Sports

Tharushi, Uththara, Sithum reach qualifying standards for World Junior Championships

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/11

Sahan Weerasooriya

Juniors turn tables on seniors at Asian Games Selection Trial

by Reemus Fernando

School athletes Tharushi Karunaratne, Jayeshi Uththara and Sithum Jayasundara reached World Junior Championship qualifying standards in the 400 metres and turned tables on seniors while Olympian Sumeda Ranasinghe proved beyond doubt that he has regained lost form with a formidable throw on day one of the Asian Games trials held at the newly laid synthetic track at Diyagama on Thursday.

Ratnayake Central runner Karunaratne turned tables on national champion Nadeesha Ramanayake to win the women’s 400 metres in a time of 54.29 seconds. After having produced the fastest time in the heats (54.36 seconds)to qualify for the World Junior Championships, Karunaratne was expected to challenge national champion Ramanayake and her senior training partner Dilshi Kumarasinghe who were returning to competition after skipping the first selection trail in February. Karunaratne did just that dominating the final from the second 100 metres but she only had Ramanayake for company as Kumarasinghe skipped the final. Holy Cross College, Gampaha athlete Jayeshi Uththara who finished third clocked 55.19 seconds and became eligible for the World Junior Championships to be held in Cali, Colombia in August.

Jayasundara reached the qualifying mark when he clocked 47.39 seconds, the fastest time in the men’s 400 metres heats and improved on that in the final with a 47.33 seconds finish. However, Aruna Dharshana, the favourite, remained unchallenged as he produced a sub 47 seconds performance (46.37 secs) to win.

Incidentally, both Karunaratne and Jayasundara who qualified for the World Junior event were also members of the country’s team at the event’s last edition in 2021.

They were not the only junior athletes to turn tables on seniors at this senior event as Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya high jumper Ranindi Gamage achieved her personal best to win the women’s high jump. Gamage, who is in her first year in the Under 20 age category, cleared a height of 1.68 metres to win ahead of M. Madushani of Air Force who managed to clear a height of 1.61 metres.

On a day notable for sprinters’ struggles on the new synthetic track, men’s javelin national record holder Sumeda Ranasinghe was the only senior athlete go beyond the set qualifying standards for the Asian Games as he cleared a distance of 81.79 metres to win the men’s javelin. Sri Lanka Athletics had set a minimum standard of 80.75 metres (the average bronze winning standard of the last three Asian Games) and Sumeda achieved it in his fourth throw.

In another positive note in field events, Chamal Kumarasiri reached his personal best in winning the men’s triple jump. With (+2) wind on his back the Army athlete cleared 16.29 metres to win. The triple jump national record holder Shreshan Dananjaya did not take part in the competition.

The men’s and women’s 100 metres lacked the speed they generated at the first selection trial at the Sugathadasa Stadium last month. With sprinter Himasha Eshan provisionally suspended for a doping violation, Chamod Yodhasinghe took it on his shoulders to keep the glamour event interested. He touched sub 10.60 seconds in the heats before settling for a time of 10.65 seconds to win the final.

The women’s 100 metres saw former champion Rumeshika Ratnayake edging out Amasha de Silva in a photofinish to win in 10.84 seconds.

In the absence of national record holder Sarangi Silva, Anjani Pulwansa claimed the women’s long jump victory. However, no athlete could clear the six metres mark. Pulwansa cleared 5.98 metres to win.

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Sports

Washout gives Kolkata Knight Riders first point after Bartlett’s new-ball burst

Published

6 hours ago

2026/04/7

Priyan

PBKS may have felt that the rain cost them a point [BCCI]

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got their first points of IPL 2026 but without a victory against their name after their home clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) was washed out on Monday night. Desperate for a win after starting the campaign with two losses on the bounce, KKR were reeling against swing of Xavier Bartlett and were 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs when drizzle stopped the game.

It soon turned into heavy rain with gusts of wind and the entire ground went under white covers. From 7.48pm IST, when the players went off the field, the spectators waited until 11pm when play was called off.

PBKS top the table for now as the only team with five points; three teams are on their heels with four points each.

Rain stopped at around 10.30pm, and hopes of a shortened game lingered briefly as the covers started to come off, but with plenty of water coming off the covers and accumulating near the boundary areas, it was not possible to get the field ready in time for a five-overs-a-side contest.

KKR’s struggles with the bat continued after their captain Ajinkya Rahane surprisingly chose to bat. They were also without their spin twins of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy; the last time KKR had played a match without either was back in 2019. While Narine was unwell, Varun had injured his left hand while fielding in their previous game, against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Varun was seen in the dugout with strapping on his hand.

Arshdeep Singh started well for PBKS, swinging the ball both ways in the first over, before Bartlett took over with his hooping outswingers. He beat Finn Allen three times in a row with outswing at the start of the second over before extracting his outside edge to send him back for 6. Next ball, he drew a thick edge from Cameron Green that went for four, and he then pounded in another zippy outswinger that kissed Green’s outside edge for another caught-behind.

In just three balls, KKR had slipped from 12 for 0 to 16 for 2 as Rahane watched from the other end. It had drizzled a bit through that period of action, and the umpires called for the covers in the fourth over.

The only reason for the KKR faithful to cheer was when franchise co-owner Shah Rukh Khan was shown on the big screen and when he later appeared on the balcony to wave to the fans.

Scores: Match abandoned
Kolkata Knight Riders 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 08*, AngkrishnRaguvanshi 07*; Xavier Bartlett 2-9) vs Punjab Kings

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

Hasaranga, Pathirana yet to undergo SLC-mandated fitness tests

Published

6 hours ago

2026/04/7

Priyan

Wanindu Hasaranga got injured in the T20 World Cup [Cricinfo]

Matheesha Pathirana and Wanidu Hasaranga are among 15 Sri Lankan players under central contracts yet to take their mandatory fitness tests, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed. Six others are understood to have failed at least one attempt, which means that of the 45 centrally-contracted players, currently only 24 have passed the test.

The reasons for those yet to take the test vary from injuries to logistical issues. The timelines for Hasaranga and Pathirana remain most pertinent, with the pair set to represent Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively in IPL 2026.

Hasaranga’s scenario looks the most bleak, with sources close to the player saying it’s unlikely he will play “anytime soon,” while a source at SLC said that “Hasaranga has not as yet requested for an NOC (No Objection Certificate).” The legspinner has been out of action since tearing his left hamstring in Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup opener against Ireland in February, and there is no clear idea on when he will undergo his fitness evaluation.

Pathirana, who strained his calf in the T20 World Cup match against Australia, is understood to have begun bowling in the nets as he ups his recovery, with sources close to the player hopeful of him being in India for the IPL by mid-April. While no date has been officially set for his SLC-mandated fitness test, it is likely to take place next week.

SLCs overhauling of their fitness culture has also extended to the domestic National Super League tournament, which began on Monday. The testing for that is less stringent; players only need to complete a 2km run and a skin-fold test. No points are allocated, they simply need to pass the minimum threshold. Whereas centrally-contracted players have a 20m sprint, a 5-0-5 agility test, and a Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) – each offering points ranging from one to five each – with a potential seven points each up for grabs in the 2km run and skin-fold test. Seventeen out of 29 points are needed to pass the test.

Of the 87 players taking part in the tournament, 23 failed to clear the minimum fitness requirements and have been given an April 19 deadline to pass the test. If they fail to do so, they will be allowed to continue playing but will be denied their match fees, with future representation in the tournament also likely to come under scrutiny.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Samash smashes century as Joes post 354

Published

12 hours ago

2026/04/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Aveesha Samash (Picture credit ThePapare)

Open batsman Aveesha Samash produced a superb century to power St. Joseph’s College to a commanding first-day total against Prince of Wales College in their Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ semi-final encounter at the D.H.H. Ground, Madampella on Monday.

‎Samash top scored with a brilliant 122 runs, striking 14 fours and three sixes, as the Josephians piled up an imposing 354 in their first innings.

‎Asked to take first lease of the wicket, St. Joseph’s suffered an early setback, losing two wickets for just 16 runs. However, Samash steadied the innings with a crucial third wicket partnership alongside Pamoda Dalpadado. The pair added a valuable 173 runs to turn the match in favour of the Josephians.

‎Batting for more than thirty overs together, Samash played the aggressor’s role while Dalpadado provided steady support, ensuring the Joes rebuilt strongly and maintained control of the contest. Dalpadado contributed a well-compiled 64 before being caught by Rusandu Silva off the bowling of Oshan Maneesha, who emerged as the pick of the Prince of Wales bowlers.

‎Samash continued his fluent innings to reach a well-deserved century before being dismissed after laying a solid platform for his side.

‎Following their departures, Chethina Kavinda added a useful 34 while Nushan Perera accelerated the scoring with an entertaining 60 off 68 balls, which included nine boundaries and a six, helping the Josephians reach their formidable total of 354.

‎For Prince of Wales, Oshan Maneesha led the bowling effort with good support from Nethul Anuhas and Rusandu Silva, who claimed two wickets each.

‎At stumps on the opening day, the Cambrians safely negotiated one over each from Nushan Perera and Vishwa Peiris without losing a wicket, beginning their reply cautiously.

‎‎Scores:

‎St. Joseph’s 354 all out in 78.3 overs (Aveesha Samash 122, Pamoda Dalpadado 64, Nushan Perera 60, Chethina Kavinda 34; Oshan Maneesha 4/91, Nethul Anuhas 2/83, Rusandu Silva 2/39).

‎Prince of Wales

3 for no loss in 2 overs. (RF)