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Susie- a step closer to a medal
 Ishan Welmilla reporting from Doha
AS anticipated, Sri Lanka's sprint queen, Susanthika Jayasinghe had no difficulty in winning her heat in the 100 metres, clocking 11.50 seconds on Friday, to stake her claim for a medal at the XVth Asiani Games now in progress in Doha.
Asia's best female sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe produced a withering burst to win the Asian Games 200m at the fourteenth Asian Games held in Bussan Korea in 2002. She also grabbed the women 100m medal with a time of 11.16 seconds. It was the first ever women's 100m gold medal won by a Lankan athlete at the 50-year-old Asian Games history
and she erased the previous Asian Games eight year record held by China's Xuemei Li (11.27) in Hiroshima, Japan.
Apart from Jayasinghe's event, the other main attraction would be the performance of the Sri Lankan rugby team. The team arrived in Doha on Thursday and comprise well experienced players of the calibre of Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Nalaka Weerakkody, Sajith Mallikarachchi, Amjad Bukh, Lalindra Rodrigo. On the other hand, Ashan De Costa, Saliya
Kumara, Ashan Karthelis, Fazil Marija, Chamara Withanage and Dilanka Wijesekera also lined up to give of their best.
Lankans will first meet India at 7.15 local time (9.45pm Sri Lanka time) at Al Arabia football stadium. They will not have any challenge from India but the match against China will be a crucial affair as it would definitely give an edge to qualify into the next round. The match with China is scheduled at 9.00 pm local time (11.30 pm ) Sri
Lanka time. The Sri Lankans in Doha have made arrangements to have cheering squads to support the team.
The Sri Lankan men and women quash players Eranga Alwis, Navin Samarasinghe , Nirasha Guruge and Tehani Guruge will be seen in action today in the men's and women's single rounds at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash complex. Squash match is scheduled to get underway ay 3.00pm local time (5.30pm Sri Lanka time.
Sri Lankan Wushu team,Maduranga Hellarawa, Sujeewan Premaratne, Tilak Lakshman Hettiarachchi and Manju Kumara will be in action tomorrow (December 11) .
It is disappointing to see that apart from athletics, none of the sports in which Sri Lankans are taking part could not produce, medal winning results. But the performances of some of the athletes in their best way should be commended. Thilina Piyadasa, Rohana Sirisoma in table tennis were able to produce some wing performances. Lankans were
able to move up to the Asian rankings of the men's beach volleyball with the performances of Dhammika Perera and Rohan Silva. But the standard of the women's team is very much low compared to other Asian countries even though they produced several wins.
In swimming it was a total disaster. Heshan Unamboowe and Daneil Lee were able to win several heats but timing kept them away from progressing further. South Asian gold medallist Mayumi Raheem was very much behind the Asian Circle but her attempt should be recognized.
The rowing team and boxing players were able to pull out several wins on their events but there are no admirable performances by the Lankans so far.
Chinese dominance in the Asian games continues as they are leading the medal tally right from day one. Japan and Korea share the second and third places in the medal tally.
Sirasa premier league cricket tournament
Chilaw Marians 103 for 7
Tamil Union after being bowled out for 137 runs hit back strongly to reduce Chilaw Marians SC to 103 for 7 in their first innings on the opening day of their SLC Premier League inter club cricket tournament match played at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium yesterday.
Scores: Tamil Union: 137 (S. Dias 20, S. Fernando 27, H. Fernando 6 for 68)
Chilaw Marians SC: 103 for 7 (C. Fernando 37, H. Fernando 25 n.o, N. Ranjith 3 for 23, M. Maduwantha 3 for 31)
Mendis- a splendid 91
Tharindu Mendis hit a top score of 91 with three sixes and seven fours as CCC reached 250 for 7 in their first innings on the opening day of their SLC Premier League inter club cricket tournament match against Moors SC played at Braybrooke Place yesterday.
Scores: CCC: 250 for 7 (E. Abeysinghe 78, T. Mendis 91, A. Wettasinghe 22 n.o, H. Boteju 2 for 20, A. Rideegammanagedera 2 for 24) v Moors SC
Colts reeling at 6 for 4 wkts.
Colts CC were reeling at six runs for four wickets in reply to Sebastianites SC's first innings total of 214 on the opening day of their SLC Premier League inter club cricket tournament match played at Havelock Park yesterday.
Scores: Sebastianites SC: 214 (D. Fernando 79, M. Siriwardena 51, B. Fernando 30, A. Mathews 2 for 22, M. Pushpakumara 6 for 62)
Colts CC: 6 for 4 (M. Lakmal 2 for 0)
Upul Chandana- a fluent 75
Former Sri Lanka all rounder Upul Chandana hit a splendid 75 with one six and eight fours to help NCC reach 264 for 9 in their first innings on the opening day of their SLC Premier League inter club cricket tournament match against Bloomfield played at Reid Avenue yesterday.
Scores: NCC: 264 for 9 (L. Fernando 34, M. Gajanayake 26, K. Kulasekera 43, U. Chandana 75, U. Warna 28, T. Lakshitha 4 for 57, O. Wijesiriwardena 2 for 37, S. Dissanayake 3 for 41) v Bloomfield
Tharanga : a superb 136 n.o.
Tharanga Paranavithana hit a magnificent 136 not out with 19 fours as SSC piled up an impressive 306 for 8 in their first innings on the opening day of their SLC Premier League inter club cricket tournament match against BRC played at Maitland Place yesterday.
Scores: SSC: 306 for 8 (T. Paranavithana 136 n.o. H. Fernando 20, M. Atapattu 30, S. Karunanayake 34, N. Soysa 53, P. Silva 2 for 53, T. Gamage 3 for 39, D. Arnolda 2 for 72) v BRC
Ragama SC 189
Saracens SC were well placed at 52 for 3 in reply to Ragama CC's first innings total of 189 runs on the opening day of their SLC Premier League inter club cricket tournament match played at Katunayake yesterday.
Scores: Ragama CC: 189 (A. Perera 19, S. Perera 76, D. Gamage 23, P. Nishantha 3 for 51, R. Palliyaguruge 2 for 45, J. Priyantha 3 for 42)
Saracens SC: 52 for 3 (U. Indrasiri 2 for 11)
Lankan CC 280
Half centuries from Vaz Gunawardena (69) and Bradman Ediriweera (57) helped Lankan CC reach 280 runs in their first innings on the opening day of their SLC Premier League inter club cricket tournament match against Kurunegala YCC played at the De Soysa Stadium yesterday.
Scores: Lankan CC: 280 (C. Gunawardena 69, U. Fernando 21, B. Ediriweera 57, R. Priyadarshana 23, S. Fernando 29 n.o, S. Silva 37, T. Karunaratne 3 for 43, G. Karunaratne 3 for 51, A. Ekanayake 2 for 87)
Kurunegala YCC: 18 for 1
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