Sports

Youth athletes end competition drought with notable feats

Published

1 year ago

2021/11/15

by Reemus Fernando

Youth athletes ended a two-year long competition drought producing notable feats at the Youth Selection Trial conducted by Sri Lanka Athletics at the Sugathadasa Stadium over the weekend.

A remarkable 5.73 metres long jump feat from little known Nannapurawa MV, Moneragala, athlete Madushani Herath, a stunning 17.74 metres throw in the shot put by Jayavi Ranhinda of Royal College, Panadura, 2:14.45 seconds finish in the girls’ 800 metres by Nirmali Wickramasinghe of Wickramabahu MV, Gampola and a host of impressive sprint finishes highlighted that all was not lost due to the absence of competitions during the last two years for youth athletes.

In sprint events, Sir John Kothalawala College, Kurunegala sprinters Avishka Theminda and Maheema Pravindi registered the 400 metres victories. Pravindi who was also the winner of the 200 metres on Saturday, returned a time of 58.43 seconds to win, while Nirmali Wickramasinghe, the winner of the 800 metres and Shehara Karunaratne of Lyceum Wattala clocked sub 60 seconds. Theminda stopped the clock at 50.45 seconds to win the boys’ event.

In a closely contested girls’ 100 metres final three clocked sub 13 seconds. Colombo International School, Kandy sprinter Seneka Guneratne pipped Dhanani Kodithuwakku and Ruwansa Weerakkody to the second and third places as she clocked 12.66 seconds.

Mahinda College sprinter Ayesh Mihiranga proved that he is an athlete to be reckoned with when he overcame a disastrous start to be placed second in the 200 metres. On Sunday he made sure that he take a solid start to clock 10.94 seconds to win the 100 metres.

Competing in the boys’ shot put on Saturday, Ranhinda was on a zone of his own as all his throws landed well beyond the reach of others. Of his six throws five were measured over 17 metres. The next best was St. Joseph’s thrower D.I. White’s 12.98 metres.

Madushani Herath was the clear favourite for victory in the girls’ long jump as she made clean take offs against several failures by Dananjana Sithmini of Lyceum Wattala. The latter made a 5.60 metres in her fifth attempt but Herath pipped her to the second place with a leap of 5.73 metres in the final attempt.

On Sunday she further improved her profile with a feat of 11.77 metres in the triple jump.

Nirmali Wickramasinghe of Wickramabahu MV, Gampola added herself to the list of emerging 800 metres runners with a 2:14.45 seconds finish.

The two-day athletics event was the first competition for athletes in the youth category since 2019.

Sri Lanka Athletics conducted the two-day event as a precursor to next year’s Youth Selection Trial for Asian Youth Athletics Championship.

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Sports

Lahiru takes five wickets as Joes take lead

Published

2 hours ago

2023/03/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Lahiru Amarasekara

Under 19 Cricket

Off-spinner Lahiru Amarasekara produced a five-wicket haul as St. Joseph’s restricted Mahinda to 127 runs on day one of the Under 19 traditional cricket encounter at Galle on Monday.

Amarasekara was ably supported by spinner Yenula Dewthusa and Muditha Dissanayake who shared the other five wickets.

With wickets falling at regular intervals, batting opener Ranmina Hettiarachchi anchored the top order with a knock of 33 runs. Chandupa de Silva with 29 runs, Tharusha Dilshan (15) and Hiruna Gallalge (17) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

In their essay St. Joseph’s were comfortably placed at 132 for two wickets but back-to-back wickets in the last two overs placed them at 132 for four wickets at stumps.

At Welisara, Dinuka Tennakoon took five wickets but Maris Stella managed to post 268 runs as Shean Adithya top-scored with 83 runs. In reply Trinity were nine without loss.

Vihanga Nimsara and Rasindu Ilukshana were the heroes for Moratu Vidyalaya as their half-centuries helped them score 249 runs against St. Sylvester’s at Boyagane.

Match Details

At Galle: Mahinda 127, St. Joseph’s 132/4

Scores:

Mahinda

127 all out in 57 overs (Ranmina Hettiarachchi 33, Chandupa de Silva 29; Lahiru Amarasekara 5/34, Muditha Dissanayaka 2/23, Yenula Dewtusa 3/32)

St. Joseph’s

132 for 4 in 42.1 overs (Sadeesh Jayawardena 53, Naren Muralidaran 41; Shehan Hasaranga 2/39)

At Welisara: Maris Stella 268, Trinity 9/0

Scores:

Maris Stella

268 all out in 93.5 overs (Kaveen Fernando 26, Shean Adithya 83, Anshen de Silva 28, Ramith Bandara 33, Nethum Basnayake 26, Levin Fernando 22; Jayavi Liyanagama 2/40, Dinuka Tennakoon 5/74)

Trinity 9 for no loss in 4 overs

At Boyagane: Moratu Vidyalaya 249, St. Sylvester’s 5/1

Scores:

Moratu Vidyalaya

249 all out in 93.1 overs (Vihanga Nimsara 82, Rasindu Ilukshana 54; Isuru Gunasekara 2/28, Pansilu Bandara 2/50, Akila Wickramasinghe 3/48, Khanka Wickramasinghe 2/31)

St. Sylvester’s

5 for 1 in 4 overs.

Sports

Sowmiya clinches a triple crown, Silvijan bags a double

Published

2 hours ago

2023/03/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Winners posing with their awards.

Northern Badminton Championship 2023

T. Silvijan Dalima was crowned men’s singles champion while S. Sowmiya clinched a triple crown at the Northern Badminton Championship 2023 in Kilinochchi during the weekend.

At the Provincial Indoor Stadium in Kilinochchi, Silvijan met K Thusan in the final clash in which the latter retired in the second set with scores reading 21-14, 16-11 in favour of the champion. L Hentry and K Kajan were the losing semi-finalists.

Meanwhile, S. Sowmiya won all three of her open events, the women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles with respective partners.

Sowmiya clinched the women’s singles crown with a 21-15, 21-13 win over R. Ragavi in the final following her doubles title win with B. Oliviya. Sowmiya and Oliviya overcame Athmika and M. Kavinaya 21-9, 21-15 to seal the women’s doubles crown.

Earlier, Sowmiya and Silvijan, the best singles duo in the tournament, also won the mixed doubles title by defeating R. Sulacsan and S . Thanojana 21-12, 21-16 in the final.

The men’s doubles final was won by L. R. Reminsan and T. Thusyanthan who beat G. Thanukanth and R. Yuthakaran with a 21-13, 21-9 score line.

The tournament, organised by the Northern Province Badminton Association, was conducted under the guidance of Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB). SLB President Rohan de Silva and a host of top officials were among the special guests at the presentation ceremony.

Sports

St. Peter’s Tennis teams up with Yeti

Published

2 hours ago

2023/03/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

(From left): Manesh Kajan (U-17 Captain), K. D. Y. Pathiraja (Coach), Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo (Rector, St. Peter’s), Dilshan Balasuriya (Director, Yeti) and Malik Perera (CEO, Yeti). (Pic by Kamal Wanniarachchi)

St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya teamed up with isotonic sports drink manufacturer Yeti, who will meet the hydration needs of the school tennis team during their upcoming Inter-School tournaments.

Yeti will provide the St. Peter’s Tennis Team with isotonic sports drinks to meet their hydration needs and as part of the partnership, the players will also have access to the elite Yeti portfolio of sports isotonic products.

This year, St. Peter’s will have a busy schedule as they are set to participate in several age group championships including the Inter-Schools Tennis Tournament, Inter-Schools Nationals and the Arjan Perera Tennis Tournament.

The Peterites had mixed fortunes last year as they emerged overall runners-up in the Inter-Schools Tournament and their Under-17 and Under-19 Teams reached the semi-finals of the Inter-Schools National Championships.

This time the Peterites are hoping for an improved performance with five coloursmen in the Under-20 side and four coloursmen in the Under-17 team.

Yeti isotonic fluid has been specially formulated to provide superior rehydration and provide the body the necessary water, minerals and energy lost during exercise.