Radeesha bags all three titles at trials

By Annesley Ferreira

Radeesha Daluwatte of the Colombo International School underlined her supremacy in no uncertain terms by winning all three events that she took part in at the Second Olympic Trials concluded at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium pool.

Radeesha won the 100 metres Free Style in a time of 1 minute 06.54 seconds while her schoolmate and arch-rival Theekshana Ratnasekera came in second in one minute 06.73 seconds which was a touch-and-go affair.

The second event that Radeesha emerged victorious was the 100 metres Back Stroke in a time of 1 minute 17.07 seconds and also won her third event, the 100 metres Breaststroke in a time of 1 minute 16.56 seconds.

Melani Bauman finished second to Radeesha in one minute 19.37 seconds with Ruchira Money third in one minute 22.65 seconds.

Arun Karunaratne of Elizabeth Moir International School who won two events set up a national record in the 200 metres Backstroke event clocking two minutes 22.18 seconds.

Arun alsowon the 100 metres Backstroke in one minute 05.68 seconds.

The other swimmer to impress was Jayamal Wijeratne of Ananda who won the 100 and 50 metres Free Style events.

Jayamal won the 100 metres when he touched in 55.20 seconds and in the 50 metres Free Style in two minutes 13.09 seconds. Gheffari Dulapandan,the 100 metres Butterfly in one minute 01.65 seconds.

Theekshana Ratnasekera won the 50metres Free Style in 31.47 seconds with Zoe Veera second in 31.63 seconds and Menaka de Silva third in 32.83 seconds.

Melani Baumann won the 200 metres Backstroke in two minutes 47.42 seconds with Ruchira Money second in 56.04 seconds while Chandi Haputhanthri won the women's 200 Breast- stroke in one minute 10.56 seconds.

Morale booster for Kandy

CH & FC vs Navy - May 6; The CH & FC pulled off a 22-5 victory over the Navy, after leading 12-0 at half time. It was not an impressive win. Navy did well to win good ball in the lineouts and scrums, but were not able to take advantage of this. They have an excellent set of forwards and a reasonable three quarter line but they need to finish off their moves by scoring. To achieve this they need to analyze their shortcomings. They should keep the ball in their opponent's territory and ensure lineout "put-in". From there penetrate further with the forwards and make sure they do not lose the ball. For the CH, they need to leave out unwarranted play - losing tempers. They are a well-balanced side but still have not shown sufficient fluency in their play. Tony Amit, no doubt, will remedy this in the future games.

Kandy vs Havelocks - May 7; Kandy won 36-3, it was a morale-boosting win for Kandy after their close game against the Police, the previous week. The half time score read 14-3 to Kandy. According to reports the Havelocks pack outplayed the Kandy forwards in the 1st half. Their lineout work was also good. For Kandy, the introduction of dynamic Asoka Jayasena, made all the difference. He is a fine player who can lead from the front. Asoka Jayasena must be played in the 1st half. He is a great leader. Like CH, Kandy have still not found fluency in their play. On a hot day in Colombo they may find the going difficult. The Havelocks should have changed their strategy in the 2nd half. They should have kicked 'up-and-unders' and made diagonal kicks making sure of securing the ball thereafter. This would have put Kandy under severe pressure. After all the main idea is to get over the 'gain-line' and make your opponents retreat. Today's match against the Police will be very interesting.

Police vs CR & FC - May 7; CR won 23-3, a good win for the CR. The scores were 8-3 to CR at half time. The Police have themselves to blame. They possess a very good set of forwards who are quite mobile in spite of their size. Their game plan should have been to attack the CR with calculated 'kick aheads' keeping the ball away from the opposing full back and wing three quarters, instead of trying to run the ball and thereby losing ground - behind the 'gain-line'. The most important aspect of this strategy is to ensure possession from such kicks. They won ample possession in this game but could not make good use of it. More often the CR were successful in regaining possession from the Police. The golden rule is that you don't gift your own possession to the opposition - KEEP IT! AND USE IT WELL! When losing such possession the only option is to defend - which the Police kept doing and breaking point came in the 2nd half with the CR taking control of the game, mainly on possession! This review is confined on possession, which played the most important part in this game.

Air Force vs Army - May 5; This was a closely contested game. The Air Force played well in the first half but again were unable to maintain momentum in the 2nd half. I mentioned this in my preview of the game in the Daily Mirror of 5th May. The Air Force are improving gradually. They need to have a definite game-plan and keep to it. I will again stress on the importance of using adequate replacements during a game for key positions where acquiring possession is concerned. With the prevalent heat, replacements are essential. The Army are progressing well and must be congratulated on their performance so far this season. A good win for the Army.

In Brief

Sri Rahula down St. Mary's

Sri Rahula Katugastota pulled off a 40-run win over St. Mary's Kegalle in a thrilling, high-scoring Under 17 Division 2 Tournament match at Katugastota.

Asitha Kumara 90 (10 fours, 2 sixes) and Anuradha Wekadapola combined in a fourth wicket patnership of 109. Earlier opener Yasintha Wanigasekera had shown the way with an aggressive 78.

Good knocks from Arjuna (72) and Athukorale (49) kept the visitors in the hunt. However, skipper Nuwan Pieris ran through the late order to ensure the victory for Sri Rahula.

Sri Rahula 286 - 7 in 50 overs. (Asith Wanigasekera 78, M Gunawardana 48, A.S. Kumara 90, A. Wekadapola 47, K. Asanka 10,)

St. Mary's - 246 in 48.3 Overs

(N. Arjuna 72, M. Jayawardena 23, B. Nawalage 27, M. Atukorale 49, N.P. Pieris 4/34, A. Wekadapola 3/26.) A.K.

Prasanna and Wali impress

R.K.Sumith Prasanna and Nilantha Bandara Walisundara imressed the national selectors at a boxing trials held at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday when they dimolished their opponents in the first round .

Prasanna out boxed A Daberera of the YMCA while Walisundara stamped his class in the lop sided Feather Weight bout to register a win against A.Wijeratna .

M.Wanniarachchi boxing in the Batam Weight class produced lightning foot work and punching power to earn a discision on points over D.B.Walisundara .R.N.

Emirates triumph

By Bruce Maurice

Emirates International Airlines, helped by four half centuries, crushed SriLankan Airlines by 225 runs in their triangular series match played at the BRC Grounds yesterday.

Emirates batting first totaled 383 for 7 in 40 overs with G. Arora (74), Kashit Khan (70), Khuram Khan (72) and Fahad Usman (73) leading the way.

In reply the SriLankan Airlines were bowled out for 158 with only Ian Coggins showing some resistance by stroking a fine 64 including six hits over the ropes and three boundaries.

Emirates - 383 for 7. SriLankan Airlines - 158.

In the game played on Friday,Travel Trade SC beat Sri Lankan Airlines by 117 runs.

Open pool for women

Over 16 players will battle it out for supremacy at the first ever Open Pool Tournament for ladies at the Precious Pool Parlour of the Millennium Park from May 22 onwards.

Exhibition matches will be played by billiards and snooker national players for supporters and spectators in between the women's matches which will be sponsored by GSM Dialog YES FM.

GSM Dialog and YES FM are offering a lot of valuable prizes.

Entries for the championships close on Tuesday (May 16).

The Ladies' and Men's winner will be presented with a GSM Dialog Trophy and YES FM Trophy and a mobile GSM phone with Dialog connections with the compliments of Dialog GSM.

All matches will start at 5 p.m.

Brothers win at tennis

Brothers Ravi and Ganendran Subramaniam qualified for the quarter-finals of the Mercantile Tennis championships worked off at the National Tennis Centre Courts at Green Path.

Ravi beat R. Perera 6-1, 6-1 and Ganendran beat S.A.M. Ranjith 6-2, 6-2.

The others who won their matches were G. Ghouse, Arjan Perera, A. Polonowita and Sanjaya Wijemanne. (BM)

All eyes on Susanthika

BY Ravi Nagahawatte

Hurdlers Sriani Kulawansa and H. Ratnayake stamped their class in their pet events in the first trial organised by the Amateur Athletic Association of Sri Lanka at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

Kulawanasa clocked 13.35 seconds to finish ahead of W.Umayangi who took 14.72 seconds to complete the event.

Ratnayake too received little threat from his opponents as he raced to victory with a timing of 50.89 seconds .

All eyes will be on Susanthika Jayasinghe who is expected to compete in the games today.

Old Bens unbeaten

Old Bens maintained their unbeaten record, defeating Dehiwela Central and Garudas in their inter-club open cager championships conducted by the Colombo District Basketball Association.

Old Bens beat Dehiwela Central by 74 points to 34 leading 34/14 at the short whistle. In the second game Old Bens beat Garudas by 49 points to 39 in a close tussle leading 20/18 at lemons. Police registered their first win when they outplayed National Youth Services Council by 60 points to 34, leading 34/17 at the half time.

Sampath stays unbeaten

By Marlon Fernandopulle

Sampath Bank maintained their unbeaten record in the Mercantile A Division tournament when they trounced Commercial Bank by six wickets at Maitland Place yesterday.

Batting first Commercial Bank were up against some tight and penetrative bowling and were bowled out for just 130 in 46.1 overs. Indika Gallage (2/9) Chamara Zoysa(2/12) and Charinda Fernando(2/42) picked up the scalps for Sampath Bank.Only former Benedictine Rally Tissera offered any form of resistance compiling a stubborn half century.

Sampath Bank had no difficulty in reaching the target as they cruised to victory in the 30th over losing just four wickets.Opener Chandika Hathurusinghe was their mainstay compiling a fine 63 with the aid of eight boundaries and a six.

Commercial Bank-130 all out in 46.1 overs (Rally Tissera 50; Indika Gallage 2/9, Chamara Zoysa 2/12, Charinda Fernando 2/42)

Sampath Bank- 132/4 in 29.5 overs (Chandika Hathurusinghe 64, Marvan Atapattu 23, Charinda Fernando 17 n.o )

Keells crush Bartleets

A splendid cetury from Ruwan Kalpage helped John Keells to a convincing 126 run victory over Bartleets at Reid Avenue yesterday.

The former Sri Lanka allrounder smashed two sixes and five boundaries in his 103 to help Keells to an imposing total. Opener M. Vandort also chipped in with a useful half century as Keells reached 272/5 in their 50 overs.

Bartleets started off well with openers Heshan Tilekaratne (33) and S. K. Perera (22) putting on a 57 run opening stand. But with the introduction of spinners Dinuk Hettiarachchi and Punyakantha Abeygoo–nasekera the Barleetes batting crumbled.Hettiarachchi picked up 3 for 21 and Abeyagoonasekera 4 for 16 as Bartleets were bowled out for 146 in 48 overs.

John Keells - 272/5 in 50 overs (T. Cramer 22, M. Vandort 59, Ruwan Kalpage 103, R Subasinghe 24 n.o )

Bartleets-146 all out in 48 overs (Heshan Tilekaratne 33, S. K. Perera 22, N. Cooray 21, M Wanigasekera 23 n.o; Dinuk Hettiarachchi 3/21, Punyakantha Abeyagoonasekera 4/16)

Close call for East West

Two fine bowling spells from Sajith Fernando and Nisitha Rupasinghe helped East West Information Systems to score a close 16 run victory over Singer at Braybrooke Place yesterday.

East West hit up 186 in 46.2 overs with Nalin Wijesinghe striking a run a ball 63 with the help of five boundaries and two sixes.

In reply Singer were cruising at 108/4 at one stage but lost wickets at crucial stage to the effective spin of Sajith Fernando (3/38) and Nisitha Rupasinghe (2/26) destroying Singer for East West to record a thrilling 16 run victory.

East West-186 all out in 46.2 overs (T.K. Herath 24, Upul Chandana 33, Nalin Wijesinghe 63; Lasantha Siriwardene 3/29, Hashan Tilekaratne 2/48, Manjula Silva 2/30)

Singer-170 all out in 49.2 overs (Manjula Silva 37, Nilantha Tilakaratne 41, Lasantha Siriwardene 26; Nisitha Rupasinghe 2/26 Sajith Fernando 3/38)

Rover pinpoints...

Why no She

Twenty five years have passed since the Sports Law was first introduced in Sri Lanka. Over the years it has been amended from time to time. Many lapses have been pointed out but they have not been amended so far. The worst of it being:

The sub sections a, b, d, e & f has not included the word "She" (thereby she is exempted). If the word she is added in all sub sections (a) to (f) it should read as - "if he or she."

Ten more for committee?

At a special general meeting of the Amateur Athletic Association the constitution has been amended on a proposal of the President to increase the committee, which now stands at 20 to 30. The ten to be voted in are supposed to be supporters of the President, so that he will have a clout in decision making.

Secret trials

A trial was held by the AAA last week to pick certain athletes for a foreign meet and another was held yesterday, without any press notification. Why all this hush hush. Is it because they want to pick athletes of their choice?

In return?

A commentator was heard showering praises on a journalist of his choice, who in turn supports him in publishing the results of the matches played only if they are won not if they lose.

This has been done on several occasions.

This commentator is now gaining political influence to undercut certain other commentators.

Astonished?

A week ago a junior cricket team in uniform was seen travelling in a private bus to a match down Havelock Road. Rover saw them get into the bus with a youthful coach who got a seat, but others travelled standing. But the most astonishing thing that Rover saw was that each cricketer had to buy his own ticket.

By the looks of these junior cricketers, they were from Negombo.

Only first names

Praises are given to the trainer and coach with only their first names, forgetting their surnames, as they were household names then and beginning to be the same now.

Heard this?

Nominations to a leading sport closed, but the two who sent in their nominations for Secretary and Treasurer have switched them in contesting at the AGM held yesterday, going against the constitution.

The head of this sport wants the AGM to be held in Kandy not in Colombo, since he is a worried man with the cancellation of the under 21 girls and boys tours as money could not be found for the tours after several trials were held in Colombo.

Many heads are bound to roll after the AGM.

Banned?

A leading Buddhist girls school in Colombo has got their basketball players to sign a document stating they will never play in the netball team, but the teacher in charge of netball has told her players they could participate in any another sport of their choice.

No facilities

Rover learns that no changing rooms are available for the women at the hockey grounds at the Race Course and at times no water also.

Leakages are plenty and Rover was told that any reporters querring into these set backs has been instructed to be severely dealt with.

Umpires in a fix

Rover learns that the Interim Committee for Cricket in Sri Lanka, has been requested to make some payments to leading umpires like what they did to leading cricketers who have put Sri Lanka in the map.

It has been discussed in umpiring circles by two top notchers to recommend to the committee to make payments to the umpires who have stood in the Test matches not to those with service. Many senior umpires who count over 20 years standing in the middle are to be overlooked by these recommendations.

How come?

How is that three persons who are presently coaching in swimming are serving in the Executive Committee of the National Amateur Aquatic Sports Union (NAASU) of Sri Lanka.

Cricket 'blues'

Nominations to the Cricket Board elections will close on Tuesday May 16, already two nominations, that Jayantha Dharmadasa and Thilanga Sumathipala have been accepted for the elections to be held on June 11.

Two to three more persons are likely to hand over their nominations, one of which is Mrs. Gwen Herath Rover learns. Many district associations have requested Mrs. Gwen to come forward, but she is willing to do so, but states that her nomination may not be accepted as she is from the greens and not the blues.

Karate at St. Peter's today

The Karate Championships of St. Peter's College, Colombo will take place on Sunday May 14 starting at 2 p.m. at the College Hall at Bambalapitiya.

Kata and Kumite events, according to the age groups for the College students plus an invitation Kumite team schools championships are on the cards. The schools invited to participate in this championships are: St. Joseph's, Gurukula MV, Hameed Al Hussaniya, Hejas International and St. Peter's. A karate and aikido demonstration will also boost the day's programme. This will be given by Sensei M.N. Thassin, Chief Instructor, Nihon Karate-Do Kenshin Kai, Sri Lanka Branch and a founder member of the Sri Lanka Karate-Do Federation and the Sri Lanka Schools Karate Association.

Return to Sports Contents