Sports

Thowfeek fastest at Bandaragama, Peterite Sugitharan tops Colombo-Kalutara leg

Published

9 months ago

2024/07/29

Thilina Walpola

Sugitharan Nijesh

Sir John Tarbat Junior Championships

by Reemus Fernando

St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya sprinter Sugitharan Nijesh was the fastest in the Under 15 boys 100 metres among athletes in the Colombo and Kalutara districts as eight athletes clocked sub 12 seconds in the 100 metres dash at the stage one competition of the Sir John Tarbat Junior Championship which ended at Bandaragama on Saturday

Sugitharan clocked 11.74 seconds to lead the sprinters from the Colombo and Kalutara District leg of the multi stage championship. Sri Lanka Schools Athletics Association had allowed athletes from several other Districts to participate at Bandaragama after they had missed their relevant stages due to unavoidable circumstances.

Gateway College, Kandy sprinter I. Thowfeek who was among such athletes was the fastest in that age group as he clocked 11.64 seconds to produce the fastest feat. He also topped the list in the 200 metres clocking 24.31 seconds.

Alongside Sugitheran S. Dulsara of Mahanama College – Colombo (11.75 secs), K. Jayameth of Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya (11.90 secs), N. Pansilu of President’s College Kotte (11.91secs), S. Ositha of D. S. Senanayaka College, Colombo (11.92 secs), D. Vithana of Kannangara Central Mathugama (11.92 secs), R.A. Shore of Hejaaz International School, Mount Lavinia (11.97 secs) and O. A. Gunawardhana of Bandaranayaka Central, Veyangoda (11.98 secs) clocked sub 12 seconds while nearly 30 other sprinters too reached merit standard of 12.60 seconds mark.

In the Under 14 age category A. Thewarapperuma of Gateway College Colombo was the fastest as he clocked 11.96 seconds. He was the only athlete to clock sub 12 seconds. He was also the top performer in both the 200 metres (24.43secs) and the long jump (5.60m).

In field events, M. Amaraweera of D. S. Senanayaka College, Colombo excelled producing the best performances in both the Under 15 boys high jump (1.52m) and the long jump (5.71m).

The best in the throwing events was Mayon Rajasinghe. The former Prince of Wales College thrower competing for St. Joseph’s College, Darley Road topped the lists in the shot put (13.64m), discus throw (40.03m) and javelin throw (46.80m) in the under 15 age category.

In the girls category, Vinuthi Vihansa of Dharmapala College Pannipitiya (13.38 secs in the 100m) was the fastest in the under 15 catego-ry, while Ladies College Colombosprinter R. Jayasundara clocked 13.26 seconds to top the Under 14 age group. Vihansa also topped the 200 metres with a time of 28.06 seconds.

In the 800 metres, the longest distance of the under 15 age category, W.D.M. Dulmini of St John Bosco’s College, Hanwella returned the best time of 2:42.0 seconds.

P.M. Gamage of St. Mary’s College, Veyangoda toped the lists in both the Under 15 shot put (10.14m) and the discus throw (23.27m).

G.L. Swarnamali of Hewavitharana M.V Rajagiriya was the top performer in both the 200m (27.19 secs) and the 400 metres (63.38 secs) in the under 14 age group.

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Sports

Four relay teams in 20 member team picked for Asian Athletics Championships

Published

26 mins ago

2025/05/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rasara Wijesuriya / Kalinga Kumarage

Sri Lanka Athletics has picked a team of twenty athletes inclusive of four relay teams for the upcoming Asian Athletics Championship.

The men’s and women’s 4×400 metres, 4×400 metres mixed relay and men’s 4×100 metres are the realy events taken part by Sri Lanka. Kalinga Kumarage and Aruna Dharshana who were part of the gold winning men’s 4×400 metres team at the last edition are joined by juniors Sadew Rajakaruna, Omel Shashintha and Kalhara Indupa for the Gumi, South Korea event taking place from May 27 to 31.

Experienced campaigners Kalinga and Dharshana will also be part of the mixed relay.

Italy based sprinter Yupun Abeykoon and reigning national 100 metres champion Chamod Yodasinghe will compete in the 100 metres and are joined by Deneth Weeraratne, Merone Wijesinghe and H.D.M.C.B. Dissanayake to form the 4×100 metres relay.

Nadeesha Ramanayake who won the women’s 400 metres at the last edition will feature in the women’s 4×400 metres alongside Sayuri Lakshima, Jayeshi Uththara and Nishendra Fernando and Jithma Wijetunga.

Ananda College Colombo athlete Lesandu Arthavidu will compete in the high jump. His recent performance of 2.22 metres has stood in good stead for the school athlete to be in the senior team.

Sri Lanka will have high hopes on javelin throwers Sumeda Ranasinghe and Rumesh Tharanga who are the leading throwers in Asia this year.

In the women’s category javelin thrower Dilhani Lekamge and long distance runner Rasara Wijesuriya are the other members.

Lekamge won the bronze medal with a Sri Lanka national record performance of 60.93 metres at the last edition. Wijesuriya is in top form after creating records in long distance events. She will compete in both the 5000m and the 10,000 metres.

Tharushi Karunaratne who won the gold medal in the 800 metres is the notable absentee. She is currently studying and training in the USA.

Team

Men’s:

Yupun Abeykoon (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Chamod Yodasinghe (100m, 4x100m), Deneth Weeraratne (4x100m) Merone Wijesinghe(4x100m), H.D.M.C.B. Dissanayake (4x100m),

Kalinga Kumarage(men’s 4x400m, mixed relay), Aruna Dharshana (men’s 4x400m, mixed relay), Sadew Rajakaruna (4x400m), Omel Shashintha (4x400m), Kalhara Indupa (4x400m), Sumeda Ranasinghe (javelin), Rumesh Tharanga (javelin), Lesandu Arthavidu (high jump).

Women’s

Nadeesha Ramanayake (400m, 4x400m, mixed relay), Sayuri Lakshima (4x400m), Nishendra Fernando(4x400m), Jayeshi Uththara (4x400m), Jithma Wijetunga (4x400m), Dilhani Lekamge (javelin), Rasara Wijesuriya(5000m, 10000m).

by Reemus Fernando

Sports

Galle secure NSL title

Published

28 mins ago

2025/05/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

Galle captain Ramesh Mendis receives the championship trophy from SLC Secretary Bandula Dissanayake after his side won the First Class title at SSC yesterday.

Galle secured the country’s premier First Class cricket title – National Super League (NSL) – when they overcame Dambulla on first innings points in the final that concluded at SSC yesterday.

Galle and Dambulla qualified for the final after topping the points table in the league stage and Galle were declared champions after their first innings victory.

Put into bat first, Galle posted 370 thanks to a hundred by Oshada Fernando and Dinesh Chandimal (80) as they shared an 118 run stand for the second wicket. Quick Mohammad Shiraz was the pick of the bowlers finishing with six wickets.

Wicketkeeper Vishad Randkia held Dambulla’s innings together posting a hundred after opener Ron Chandgraguptha had hit 65. Dambulla were bowled out for 313 with Nimsara Atharagalla picking up five wickets.

The fact that Dambulla ended up with a first innings deficit meant that they had to win the game outright to clinch the title.

All what Galle had to do was to bat out time with a bit of bad weather around the corner and that’s exactly what they did to secure the title.

They posted 246 for five with Dinesh Chandimal scoring another half-century in the second innings.

At 162 for five, Dambulla still had an outside chance but Dunith Wellalage and Ramesh Mendis posted unbeaten half-centuries to ensure the title was theirs.

Ramesh Mendis finished as the second highest leading run scorer in the competition with 454 runs followed by Chandimal with 453 runs.

Sports

Six players from Sri Lanka reach second round

Published

29 mins ago

2025/05/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

Mayooran Kubherane (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)

ITF Junior Circuit J30 Week I Tennis

Dinara de Silva, the winner of the ITF Junior Circuit J30 week one tournament advanced to the second round of the week two tournament with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Shreeya Deshpande of India at the SSC courts in Colombo.

While Gehansa Methnadi reached the second round with a 7-4, 6-4 win in the girls’ singles, Mayooran Kubherane and Ganuka Fernando booked second round berths in the boys’ singles. Yuhansa Peiris and Ashlin de Silva reached the second round earlier.

The second round matches were scheduled for yesterday evening.