoring an unbeaten fifty. (ILT20)

Dasun Shanaka scored an unbeaten 29 and took two wickets but that could not hold Desert Vipers becoming the first team to seal a playoffs spot as they made it six wins out of six on Sunday (December 14) halfway through the league stage of the ILT20 2025-26.

‎Sam Curran produced an all-round effort as Vipers chased down Dubai Capitals’ 166/4 with five wickets in hand and a ball to spare.

‎Asked to bat, Capitals lost Shayan Jahangir to Naseem Shah in the third over and were kept on a tight leash by the Vipers pacers in the powerplay, reaching 35/1. Gulbadin Naib and Leus du Plooy then added 39 at close to a run-a-ball before Noor Ahmad removed his Afghanistan teammate. Capitals were 68/2 at the halfway mark and in need of momentum through the second half of the innings.

‎Du Plooy injected some urgency with two fours off Lockie Ferguson in an over, followed by a six off Naseem Shah to bring up a 38-ball fifty. But Curran turned the innings again with a double-wicket over, dismissing du Plooy and Rovman Powell off successive deliveries. Jordan Cox and Dasun Shanaka, however, ensured a strong finish, striking six fours and three sixes in an unbroken 72-run stand off 40 balls.

‎Max Holden set the tone in the chase, accounting for six of the seven fours Vipers struck in the powerplay. Fakhar Zaman fell to Mustafizur Rahman in the fifth over but Vipers still reached 50 in six overs. Holden was dismissed for 34 by Haider Ali while attempting a slog sweep, and although Hasan Nawaz struck three sixes, he fell to Waqar Salamkheil to leave Vipers at 88/3 after 10 overs.

‎Dan Lawrence and Curran steadied the chase with a 32-run stand before Lawrence was dismissed by Shanaka for 20 in the 14th over. In the same over, Shimron Hetmyer struck a four and a six and was later reprieved by Shanaka. A couple of tight overs followed, but Vipers remained in control, needing 31 from the final four overs.

‎Curran took them closer with two fours off David Willey and a six off Muhammad Jawadullah. With three required in the final over, Hetmyer fell to Shanaka, but Curran finished the chase with a six off the fourth ball, completing a 33-ball fifty to cap a fine all-round performance.

‎‎Brief scores:

‎Dubai Capitals 166/4 in 20 overs (Leus du Plooy 54, Jordan Cox 49*; Sam Curran 2-17)

‎Desert Vipers

171/5 in 19.4 overs (Sam Curran 52*, Max Holden 34; Dasun Shanaka 2-19)

Sports

Akbar Brothers crowned MBSA A-Division champions

Published

1 day ago

2025/12/15

Priyan

Akbar Brothers Ltd delivered a commanding all-round performance to clinch the ‘A’ Division title at the 33rd MSBA League Basketball Tournament, defeating defending champions Fairfirst Insurance 70–60 in a thrilling final held recently.

Despite a group stage loss to Fairfirst, a revitalized Akbar Brothers team returned for the final with renewed focus, executing a strategic and disciplined game plan with some excellent passing and defense. Akbar Brothers came in with all guns blazing right from the outset. The first quarter was all Akbar’s that stacked up a 13 to 4 lead. Fairfirst mounted a strong challenge in the second quarter, narrowing the margin, but Akbar’s momentum secured a 35–28 lead at halftime, a margin they maintained with composure through to the final whistle.

Dasun Mendis led the charge for Akbar Brothers with 18 points and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Chenura De Alwis added 17 points to the tally, while Shehan Udayanga posted a valiant 22 points for Fairfirst. Dimitri Grebe anchored Akbar Brothers with strong leadership, with Hiran Wijesooriya captaining Fairfirst.

Earlier in the tournament Akbar Brothers beat Sampath Bank (82-71), Seylan Bank (91-68) David Pieris (110-78) and Seylan Bank in the semi final (83-60)

The final, held at the Royal College Indoor Sports Complex, saw a vibrant turnout of supporters as Akbar Brothers proved their championship mettle with teamwork, resilience, and clinical execution.

Akbar Brothers – Dimitri Grebe (Captain), Dasun Mendis, Chenura De Alwis, Randil Henry, Taher Akbarally, Selvam Savarimuttu, Franklyn Morais, Sanketha Jayarathne, Jeewan Priyankera , Praneeth Udumalagala, Ajith Kuruppu (Coach), Adrian Gabriel (Asst. Coach)

Fairfirst Insurance – Hiran Wijesooriya (Captain), Shehan Udayanga , Lakshan Kulathunga, Roshan Randima, Arnold Brent, Isuru Perera, Denzil Nicholas, Nimesh Fernando, Keshawa Perera, Charaka Anuhas, Asanga Perera (Coach)