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Singer/SriLankan event too valuable to be left in
hands of one body
Kandy Sevens: handle with care
 FOR
all the frequent seizures of doubt that struck the
SINGER/SRILANKAN International Rugby Sevens last week,
it is a minor miracle that the event kicked-off at all
yesterday.
The on-off saga which began Thursday
finally ended last Monday afternoon, with the ARFU's
nagging concerns over security dispelled. "It wasn't
easy - the four days in Seoul seemed like four years,"
said SLRFU's CEO Dilroy Fernando, who with Tournament
director, Hemantha Yatawara, argued down the looming
cancellation at the Seoul meeting. "We couldn't deny the
war; the participants' fears were understandable - so
trying to argue their doubts out was, well, like
fighting with your right hand tied."
That fight began a day after the event's
draw, which, sport administrators will tell you is
pretty much the "on your marks" of any tournament as it
provides the competition's chart, setting out who meets
who all the way up to the final. So when the draw of the
Kandy event was over and done with, two Mondays
ago, 12 countries were placed in their respective places
on the grid. All that was left was for the race to
start.
By Thursday morning, however, the
prospect was that there might not be a race at all. The
events leading up to this distressing point have been
widely reported in the recent issues of The Morning
Leader as well as The Sunday Leader to render
superfluous any repetition. Suffice it to say, news of
an uncovering of weapons and explosive in
Kandy a week before the Sevens had revived, among some
participants, all the old fears of safety in war-torn
Sri Lanka. That, in turn, brought
threats of withdrawal from Hong Kong , Korea and
Thailand - and with it the grim prospect of
cancellation.
Mercifully, all of that was averted, and
any encomiums sponsors, organisers and the union might
want to hand Messrs. Fernando and Yatawara would be
deserved. But for their admirable perseverance and
gumption, the Nittawela stadium might have gone quiet as
a churchyard - and not the place of rumbustious fun
which, as you read this, it is.
The annual event, it has to be said, is
blessed. After all, this isn't its first brush with
near-cancellation. The infamous 9/11 exploded on the
world barely a week before the 2001 Singer/SriLankan
Sevens. Airplanes, if you remember, instantly became
objects of fear, and air travel was avoided as if it
were a plague. To the credit of the organisers, they
managed to persuade all but one of the 16 participants
to fly out for the event.
Fortunately this time too, a meeting of
the ARFU executive committee was to begin in Seoul last
Saturday, three days before the cancellation threat
began to snowball. The meeting rather divinely assembled
in one place all the officials of participant-countries
thus providing a fortuitously convenient start to
Fernando's and Yatawara's task - as opposed to flying to
10 different destinations, which, given the
impracticalities, would've meant as good as
cancellation.
Given that blame-game is a national sport
here, accusations and counter accusations over this
issue is to be expected. In fact, as the crisis
gathered, the blame-game had already begun. Organisers,
Kandy SC , fired the first volley, blaming the SLRFU's
hands-off approach. They said, as the controlling body,
the union ought to have used their influential position
vis--vis other Asian union to talk the doubting
countries out of their doubts. They blamed the union's
indifference to this responsibility of theirs that
heightened the threats of withdrawal.
The union shot back, saying that, because
of Kandy 's attitude of "jealously protecting" their
interests, they preferred to keep the union out of the
event's affairs. "It's a case of them wanting the union
to take a hands-off approach, not the union," said an
official, requesting he not be named. These are, of
course, emotional eruptions at a time when crisis
deepens and desperation swamps common sense.
In retrospect, the panic and desperation
of the last days might never hit home had the "guns in
Kandy " story not hit the international wires. That,
though, is what- might- have-been. The reality to live
with, however, is that hosting international events is
always going to be, well, as difficult as getting our
Benz-driven ministers to take a bus ride to office. The
analogy might seem far-fetched, but yet is relevant.
After all, just as ministers feel unsafe travelling in
public transport, foreigners feel the same visiting a
land long wracked by political violence.
The truth is, neither Kandy SC nor the
union is to blame for the troubles in the country. Nor
can they barricade traffic on the information highway.
And as long as multi-barrel guns fire and mines explode
and each new explosion finds its way to the outside
world, foreign sport teams will always have reservations
about coming here.
Hosting an international event, so, is no
longer the old easy - invite and they'll come. It's now
the sort of exercise that might daunt even the best in
the PR business. Words of reassurances aren't enough.
All sorts of security guarantees, including 24-hour
protection by security personnel and armed escorts, have
to be provided - and sometimes that's not enough, as
Fernando and Yatawara found out in Seoul . SLRFU
president DIG Nimal Lewke had thoughtfully forwarded
videos of the Kandy perahera to show life in Kandy goes
on as usual. As well, Defence department 's security
guarantees were dispatched to the doubting Thomases of
the ARFU. That wasn't enough. They asked - and got - an
independent assessment by a private security company,
Ceylinco Cisco, before deciding to participate in Kandy
.
The event itself is no garden party to
host. It is an IRB sanctioned event, which means the
world body has to vouch for the safety of the visiting
teams during their stay here - and they won't risk a
breach of that responsibility until they've extracted
all safety guarantees. It is understood that, the
independent assessment of a private company apart, the
IRB representative at the ARFU had also insisted on
guarantees from a Justice of Peace as well as a
distinguished Sri Lankan citizen that it was safe to
hold the tournament.
Hardly a year ago had the ARFU aborted
the Colombo Asiad for reasons of security. Lessons ought
to have been learnt from that experience and organisers
should've been better prepared to deal with the recent
crisis. To have to gone to Seoul and to then frantically
ask for all types of documents from Kandy and Colombo
suggests that little had been learnt from the lessons of
the Asiad cancellation last year.
One wonders if the event, since securing
IRB recognition, has got a tad too big and too important
for Kandy SC to handle by itself. IRB puts a hefty Rs.9
m. into each event, and their demands on the organisers
are not likely to get any less. Whatever the excuses are
for SLRFU's alleged non-involvement, the truth is that
the IRB will hold the SLRFU responsible for any lapses
in the running of the tournament. After all, it's the
SLRFU that is affiliated to the IRB - not Kandy SC. The
tournament thus is under the aegis of the SLRFU and the
ARFU/IRB.
You don't have to have exceptional
intellect to work out the solution. That the event
requires the joint effort of the organisers and the
union is obvious. And for more reasons than one; 1/ it
is an IRB-sanctioned event which makes the involvement
of its affiliated member, the SLRFU, a pre-requisite -
without which the event's IRB status becomes
questionable; 2/ the event is increasingly coming under
IRB scrutiny and the importance of the task of running
the event is better shared between union and Kandy SC
than only the latter; 3/ the potential for developing
the event into a major competition in Asia is tremendous
- a goal that will be unattainable if the union and the
organisers work at cross purposes.
Sri Lanka 's solitary yearly
international event is too precious to perish in the
crossfire.
Nalaka Weerakodi - takes up football
By Hafiz Marikar
The rugbystar,Nalaka Weerakodi who was a
top class footballer during his school days, and also
had the privilege ofleading the Sri LankaYouth XI, now
after hanging up his rugby boots, takes over his former
pet sport, football.
Nalaka speaking to this writer said, that
he can do much better in football, and will be playing
for his home town club, Hy Line Sports Club, Dangolla in
the Kandy Association Football League Tournament.
Telecom Football
Chinthaka Wijaya-suriya the General
Manager of the Region One ,is happy over the well
conducted Kandy Association Football Leagues"A" division
inter club tournament.
At a meeting, he said that all the
matches played had been with good football and organised
well, he thanked theLeague headed by DIG Bodi Liyanage
for doing a wonderful job.
He said, that he did not know that
football was so popular and said that he has analysed
the sport, as the cheapest game which can be played by
any one.
Maurice Joachim weds
Former Sri Lanka centre, Maurice
Joachim,who led the Kandy Sports Club in 1992 to win the
first ever Clifford Cup, married Shalindri Mendis a few
days back at "The Eagle" Waters Edge.
Maurice Joachim, one of the finest
ruggerites to come out of St.Anthony's College, played
for Kandy Sports Club for well over a decade, and also
led the side twice. It was from here he played for Sri
Lanka.
First ever WheelchairTennis International to be staged
here next month
THE SLTA will write a piece of Wheelchair
Tennis history this month when it hosts the country's
first ever international competition.
The ITF-sanctioned four-day event will be
a triangular featuring Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka.
Billed as the Silver Fund Cup (Asia), the September
14-17 tournament on the SLTA's Green Path courts, is a
part of the world body's global campaign to promote
wheelchair tennis. The Silver Fund Cup, in fact, is
being held in an Asian country for the first time,
though its history in Europe and the US runs longer.
As a prelude to the triangular, the SLTA
will host the first ever Cruyff Foundation training camp
for juniors, a four-day programme from September 10-13
at the SLTA. It is another of ITF's endeavours to spread
wheelchair tennis worldwide. Both events will be
financed by the ITF, and the cost is expected in the
region of US$4,000.
Bringing both ITF programmes to Sri
Lanka's backyard will no doubt impact positively on the
country's wheelchair tennis, whose beginnings were as
recent as in the late'90s. Progress, however, was rapid,
with the country successfully competing in international
events. It has brought medals from ITF tournaments
staged in Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Holland,
Belgium, as well as earned qualification to play in the
World Cup tournaments of 2005 and 2006.
In the 2007 WC, soldier Upali Rajakaruna,
31, created a sensation when he defeated world No.22, a
Chilean - and earned him a world ranking of 345.
The bulk of the island's wheelchair
participants are servicemen who were rendered disabled
on the battle fronts. Their successes on the tennis
court, however, were commendable - and inspired the SLTA
to take the sport to the civilian population, especially
children. The Cyruff Foundation training camp is thus
seen as a welcome shot in the arm for youth
development.
"Wheelchair tennis has made vast strides
in a relatively short period of time - and the ITF's
decision to stage two significant international events
in Sri Lanka is obviously an acknowledgment of the
successful programmes we've carried out," said Lionel
Almeida, SLTA CEO. "The triangular tournament and the
junior training camp will no doubt help take the sport
to another level."
70s Night at Victoria
Victoria Golf & Country Resort presents
you the opportunity to go back in time feel the
enchantment of the 70s.
The much waited "70s Night" is scheduled
for Saturday, September 22 and coincides with the
September Monthly Medal at Victoria.
Guests are expected to meet at the
poolside in 70s dress and jive the night away to the
tunes of the 70s.
There you will be entertained under the
stars to a gourmet dinner and music from the 70s to move
your body to the grooves for a mere Rs.1, 500.The best
dressed couple, raffle draw, table gifts and many
surprises in store for the guests, it will definitely be
a night to remember.
"With the resounding success of the
exclusive dinner Party in the Bush held on the July 14
we are confident of over 100 guests attending" commented
Mike Varney - General Manager, Victoria Golf & country
Resort.
It is a never to be missed event which
will set the pace in Kandy once again. So book your
tickets now! To reserve your table call 0777 258 730 now
or e-mail.
Sri Lanka Insurance and SLCA tie-up
Colombo, September 6. - Sri Lanka
Insurance today entered into an agreement with the Sri
Lanka Cricketers' Association (SLCA), to be the official
Life insurance provider for all its members. The
signatories to the MOU agreement were Sidath Wettimuni,
President of the SLCA and Nalaka Godehewa, CEO of Sri
Lanka Insurance.
The Life insurance cover offered by Sri
Lanka Insurance will be extended to all members of the
association covering cricket legends from as far back as
the 1950s. The Sri Lanka Cricketers Association is
enriched by a membership of distinguished past national
cricket captains and prominent players ranging from
Michel Tisera Ranjan Madugalle, Bandula Warnapura,
Aravinda De Silva, Arjuna Ranathunga, Sanath Jayasuriya
to Mahela Jayawardena and Lasith Malinga amongst several
others.
Speaking on the occasion Nalaka Godahewa,
CEO of Sri Lanka Insurance said. 'It is our privilege to
be associated with this project and Sri Lanka Insurance
is delighted to be the Life insurance provider to our
cricketing stars who has brought and continues to bring
honour and recognition to our country. It is our duty
both as an industry leader and Sri Lanka's pioneer
insurance provider, to safeguard such sportsmen who are
also a national treasure. We applaud SLCA's efforts to
build the sport and are indeed honoured to be linked
with such a recognised body of outstanding
professionals'.
President of Sri Lanka Cricketers'
association Sidath Wethamuni expressing his thoughts
said, I'm pleased that the SLCA together with Sri Lanka
Insurance has been able to launch an incomparable
scheme which will benefit the cricketing profession. We
are also extremely happy that Sri Lanka Insurance has
come forward to provide protection for our National
Heroes as it is the largest, strongest and the most
stable Insurance Company in the Industry today. I also
take this opportunity to thank the players for their
unhesitant corporation towards this endeavour.
To mark this fine alliance and towards
the noble cause of raising a pension fund for all
national cricketing heroes of our country, Sri Lanka
Cricketers Association in collaboration with Sri Lanka
Insurance is launching "Sri Lanka Cricket Legends 2007"
a grand felicitation ceremony scheduled to be held in
end September.. Sri Lanka Cricket Legends 2007 will
unfold in two events. The first event would be the
Cricket Fiesta which will see the grand union of all the
cricket legends way back in the 1950s to the present
cricketing Heroes participating at a friendly cricket
tournament for a single tournament trophy at the SSC
grounds on September 26. What is too good to believe is
that all cricket lovers will have chance to witness this
historical event, mingle with your cricketing stars
absolutely free of charge.
The second event would be the Sri Lanka
Cricket Legends 2007, is a unique felicitation ceremony
to recognise cricketing legends who have contributed
immeasurably to the national sport both in the local
and international arena. The event will be coupled with
special entertainment acts choreographed by the famous
Indian Choreographer Sameer D.Caazy which will take you
through the time tunnel and it will be a unique Show of
its kind. Tickets will be priced at Rs. 2000. The show
will be held at Waters Edge Hotel on September 28 from
7 p.m onwards.
Inaugurated in 2000 Sri Lanka Cricketers
Association is an organisation of all eminent current
and past cricketers in Sri Lanka. The association works
to facilitate the playing generation as well as the
welfare of past cricketers of the nation, whilst
encouraging future cricketers to join the game. It is
also to build a strong bond in the alumni of cricketers
past, present and future and contribute to the positive
development of the sport.
Sri Lanka Insurance is the largest and
strongest composite insurance provider in Sri Lanka,
with over Rs. 50 billion in assets under management,
over one million policies in force and an average claims
settlement of Rs. 18 million a day. Sri Lanka Insurance
is the only Insurance Company in Sri Lanka to be
assigned a global rating for financial strength and
stability from a world renowned rating agency. The
company received the AA- Sri from Fitch Ratings London
for the third consecutive year for Financial Strength
and Stability.
Sri Lanka can bid for World Cup qualifier
By T.M.K. Samat in Nittawela
AFTER surviving the many threats of
cancellation last week, organisers will want to make an
impressive show of the ongoing SINGER/SRILANKAN Airlines
International Sevens in Nitawella.
Naturally, Kandy SC , the organisers,
would want to prove that the security fears of some
visitors that nearly scrubbed out the event,were
unfounded. Hong Kong , Korea and Thailand threatened to
pull out a week before the event after news broke out of
the discovery of weapons in Kandy. It was only after
fresh guarantees were extracted from the organisers
that the trio decided, Monday, to make the trip here.
To prove the doubters wrong won't be the
only reason why the organisers will want to put their
best foot forward. There's a lot more riding this event
to let any lapses spoil things for Sri Lanka.
With the IRB declaring that the next
World Cup Sevens is to be held in 2009 in Dubai, the
qualifiers from Asia will be decided next year. The ARFU
has earmarked next September to stage the Asian
qualifier - the same month that the next Kandy event is
scheduled for.
The convenience of slotting the WC Asian
qualifier into the IRB sanctioned Singer/Srilankan
Airlines tournament next September is not likely to be
lost on the ARFU. Any claims by local organisers to host
the WC qualifier will merit ARFU consideration. Besides
the scheduled date for the WC qualifier coinciding with
the Kandy event, Sri Lanka has the advantage of
experience of hosting the qualifier in 2004 for the
World Cup Sevens of 2005.
Important dignitaries from the IRB flew
out to watch the 2004 Kandy event, the first with IRB
recognition. One of them was Mark Egan, the then IRB
Sevens manager, and he paid glowing tributes to the
organisers, ensuring the event long term IRB status. The
present IRB Sevens manager, Beth Coalter, too, visited
the Kandy in 2004.
The concept of IRB Satellite tournament,
it has to be said, wasn't popular three years ago, and
there were no takers, bar Kandy, for the 2004 WC Asian
qualifier. Not so now. There's tremendous potential for
enhancing the importance of the event given its world
body recognition - and other countries have realised it.
It won't be surprising if there will be more than one
bid on the table. The Sunday Leader has heard of at
least two other countries' interest in next year's World
Cup qualifier: Singapore and China , for Shanghai.
Both countries, of course, won't speak
publicly of their intention, but their capacity to host
a worthy WC qualifier is without question. Singapore has
the financial resources as well as management expertise
to make an attractive bid. Booming Shanghai won't be
short of prospective sponsors, but expertise in events
management won't be their strongpoint. Even so, their
bid, should they bid, won't be rejected by the ARFU. In
fact, it won't be surprising if the IRB, via the ARFU,
gives China favoured treatment. The world body, after
all, has long tried to have rugby accepted as a
government-recognised sport, normally accorded to only
Olympic sports. Should the Chinese government grant
rugby recognition; the IRB will feel their ambition to
be a medal-sport in the Olympics would've moved closer
towards realisation.
Meanwhile, the action in Nitawella began,
Friday, with the 12-team inter-schools competition.
Defending champions, St Anthony's Katugastota made an
untroubled advance to the quarterfinals but, and last
year's finalists Issipathana, were given a minor scare
by Dharmarajah. The Antonians overcame Ananda 36/5 and
Zahira 19/5 while Issipathana defeated home town schools
Vidyartha, 15/0 and Dhamarajah, 26/10, after being led
0/10.
Two other teams finished the day
unbeaten. St. Peter's issued notice of their
championships intentions with impressive wins over St
Joseph's, 31/5 and Wesley, 19/5, while Kingswood
overcame S. Thomas', Mt. Lavinia, 24/10, and squeezed
past home town rivals, St Sylvester's, 7/5.
The quarterfinal lineup: St. Anthony's v.
St Joseph's; St. Peter's v. Ananda; Kingswood v.
Dharmarajah; Issipathana v. S. Thomas.
Bowl Semi finals: Zahira v. Wesley and
St. Sylvester's v. Vidyartha.
Shoaib sent home
Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar has been
sent home from the World Twenty 20 after a bust-up with
Mohammad Asif.
Shoaib, who was already on probation for
a disciplinary breach last month, confronted team-mate
Asif during practice in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Shoaib admitted to hitting Asif with a
bat, causing bruising to his left thigh and prompting a
team investigation.
"A decision has been taken to call back
Shoaib after an initial inquiry," said Pakistan chief
executive Shafqat Nagmi.
"The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) fully
endorses this decision. Shoaib Akhtar will be returning
on the first available flight.
No one will be spared if he flouts the
rules and team spirit. What has happened is something
that has shocked us."
Naghmi added that a detailed inquiry into
the "unfortunate incident" would be held when the player
returned to Pakistan.
Bernadus willing...
The Article that appeared in The Sunday
Leader Sports page last week under the above heading was
not written by Susilough Wijeyaratne, but a statement
issued by Bernadus himself. The error is regretted.
Sports happenings at
a glance
MONDAY
Athletics:-
Japan wins first medal
Hosts, Japan finally won their first
event at the 11th IAAF World Championships when Reiko
Tosa clinched the bronze in the women's marathon.
Americans dominate
United states of America ended on top of
the IAAF world championships medal tally with 14 gold
medals.
Positive dope case
The first positive dope case of the 11th
IAAF world championships was reported but the identity
of the athlete was declined by the World Track and Field
governing body.
Cricket
Surgery not necessary
Lanka's champion off spinner, Muttiah
Muralitharan believes that he will need only rest, not
surgery for his shoulder injury.
Martyn joins ICL
Retired Australian cricketer, Damien
Martyn and ICL has struck an agrement for two weeks.
Tennis
Sharapova beaten
Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska pulled off a
stunning 6-4, 1-6, 62 win over the defending US Open
champion Maria Sharapova.
Basketball
DFCC retain Nature Cup
Defending Champions, DFCC retained the
David Pieris Motor Company sponsored men's Nature Cup
basketball tournament defeating Wattala BC by 65 points
to 62 at the MCA courts.
Tuesday
Athletics
Susanthika to train in LA
IAAF World Championships 200m bronze
medal winner, Susanthika Jayasinghe plans to start her
training for the next Olympics in the United States
before the end of this year.
Swimming
Three bronze for Lankans
Gihara Sachini Amarasinghe, Methma
Jayawardena and Madhavee Weeratunge of Sri Lanka won
bronze medals in 50m, back stroke, 50 m free style and
100m free style events respectively on the opening day
of the 1st South Asian Swimming and Waterpolo
Championships held at the Pakistan Sports Board swimming
pool.
Swimming pool for Zahira
The foundation stone was laid for a
swimming pool for Zahira College under the patronage of
the Chairman, Board of Governors, Zahira College, Fouzul
Hameed.
Mineka wins first gold
Mineka Karunaratne won the first gold
medal for Sri Lanka at the South Asian Swimming and
Waterpolo Championships held in Pakistan when she
clinched first place in the 100 m breaststroke.
Cricket
Ponting out of Twenty 20
Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, may
miss the inaugural Twenty20 World Championships in South
Africa as a result of undisclosed family reasons.
India win
India beat England by 38 runs under
Duckworth/Lewis method in the 5th ODI to make it 3-2 in
favour of England in the 7 match series.
Scores: India 324 for 6 in 50 overs (S.
Ganguly 59, S. Tendulkar 71, Gambhir 51, Y. Singh 72)
England 242 for 6 in 39 overs (M. Prior 46, T. Bell 44
P. Collingwood 91 n.o, Ganguly 2 for 26, Power 2 for
45).
Soccer
Jayasuriya hat-trick
A hat-trick of goals by Ratnam forward
Kasun Jayasuriya saw his team win 3-2 against Jupiter's
in their Kit Premier League second round game played at
the Sugthadasa Stadium.
Golf
Rusi Captain win for 12th time
In a 36 hole contest against veteran
Pferoze Billimoria, Rusi Captain worked his way to a
magnificent 7 and 6 victory at the RCGC. This was
Captain's 12th title in 15 years.
Tennis
Serena, Henin showdown
Justin Henin and Serena Williams advanced
to the US Open quarterfinal showdown in impressive
fashion.
Nadal battles on
Despite a painful knee, Rafael Nadal
defeated Freachmen Jo-Wilfried Tsorga 7-6 (7/3), 6-2,
6-1 at the US Open.
Wednesday
Athletics
Red carpet welcome for Sussie
Sri Lanka's Susanthika Jayasinghe, who
won the bronze for 200m at the IAAF World Championships,
received a red carpet welcome on her return to her
motherland.
Basketball
OLV U-15 champs
Our Lady of Victories Convent, Moratuwa,
beat Holy Family Convent, Dehiwela by 44 points to 37 to
become the champions of the All Island U-15 girls 'B'
Division Basketball Tournament.
Badminton
Ten shuttlers to Iran
A ten member Sri Lankan junior badminton
team will participate at the first West Asian Junior
Badminton Championships to be held in Tehran, Iran.
Boxing
Lanka, Tanzania duel
A boxing duel between Sri Lanka and
Tanzania for the 'MAS Challenge Cup' will take place on
September 8 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.
Swimming
3 Silver, 4 bronze for Lanka
Sri Lanka women swimmers won another 3
silver medals and 4 bronze medals at the ongoing South
Asian Swimming and Waterpolo championships conducted by
the Pakistan Swimming Federation.
Cricket
Dilruwan to replace Murali
Dilruwan Perera will replace the injured
Muttiah Muralitharan in the Lankan squad for the ICC
Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa from September 11 to
24.
Streak to retire
Former Zimbabwe captain, Heath Streak
will retire from English County cricket at the end of
the season.
Hockey
India beat South Korea 3-2
Defending champions, India defeated South
Korea by 3 goals to 2 in the men's field hockey Asia
Cup.
Tennis
Federer in quarter finals
With a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 victory against
spain's Feliciano, top seed Roger Federer reached the
quarterfinals of the US Open.
Thursday
Altletics
Keita tested positive
France's 400m hurdles bronze medallist,
Naman Keita owned up to a major error of judgment after
testing positive for testosterone at the IAAF World
Championships in Osaka, Japan
Three meet records
P.V. Danushka Priyadhasani of St.Thomas'
Balika MV, J.N. Jayasinghe of St. Joseph's Convert,
Kegalle, and A.G.V.S. Jayasekara, Mahinda College, Galle,
established three new meet records in the U-18 girls
Triple jump U-18 girls 200m and boys U-18 200m
respectively at his Milo sponsored Sri Johan Tarbat
senior Athletics Championships at the Sugathadasa
Stadium.
Cricket
Cricketers leave
The Sri Lanakan national squad left for
the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa. that
begins on September 11.
277 off 72 deliveries
Danuka Pathirana established a World
record when he hammered 277 off a mere 72 deliveries
with 29 sixes and 18 fours out of 366 for 3 for
Austerlands in the Saddleworth league Twenty20 knockout
tournament played at Droylsden
Tennis
Nadal defeated
David Ferrer defeated the No 2 seed,
Rafael Nadal, 6/7,6/ 4,7/6,6/2 at the US Open
Henin beats Serena
Top seed Justin Henin beat Serena
Williams 7-6,6-1 to reach the women's semi-final at the
U.S Open.
Friday
Cricket
India level series
A stunning 2 wickets win over England in
the 6th ODI saw India level series 3-3 the seven match
series at the oval. Scores England 316 for 6 in 50 overs,
India 317 for 8 in 49.4 overs)
Murali in Line
Sri Lanka's off spinner Muttiah
Muralitharan was nominated for the Test Player of the
year award in the ICC Awards 2007 that will be held in
Johannesburg on September 10 .
Altletics
Susanthika rewarded
Bronze medal winner of the IAAF World
Championships Women's 200m, Susanthika Jayasinghe
received a reward of Rs.500, 000/- from Major General,
Palitha Fernando, President of the AASL.
Walala MMV champions
Walala A. Ratnayaka College become the
Grils' and Boys' overall champions at the Sir John
Tarbat Senion Altletics Championships conducted at the
Sugathadasa Stadium.
Netball
Lanka 2nd win
Sri Lanka registered their second victory
in the Asian Invitation Netball Tournament when they
defeated North Ireland 55-50 in Singapore.
Volleyball
Lanka fail to qualify
The Sri Lanakan volleyball team playing
for the 9th place in the Asian Region Volleyball
Championships were beaten by Qatar, 3 sets to nil. |
