Nalanda and Devi Balika on top
Boy's overall runner-up Trinity
Nalanda College Colombo and Devi Balika Vidylaya earned major honours at the inaugural National Schools Shooting Championship held at the Bandaranayake Central College in Veyangoda last Friday.
Nalanda boys' overall champions
Nalanda and Devi Balika had the honour of being the first boys and girls schools respectively to take up shooting as a sport in Sri Lanka. Spearheaded by Nalanda who pioneered the sport among other schools, Devi Balika became the first girls’ school in the country to put up a shooting range in their premises.
Nalanda however has been engaged in the shooting sports from the past 18 years and they have been the trendsetters in this sport which has been under their dominance ever since. They reigned at the inaugural Nationals Championship, but then with the number of competing schools growing in big numbers, Nalanda are biound to face tough times in years to come.
Trinity shooters
Trinity College emerged runners-up and Ananda College finished third. But it was noteworthy to observe that new entrants, Dharmasoka Ambalangoda, Rahula College Matara, Bandaranayake Central Veyangoda, Maurapada Central, Harischandra National School Negombo and Sri Sumangala National School Wariyapola, impressed in their first major outing.
In the girl’s category, the winners Devi Balika was not as impressive as expected as they faced close rivalry from their opponents, especially the newcomers. The winners were assured of their spot but hosts, Bandaranayake Central stunned the rest with a clinical performance to win the second spot. Dharmasoka Ambalangoda won third place while newcomers Rathnawali Girls’ School Gampaha, Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Ananda Balika Vidyalaya and Swarnamali Girls’ School Kandy were remarkable.
Ambalangoda Dharmasoka shooters with their coach
Methsarani on right with her team mates
The inaugural National Schools Shooting Championship was held after the schools rifle shooting governing body, the Sri Lanka Schools Shooting Sports Association was formed last year. The event has been in existence since 1994 as an inter-school event with 16 teams taking part but this time the inaugural National Schools Shooting Championship drew nearly 700 young shooters from 75 schools from all parts of Sri Lanka. Over 300 shooters were recognised and rewarded for achieving their personal bests as they were ranked for the first time. – Naushad Amit
Results:
Devi Balika the best overall girls' team
Girls
Over championship: Winner – Devi Balika Vidyalaya (336 points), 2nd place – Bandaranayake Central Veyangoda (315 points), 3rd place – Dharmasoka Ambalangoda (310 points)
Air Rifle: Best shooter – Mehtsarani Lokuge (Devi Balika), 2nd place – Dinithi Karunaratna (Rathnawali GS Gampaha), 3rd place – Kaushalya Sandeepani (Visakha Vidyalaya)
Air Pistol: Best shooter – Kavisha Sansaranie (Bandaranayake Central Veyangoda), 2nd place – Hansanie Jayakody (Devi Balika), 3rd – Yahani Welahena (Dharmasoka Ambalangoda)
Open: Best shooter – Milindya Ravihari (Dharmasoka Ambalangoda), 2nd place – Sanduni Piyumika (Bandaranayake
Bandarayanake Central overall runner-up in girls category
Central Veyangoda), 3rd place – Ashani Prabuddhika (Gothami BV)
Boys
Overall championship: Winner – Nalanda College (482 points), 2nd place – Trinity College Kandy (388), 3rd place – Ananda College (356 points)
Joseph Vaz shooters
Air Rifle: Best shooter – Prabudda Deshan (Nalanda), 2nd place – Ashan Chanuka (Rahula Matara), 3rd place – Kavinda Fernando – (Nalanda)
Air Pistol: Best shooter – Lusith Jayaweera (Nalanda), 2nd place – H. Pilapitiya (Trinity), 3rd place – E.A. Jayasinghe – (Trinity)
Open: Best shooter – S.A. Amarasinghe (Ananda), 2nd place – M.A.M.A. Fernando (Maliyadeva Kurunegala), 3rd place – Sachin Maduranga (Rahula Matara) and Gihan Jayalath (Sangabodhi Central Nittambuwa)
Pics by Amila Gamage
Follow @timesonlinelk
Related Posts:
Nalanda hit bull’s eye while Devi Balika take girls’ titleNalanda College Colombo and Devi Balika Vidyalaya prevailed at the inaugural National Schools Shooting Championship which was held at Bandaranayake ...
Chess double for MaliyadevaMaliyadeva College boys and their sister school Maliyadeva girls pocketed a double at the recent under 15 All Island Schools ...
Trinity cubs roar at rugby carnivalThe Under-12 ‘A’ team of Trinity College Kandy emerged champions at the Central Province Mini Rugby Carnival which held at ...
St. Joseph’s and Mahamaya in the leadDefending champions St. Joseph’s Colombo and Mahamaya Kandy took the lead at the end of the third day’s proceedings of ...
Lyceum Wattala and Ave Maria Negombo take leadLyceum International Wattala and Ave Maria Convent Negombo are in the lead in the boys and girls categories according to ...