Sports

Waiting for the next Olympic hurdler

Published

4 years ago

2021/07/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Tokyo Olympics – 7 days to go

By Reemus Fernando

Continued from yesterday

Hurdles as obstacles

A maximum of four athletes advance from each Zonal to the Provincial Competition where they experience their first proper 400 metres hurdles race. An athlete qualifying from the Provincial level will next compete in the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship. The Sir John Tarbet Athletics Championship, the Sri Lanka Athletics’ Junior National Championship and District meets are the other meets where a schools hurdler could compete on proper hurdles. However, a vast majority of schoolchildren do not witness hurdles races at school level due to the unavailability of hurdles.

What about sports schools? Sadly many Sports Schools which have 400 metres tracks do not have enough hurdles to conduct proper 400 metres hurdles races. Ibbagamuwa Central, one of the Sports Schools from where the country’s most decorated female hurdler in the 100 metres hurdles hailed from, does not conduct 400 metres hurdles races. Even for 100 metres hurdles, they opt for just two lanes.

“Hurdles are a real headache for education officials who conduct athletics events at Divisional and Zonal level. If you are really interested in conducting a hurdles race you can certainly do that. It is not a big deal to collect 80 hurdles from where they are available. It is a matter of managing logistics. Maybe it is the lack of funds and manpower to complete the meet in two or three days that discourage officials from conducting it properly,” says a coach.

“There used to be a time when you could see hurdles set up at St. John Bosco ground, Hanwella all day around. That was the time when Rev. Fathers trained athletes. During that time Hanwella had the best hurdlers in the country. Children who pass by the hurdles would make attempts to clear the hurdlers. Those sights are rare nowadays,” says Saman Kumara, Sri Lanka Athletics statistician.

Setting up hurdles and removing them after training is a time consuming endeavour. Sports Instructors at schools that promote more than one sport find it difficult to leave hurdles at the ground for the next training session when the ground is also used for other sports.

However, dedicated coaches and their athletes have often overcome the unavailability of facilities. When St. Joseph’s Balika, Kegalle was producing the fastest female sprinters at school level nearly a decade ago A.D. Nandawathie’s trainees would carry hurdles from the school to the ground in Kegalle on foot. After the training session in the morning, they would return to school on foot carrying the hurdles. One of Nanda’s trainees, Amali Harshani went on to win at the national level. That was in the 100 metres hurdles. She had a wind-aided personal best of 14.08 seconds in 2012.

To be continued……..

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Sports

Sri Lanka World Cup games uninterrupted despite cyclone and flooding

Published

7 hours ago

2025/12/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Pallekele Stadium in Kandy all set for World Cup fixtures.

Sri Lanka’s share of the T20 World Cup will go ahead without disruption despite a recent cyclone and severe flooding that left large parts of the country battered and bruised.

Tournament organisers confirmed that matches scheduled in the island nation will proceed as planned, with Sri Lanka co-hosting the sport’s showpiece event alongside India. Three venues in Sri Lanka will stage games during the competition.

Sri Lanka is set to host 20 of the 55 matches in the tournament. Should Pakistan advance deep into the competition, the island will also stage a semi-final and the final, as Pakistan are unable to travel to India due to long-standing political tensions between the neighbours.

On November 27, cyclonic storm Ditwah swept across Sri Lanka and several other South-East Asian countries, bringing daily life to a grinding halt. Flooding and landslides claimed at least 634 lives, with more than 200 deaths reported in the central city of Kandy.

A recent inspection of facilities in Kandy, however, allayed fears, with authorities giving the ground the all-clear after confirming that damage was minimal.

“We are happy with the progress we have made and it is going to be a superb event,” an official involved in inspecting the Pallekele Stadium told Telecom Asia Sport. “Sri Lanka has hosted ICC events before with great success and we have no doubt this tournament will be another feather in our cap. Kandy has been cleared, as have the other two venues.”

Work is also nearing completion at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club ground, where floodlights are being installed ahead of five scheduled matches. The capital’s R. Premadasa Stadium will host the bulk of the fixtures, including the blockbuster India–Pakistan clash on February 15.

“There has been huge demand for tickets for the India–Pakistan game,” the official said. “We expect a surge of tourists into Colombo around that fixture, which will provide a significant boost to the economy. Travel companies have already rolled out special packages and we anticipate full houses for several marquee games. India–Pakistan is the main attraction, no doubt, but matches like Sri Lanka versus Australia are also keenly awaited.”

Sri Lanka recently staged several Women’s World Cup matches, some of which were affected by rain. Organisers, however, are confident the weather will stay out of the contest this time, with February and March traditionally dry months in both Colombo and Kandy. (www.telecomasia.net)

Sports

Maliban biscuits partners Yevan David as Sri Lanka enters Formula 3 history

Published

7 hours ago

2025/12/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Maliban Biscuits has announced a partnership with rising motorsport talent Yevan David, as he prepares to compete on the international stage in the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship.

At just 18, Yevan has emerged as one of Asia’s fastest-rising drivers, competing across some of Europe’s toughest circuits and creating history as the first Sri Lankan to race in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. This partnership brings together a young athlete redefining what’s possible for Sri Lanka in global motorsport and a homegrown brand that has consistently backed Sri Lankan ambition on the field, on the track, and beyond.

Yevan’s racing story began in go-karts, starting with early laps at the Sri Lanka Karting Circuit before moving into competitive karting in Singapore, where he quickly started stacking international results, including winning the IAME Asia Series (X30 Cadet) and the X30 Asia Cup. After graduating from karts, he stepped into single-seaters in 2024 across UAE F4, Spanish F4 and Eurocup-3, then announced himself in Europe by winning twice on his Euroformula Open debut weekend at Monza. In 2025, he underlined that momentum by taking the Euroformula Open Rookie title and finishing second overall, cementing his status as one of the most compelling young talents to emerge from Sri Lanka onto the global grid.

Commenting on the partnership, Yevan David said:

“Partnering with Maliban means a lot to me. They’ve supported Sri Lankan sport for generations, so having them beside me as I take this next step feels special. I’m proud to carry our flag forward with a brand that believes in our country’s potential as much as I do.”

Over the years, the brand has stood firmly behind Sri Lanka’s sporting journey across every level of competition, supporting the New Zealand U85kg Rugby Tour of Sri Lanka on the international stage, strengthening hockey at school level, backing the Sri Lanka U19 Women’s Cricket Team, supporting the U20 Men’s and Women’s rugby teams, championing Sri Lanka Rugby at the Asia Rugby Qualifiers and powering the Inter Club Rugby League and Clifford Cup Knockout Championship 2025/2026. This continued investment reflects a long-term commitment to building opportunity, confidence, and national pride through sport.

With Maliban’s support, Yevan’s journey to the FIA Formula 3 grid becomes more than an individual milestone, it becomes a national statement of belief and progress. Together, Maliban and Yevan will carry Sri Lanka’s flag into every corner, every lap, and every finish line he chases in 2026.

Sports

Lumbini collapse after strong start

Published

7 hours ago

2025/12/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Lumbini were strongly placed after Nikil Abilash and Kisandu Dulneth put on a first wicket stand of 128 runs in reply to Isipatana’s 190, but a sudden collapse saw them end day one at 144 for five wickets in the Under 19 traditional encounter at Colts ground.

‎At Campbell Park, spinner Chaniru Senarathne produced figures 22-3-55-5 for Trinity in the traditional encounter against Wesley.

‎In an Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket enountet at Bambalapitiya Savi Fernando and Asadisa de Silva put on an unbeaten 90 runs stand for the second wicket to help St. Peter’s reach 93 for one wicket at stumps in reply to DS Senanayake’s 241 on day one.

‎Asadisa was unbeaten on 53 after having faced 98 balls for his knock which included five fours and a six.

Match Scores

‎‎DSS 241, St. Peter’s 93/1 at Bambalapitiya

‎Scores

‎DSS

241 all out in 58.5 overs (Bihan Gamage 40, Shevan Welgama 66, Randisha Bandaranaike 29, Chithum Baddage 27; Sadeesha Silva 2/62, Janith Panditharathna 3/77)

‎St. Peter’s

93 for 1 in 33 overs (Savi Fernando 32n.o., Asadisa de Silva 53n.o.)

‎

‎Wesley 200/9 decl., Trinity 40/1 at Campbell Park

‎‎Scores

‎Wesley 200 for 9 decl. in 78 overs (Rasheed Nahyan 43, Rashmika Amararathne 36, Methnula Mayadunna 37n.o.; Chaniru Senarathne 5/55)

‎Trinity

40 for 1 in 15 overs

‎

‎Isipatana 190, Lumbini 144/5 at Colts

‎‎Scores

‎Isipatana 190 all out in 57 overs (Navidu Umeth 33, Yuveen Keshan 48, Janith Selaka 54; Yashod Kavindu 4/57, Dinal Sewmina 2/10)