Sports
Viren, Panchali clinch singles crowns
WPBA Open Championships 2021
Viren Nettasinghe and Panchali Adhikari clinched the men’s and women’s singles crowns at the Western Province Badminton Association (WPBA) – organised Open Ranking Championships which marked the return of competitive badminton action at the MBA and Otters Courts over the weekend.
Nettasinghe beat Dumindu Abeywickrama 21-14, 22-20 in the men’s singles final while Adhikari overcame her counterpart Ranithma Liyanage in a thrilling final which was stretched to three sets (19-21, 21-14, 21-12).
Earlier, Nettasingle also won the men’s doubles title with his partner Rasindu Hendahewa when the talented duo overcame Resintha de Silva and Shamika de Silva in straight sets (21-12, 21-11).
Meanwhile, Adhikari and her doubles partner Manudi Mithara had to satisfy with the runner-up position after losing to Buthmi Galagamage and Nadeesha Gayanthi (16-21, 21-18, 21-17) in the final.
The mixed doubles title was won by Thulith Palliyaguru and Buthmi Galagamage who beat Lochana de Silva and Raini Abeysingha (21-16, 21-16) in the final.
Sachen Fernando (U-17) and Siyath Senaratne (U-19) emerged victorious in the boys’ singles finals while Varangana Jayawardana (U-17) and Suhasni Vidanage (U-19) clinched girls’ singles titles.
Sunil Jayasiri, Rohan Fernando, George Karunanayake, Mahinda Jayaweera, Subash Janaka, Gihan Ranasinghe and RuviniRathnasiri also won singles titles in their respective age groups.
The tournament was the first open ranking event to take place following a long break due to the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted the country’s badminton competition schedule.
The tournament was conducted under the supervision of Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) with all measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 being followed.
SLT Mobitel was the main sponsor of the event which saw over 300 shuttlers in action.
Results of Western Province Open Badminton Championships 2021
Men’s Doubles 65
Winners: E M Chandratilaka/A Karunagaran
Runners-up: L G Amaratunga/Gamini Jayawardana
Men’s Singles 65
Winner: Sunil Jayasiri
Runner-up: Gamini Jayawardana
Men’s Singles 55 / 60
Winner: Rohan Fernando
Runner-up: ArunaKrishantha
Men’s Singles 50
Winner: George Karunanayake
Runner-up: Mangala Gamage
Men’s Doubles 45
Winner: Clarence Homer/Duminda Jayakody
Runner-up: Mahinda Jayaweera/Ranga Randunu
Mne’s Singles 45
Winner: Mahinda Jayaweera
Runner-up: W A Ruwankumara
Mixed Doubles 40
Winners: Jeffer Rosobin / Chandrika De Silva
Runners-up: Upendra Jayawardena / Priyanka Abeyrathna
Women’s Doubles 40 / 50
Winners: Priyanka Abeyrathna/ Umanga Rathnayake
Runners-up: Thushari Brahamanage / Sadamali Senanayake
Men’s Doubles 40
Winners: Randika Peiris / I.D Samaranayaka
Runners-up: Upendra Jayawardena / Sahan Pradeep
Men’s Singles 40
Winner: Subash Janaka
Runner-up: Conrad de Silva
Men’s Singles 35
Winner: Gihan Ranasinghe
Runner-up: Saseiharan Veerasingham
Girls Doubles U19
Winners: Panchali Adhikari / Manudi Mithara
Runners-up: ThisuniLiyanarachchi/SenujiUmagiliyage
Boys Doubles U19
Winners: Jason Homer / Savinaka Weerasekara
Runners-up: Chaniru Manmitha / Manuth Pelawatta
Girls Singles U19
Winner: Suhasni Vidanage
Runner-up: Ashini Fernando
Boys Singles U19
Winner: Siyath Senaratne
Runner-up: Thenuka de Silva
Girls Doubles U17
Winners: Maneesha Jayawardhana / Samindi Onel
Runner-up: Isuri de Alwis / Natasha Gunasekara
Boys Doubles U17
Winners: Aashinsa Herath / Saajid Majeed
Runners-up: Shenuk Samararatne / Pulina Wellalage
Girls Singles U17
Winner: Varangana Jayawardana
Runner-up: Pravina Wijesundara
Boys Singles U17
Winner: Sachen Fernando
Runners-up: Pulina Wellalage
Mixed Doubles
Winners: Thulith Palliyaguru / Buthmi Galagamage
Runners-up: Lochana de Silva / Raini Abeysingha
Women’s Doubles
Winners: Buthmi Galagamage / Nadeesha Gayanthi
Runner-up: Panchali Adhikari / Manudi Mithara
Men’s Doubles 30
Winners: Hasitha Chanaka / Rajitha Dahanayake
Runners-up: Roshan Kumara / Tony Wahydi
Men’s Doubles
Winners: Rasindu Hendahewa / Viren Nettasinghe
Runners-up: Resintha de Silva / Shamika de Silva
Women’s Singles 30
Winner: Ruvini Rathnasiri
Runner-up: Malathi Kumari
Women’s Singles
Winner: Panchali Adhikari
Runner-up: Ranithma Liyanage
Men’s Singles 30
Winner: Hasitha Chanaka
Runner-up: Roshan Kumara
Men’s Singles
Winner: Viren Nettasinghe
Runner-up: Dumindu Abeywickrama
A depleted New Zealand attack – effectively reduced to just two-and-a-half frontline bowlers – was made to toil as a defiant West Indies rearguard stretched the contest into a fifth day on an increasingly docile Hagley Oval surface.
Forced off the field on day three by an eye infection, Shai Hope returned with sunglasses under his helmet to compile an unbeaten 116. It followed his first-innings 56 and marked his second century in three innings, a seamless extension of the defiance he showed while stonewalling India for long periods in New Delhi in October.
If Hope was the fulcrum, Justin Greaves was the anchor beside him. He reined in his instincts to play a composed, almost uncharacteristically restrained hand to finish 55 not out off 143 balls. His unbroken fifth-wicket partnership with Hope was worth 140 as New Zealand’s attack toiled under the blazing Christchurch sun.
Nathan Smith did not come out to bat and spent the entire innings off the field with a side strain. When Matt Henry left the field after the 35th over – later heading to hospital next door for scans – with West Indies 92 for 4, New Zealand may have hoped to finish off the game quickly.
But with his bowling resources rapidly thinning, Tom Latham – already standing in with the gloves due to Tom Blundell’s torn hamstring that ruled him out of not just this Test but the next – was left to lean heavily on Rachin Ravindra and Michael Bracewell’s part-time spin around pacer Jacob Duffy. On a surface that only got easier to bat on against the old ball, Hope and Greaves settled in and applied themselves admirably.
Having begun with positive intent, Hope was tested periodically with the short ball, Duffy setting a square leg halfway to the rope along with a short leg and fine leg for the pull. Hope mostly swayed and ducked out of harm’s way, and on the rare occasions he was tempted into the shot, he did well to keep it down. He brought up his fourth Test century off 139 deliveries.
Duffy employed a similar plan to Greaves, whose natural game is far more instinctive. But to his credit, Greaves appeared to take a cue from Hope, choosing restraint instead. He played only when the ball was at his body, using his height to ride the bounce and fend safely. While he was a lot more enterprising against spin, the fundamental of his knock was crease occupation.
Hope and Greaves laid down the template for those who perished prior to their arrival. Tagenarine Chanderpaul and John Campbell were put through a stern new ball test by Foulkes and Henry as they repeatedly tested both their edges in an engaging first spell. Chanderpaul’s propensity to shuffle across got him into trouble more often than not, and was out to a short ball that he inside-edged to the keeper for 6 off 45 balls.
Campbell – out an over earlier – was taken out by Foulkes as he jabbed at an away-swinger with no feet movement as Bracewell took a superb low catch at second slip. In the overs prior to his dismissal, Campbell wore a blow on his boot as he smashed one back off an inside-edge, making him groan in discomfort. This may have eventually had a hand in his dismissal.
Alick Athanaze never got going, and the frustration of being unable to score had him attempt a pull, only to be rushed into the stroke by Bracewell. He only managed to toe-end a pull to mid-on. And when Roston Chase fell in eerily similar fashion to his dismissal in the first innings – nibbling at a Henry away-swinger while being rooted to the crease – West Indies were collapsing swiftly and were 72 for 4.
A four-day defeat loomed until Greaves and Hope dug in to give West Indies some hope even as New Zealand’s tired attack wheeled away in the hope of a mistake. That wasn’t to come, as West Indies took the fight into the final day even though hopes of scaling down the 531-run target they were set seem just a pipe dream for now.
Earlier in the morning, New Zealand surprised many by choosing to bat on. Perhaps this was to give their bowlers more rest on a placid surface, considering the slew of injuries. Kemar Roach picked up three of the four wickets to fall, finishing with figures of 5 for 78 to take his wickets tally to 290.
Brief scores:
West Indies 167 and 212 for 4 (Shai Hope 116*, Justin Greaves 55*; Jacob Duffy 2-60) trail New Zealand 231 and 466 for 8 dec (Rachin Ravindra 176, Tom Latham 145; Kemar Roach 5-78) by 319 runs
(Cricinfo)
Colombo Aces officially introduced its Golf Team for the inaugural Ceylon Golf League 2025, Sri Lanka’s first franchise-based golf tournament — at a special unveiling event held recently in Colombo.
Co-founded by entrepreneurs Shamal Perera and Suhayb Sangani, along with Sri Lankan cricket legend Mahela Jayawardene, the inaugural Ceylon Golf League 2025 commenced on the 5th December at the Royal Colombo Golf Club, featuring eight franchise teams.
Across three days and three formats, eight city-based franchises will compete in a high-intensity showcase that sets a new benchmark for the sport locally.
Responding to the impact of recent floods, Ceylon Golf League 2025 is pledging over LKR 10 million from this weekend’s proceeds to support the Government of Sri Lanka in restoring affected infrastructure nationwide. In addition to the prize money already allocated to the main fund, Colombo Aces will contribute a further LKR 250,000 to the cause.
The Colombo Aces Golf Team will be led by Jehan De Saram, a highly respected PGA-qualified Sri Lankan golf professional who serves as both Captain and Head Coach. De Saram brings extensive experience to the role, having previously been the Director of Golf at the Royal Colombo Golf Club and a former national coach for the Sri Lanka golf team. Renowned for developing young talent, he has also competed in numerous local and international tournaments, adding significant depth and expertise to the Aces’ coaching setup.
Colombo Aces Golf Team – Kushal Johnpillai, Uchitha Ranasinghe (Men’s 2 & under), G.G Sathsara, Chanaka Perera (Men’s 3 to 6), Rajeev Rajapaksa, Chulaka Amarasinghe (Men’s 7 to 10), Reza Magdon Ismail, Thusith Wijesinghe, Kapila Dandeniya (Men’s 11 to 14), Fazlur Muzammil, Dhevan Peiris (Men’s 15 to 18), Usha De Silva, Sanduni Wanasinghe (Ladies’ 20 & under), Sandra Cadien, Vihara Herath and Fran De Mel (Ladies’ 21 & over) .
After an interminable break between matches following 48 hours of mayhem in Perth, the Ashes resumed with England producing a rollercoaster batting performance as Joe Root ended his century jinx on Australian soil in the day-night second Test.
In the final hour of an absorbing opening day, Root raised his arms aloft under the lights before taking off his helmet to celebrate his 40th Test century and first in Australia.
Root finished unbeaten on 135 from 202 balls and anchored an England first innings that at times showed restraint, but was also marked by reckless dismissals. Four batters fell for ducks with England again tormented by pink ball maestro Mitchell Starc, who finished with 6 for 71 to power past Wasim Akram’s record for most Test wickets by a left-arm quick.
But after the humiliation of batting just 67.3 across two innings in Perth, England batted the whole day – albeit only 74 overs were bowled – as they posted their first score over 300 in a Test in Australia since January 2018.
Brief scores:
England 325 for 9 in 74 overs (Joe Root 132*, Crawley 76, Harry Brook 31, Jofra Archer 32*; Mitchell Starc 6-71) vs Australia
Hope holds firm as West Indies drag New Zealand into fifth-day battle
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486 dead, 341 missing, 171,778 displaced as at 0600hrs today [05]
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