In Brief

Inter League Soccer

The matches are, Gampola vs Kandy at the Weegulawatta grounds, Gampola, Army vs Badulla at Galle Face, Matara vs Navy at the Uyanwatta Stadium Matara, Kurunegala vs Playgrounds at the People's Park Stadium Kurunegala, Gampaha vs Negombo at the UC grounds Gampaha. In the matches played so far, Batticaloa beat Ampara 2/1, Gampola beat Matale 2/1, Army beat Police in a tie-breaker 3/2, Matara received a walk over from Galle, Beruwala beat Ambalangoda 2-nil, Ratnapura beat Balangoda 7-nil, Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia beat Nationalised Services 7/6 in a tie-breaker, Nuwara Eliya beat Bandarawela 7/1, Government Services beat Mawanella 3/1.

Praise for Ref. Dilroy 

Ground not up to the mark 

But this money has not been utilized properly. 

Mrs. Janaki Gunasekera the netball insructress of the school disclosed that this money has not been properly used as the playground has worsened after the renovation. 

The minister had given this money taking into consideration the achievements of the school in Netball. 

In 1993 Kalutara BMV set up a record by winning all the age group titles in the Milo Netball competition.

Wesley to honour Mahroof tommorow

He will be presented with all necessary gear by Wesleyites Old Boys Union, and its UK branch, Old Wesleyites Sports Club, Welfare Society and Parents Teachers Association.

It was the first time since 1980 that a cricketer from Wesley College has played a major role in a national school cricket team. In 1980 captain Navin De Silva of Wesley captained Sri Lanka U-19 team.

Millennium Karate Show

Sensei S.L. Pradeep (Black Belt 3rd Dan) functioned as the Karate Instructor for Ananda. Picture shows the President of the Ananda College Karate Club Indishe Senanayake ( Black Belt 1st Dan) and Instructor S.L. Pradeep practising with a Nunchaku.

Japanese help for playgrounds

Two hundred lakhs have been given to Kandy and two hundred and fifty lakhs to develop Kalutara and Ratnapura. (H.P.P.)

Gayan & Chanaka for World Diving C'ships

The 14th Asia Pacific championships will be held from August 4 to 6 in Chinese Taipei and the 13th World Junior championships will be held from August 16 to 20 in Calgary, Canada.

The five divers picked for the Asia Pacific meet are Janaka Biyanwala open, Gayan Ranatunga Group A, Harina Jayasekera Group A, Chanaka Wickremasinghe Group B and Esiri Kankanige Group C. The two divers for the World Junior Championships are Gayan Ranatunga Group A and Chanaka Wickremasinghe Group B. 

The Minister of Sports, S.B. Dissanayake has approved both teams. 

Sumith Dharmadasa, a former national diver and an international diving judge will accompany the team as coach for the Asia Pacific meet while Akhry Ammer will go as coach to the championships in Canada with Dharmadasa going as the diving judge.

The two teams are on the look out for sponsors for the Asia Pacific costing around Rs. 90,000/- while the participants for the Canada meet will have to collect Rs. 150,000/-. Chanaka and Esiri have already confirmed their participation for the Asia Pacific meet while confirmation is awaited for the World Championships in Canada.

Musaeus bags overall schools squash title

Nisanga Mayadunne of Museaus won the Girls Under-19 title while Navin Samarasinghe of Stafford International won the Boys Under-19 title.

The other champions and runners-up are:

Girls Under-19: Souri Wijesinghe (Visakha); Under-17: Rasansi Lankage (Asian International School); Rabdika Dissanayake (Musaeus); Under-15: Madara Dayasiri (Musaeus); Menusha Hettiaratchchi (Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya); Under-13 Tehani Guruge (Musaeus); Vajira Karunaratne (Visakha); Under-11: Tasha Guruge (Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya). 

Boys Under-19: Eranjan Kempitiya (Royal); Under-17: Malinda Sugathapala (S. Thomas' Mt.); Kavin Jayawardena (S. Thomas' Mt.); Under-15: Harin Perera (Royal); Zashan Zaheer (Royal); Under-13: Eranga Alwis (S. Thomas' Mt.); Akitha Gunasekera (Royal); Under-11: Prawin Perera (Royal); S. Wijeweera (S. Thomas' Mt.).

Ananda Junior win 8 out of 9

The no-decision match was against Isipatana.

Results:

Ananda College Vs D.S. Senanayake - 30/04/00, Ananda Grounds.

Ananda College 257 runs for 7 wickets. 

(Thilina Dissanayake 70, J. Sriyapala 34, T. Kumarasinghe 34, D. Kularathne 32, D. Thilekarathna 27).

D.S. Senanayake College 123 for all out. (Roshan Kulathunge 40, T. Nirmal 2 for 12, S. Rajakaruna 2 for 13).

Ananda College won by 134 runs.

Ananda College Vs St. Joseph's College - 09/05/00 St. Joseph's Grounds.

Ananda College 142 all out. (P. Boteju 33, D. Kularathne 26, T. Kumarasinghe 25, W. Shamal 4 for 31).

St. Joseph's College 121 all out. (S. Rajakaruna 4 for 13, T. Nirmal 2 for 12, L. Fernando 2 for 25).

Ananda won by 21 runs.

Ananda College Vs Lumbini M.V. - 14/5/00 - Ananda Grounds.

Ananda College 205 all out. (D. Thilakarathne 53, T. Nirmal 26, Y. De Silva 2 for 30).

Lumbini M.V. 180 for 8 wickets. (I. Somarathne 3 for 45, S. Rajakaruna 2 for 26, T. Nirmal 2 for 27).

Ananda won by 25 runs.

Ananda College Vs Basilika College - 22/5/00 - Basilika Ground (Ragama).

Ananda College 206 for 8 wickets. (D. Kularathne 58, T. Kumarasinghe 25, G. Silva 4 for 27).

Basilika College 108 all out. (T. Nirmal 4 for 11, H. Rajakaruna 2 for 26).

Ananda won by 98 runs.

Ananda College Vs. Maristella College - 02/06/00 - Maristella Grounds (Negombo).

Maristella 84 all out. (I. Somaratne 3 for 13, T. Nirmal 2 for 11, L. Fernadno 2 for 18).

Ananda College 90 for 1 wicket. (Pradeep Boteju 28 not out, D. Kularatne 30 not out).

Ananda won by 9 wickets.

Ananda College Vs. Isipathana College - 14/6/00 - Ananda Ground.

Ananda College 189 for 8 wickets. (D. Kularathne 85, T. Dissanayake 28, Z. Saruk 3 for 33).

Isipathana College 105 for 4 wickets.

No Decision.

Ananda College Vs Sri Sumangala College - Panadura - 20/6/00 - Ananda Grounds.

Sri Sumangala College 117 all out. (L. Fernando 2 for 12, C. Jeevendra 2 for 12, R. Rajakaruna 2 for 18).

Ananda College 212 all out. (S. Senanayake 32, T. Nirmal 37, S. Rajakaruna 29).

Ananda won by 95 runs.

Ananda College Vs Moratu Maha Vidyalaya - Panadura - 26/6/00 - Ananda Grounds.

Ananda College 230 for 6. (T. Kumarasinghe 95*, D. Thilakerathna 44).

Moratu Maha Vidyalaya 153 all out. (P. Boteju 3 for 25, S. Rajakaruna 2 for 20, I. Somarathne 2 for 21).

Ananda won by 77 runs.

Where the Local:

Cricket - Two day warm up game - Board President XI vs South Africa at the P. Sara Stadium.

Rugby - Inter Club A division second round league championships played for the Caltex Trophy, Kandy vs Army at Nittawella;

Havelocks vs Air Force at Katunayake.

Basketball - Colombo District Inter Club league championships. Women - AirLanka vs Hatton National Bank at Katunayake;

AirPort & Aviation vs Garudas at the Depot Police Courts.

Football - Senior Inter League. Matara vs Navy at Matara.

Kurunegala vs Playgrounds at Kurunegala; Gampaha vs Negombo at Gampaha.

Foreign

Cricket 

Triangular tournament - West Indies vs Zimbabwe at Chester-le-Street, England.

Athletics - European Cup Super League in Gateshead, England.

Motor Racing - Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg.

Tennis - Davis Cup World Group Semi-final in Australia.

Australia vs Brazil.

World Group qualifying round; Britain vs Equador in Zimbabwe; Zimbabwe vs Romania in Zimbabwe; Uzbekistan vs Netherlands in Uzbekistan.

Rowing - World Cup Finals in Lucerne.

Snooker - 17th Asian Championship in Hong Kong.

Football - World Cup CONCACAF.

Group C - Canada vs Trinidad in Edmonton.

An assorted batting display

A lot is spoken of the ball seaming around during the first hour at the SSC and some captains and teams show reluctance to bat first. Particularly the Sri Lankans prefer to take second lease.

This thought is partially true, but not something that could be sworn by. Most games commencing at 10.00 a.m. should produce some lateral movement when obviously the ball is new and there is some mistakes on the surface. At the SSC there is always a bush covering of grass when preparation of the pitch begins. So although the grass mown down about half a millimetre there is still a tinge of green that produces some early lift for the bowlers. Having said that a practice that is currently being followed is to stop watering earlier than in the past for one day games. Of course this has to be monitored carefully or else the top surface gets too dry. The pitches produced for the games between Sri Lanka and South Africa, and between South Africa and Pakistan in excess of 450 runs on each day. To the dismay of many that did not happen. The total scores on each day was between three hundred and three hundred and fifty. On day one Kluesner and Kirsten fell to four strokes. Kluesner sent into open slammed the first delivery into extra cover. That started the rot. Andrew Hall who was going well swept Dharmasena's first delivery down deep square leg's throat. It was lack of experience, not rolling the wrists and controlling the sweep.

That was followed by their main middle order batsmen Daryl Cullinan and Jonty Rhodes being run out. All this amounted to poor cricket. They clearly showed that as yet they were not combining as an unit and had not found their feet in the unfamiliar surroundings.

Jacques Kallis stood as firm as a rock. Surely, two other batsmen could have followed his example! That was what South Africa lacked, more disciplined batting. Kallis was all that and more. His concentration did not falter and he batted superbly with the tail.

Avishka Gunawardena played his best innings to date. He made use of everv loose delivery. Whenever he had the width, or got an overpitched or short delivery he made maximum use of them. Although he hit many in the air non were within reach of any fielders. It was a day when everything he did came right. In that crucial last game Pakistan faltered from the outset. There was bare movement off the pitch in the early overs. The Pakistani batsmen kept mugging at deliveries outside the off stump. The South Africans bowled cleverly. They slowed down their pace and concentrated on movement off the surface. It paid off as their opponents played into that game plan and last four wickets in just six overs. When captain Moin and deputy Anwer departed to rash strokes they had to say goodbye to the Singer Trophy.

South Africa made use of the afternoon batting practice and cantered comfortably to victory. Overall it was a mixed bag of batsmanship. Many did not play to their best potential and the opportunity of witnessing two interesting encounters was lost.

Ford Fairmont backs golf

Thurai wins - Excellent weather prevailed throughout the day making playing conditions absolutely comfortable. Dr. C. Thurairaja was collard by young Laksiri de Mel and the two of them settled for 34 points each but the adjudicators decreed Dr. Thurai the winner as his rear nine score was better than De Mel's. Young Amrish de Soysa was impressive with 33 points.

Perera & Silva Tie - Sumal Perera & Anil de Silva tied for 1st position in the 'B' Division classic and when the scrutineers further examined their respective cars it was agreed that Sumal Perera was the winner as fortune smiled on him with a better back nine score. Perera has become quite an aggressive player and particularly strong with his irons. Anil de Silva has been consistently impressive and it came as no surprise when he was found happily announcing his excellent collection of 40 points.

It was heartening to see more and more Koreans moving into the fold of competitions. B. C. Lee and Sung Soo Kim were in absolutely super form playing impressive golf and collecting commendable scores of 39 points each. Lee plays off a handicap of 14 and Kim plays off 9. Coming close behind were Lalin Samarawickrema and Sarath Piyaratne both playing well controlled par golf. It was refreshing to find Nimal Perera, Dr. Hemal Fernando and Mohan Alles showing some degree of flourish. Perera was steady and calculating, Fernando was flashy off the tees and Alles plundered a few holes to give him good reasons to relish a beer. Dr. Suranjan de Silva and Shiran de Soysa were quite dominant in the disaster zone and they were happily joined by Michael de Zoysa who has cultivated a penchant to chip into bunkers from the apron of the green with glee.

FEI Quan Do Grading Test

The grading test was conducted under the guidance of internationally popular Martial Arts expert Grandmaster M. Hassen Khalid Founder/Chief Instructor of the FEI Quan Do Martial Arts. Assisted by black belt M. Nuzry Khalid. 

The annual awards ceremony and the FEI Quan Do National championships will be held in early September in which FEI Quan Do Kas from all parts of the island will take part to vie against each other for the National FEI Quan Do Champions Title and the FEI Quan Do Grand Champions Title said Grandmaster M. Hassen Khalid. At this memorable event Honourary Black Belts will be conferred on persons who have excelled in the particular fields of professions and rendered their services to the upliftment of our society by Grandmaster M. Hassen Khalid.

Belts

Brown 3:

M. Al. Ameen Nuzky Khalid (Zahira College).

Brown 4:

A.S.A Shihan (Zahira College).

Gray:

S. Muthu (Lathifa Stores). Thufail Ahamed (Hameed-Al-Hussaini College).

Blue:

A.Usaama Naufel (Zahira College).

Green:

Chalitha Irandika ( St. Joseph's College). M. Fayz Baseer (D.S.Senanayake). M. Firnaz Baseer (D.S.Senanayake). M. Nazee Ali (St. Michel's Col. 3). B. K.H.Vijedasa (Parliament of Sri Lanka). S .B.Akbar ( Alexor International). M. Amri Azeez (Royal College). Ubendiran Krishanamoorthy (Informatic Institute of Computer Studies). D.A.S. Vedanayagam ( St. Peter's College).

Orange:

M. Infaz Najeeb (Royal College). N. M. Raza (Zahira College). Shoaib Liyakath Ali (Cresent International School). Salman Liyakath Ali (Cresent International School). Sabith Liyakath Ali (Cresent International School). M. Zamil (St Joseph's College). M. Alil (St. Joseph's College). Hafeez Ramazan (Belvoir International). M. Afsar Oleed (Isipathana). Jerome Nahulan (St. Peter's College ). Jessica Nahulan (St. Bridget's). M. J. M. Hassen (Alexor International ). M. J. M. Sameer (Alexor International). S. Bavithran (Hindu College). Ifthaz Ahamed (Zahira College). Sabith Nisthar (Tarrence de Silva). David Carvalio (St Joseph's College).

Who will represent Lanka at Olympics

By Annesley Ferreira

Taking note of the two trial meets arranged by NAASU is as follows, giving the variance to the qualifying time and their improvements.

Jayamal Wijeratne clocked 55.07 seconds at the first trial with a variance of 2.48 and at second trial clocked 55.20 seconds in the 100 metres free style at the second trial a variance of 2.61 while the qualifying Olympic B time was 52.59 seconds.

Arun Karunaratne's first trial timing in the 100 metres back stroke was 1 minute 06.51 seconds a variance of 7.80 while the Olympic B qualifying time was 58.71 seconds and his second trial timing was 1 minute 05.68 seconds a variance of 6.97.

Conrad Francis swimming in the Australian Age Group championships at the venue where swimming will be held at the Sydney Olympics clocked 58.49 seconds a variance of 1.89 while the Olympic B qualifying time was 56.60 seconds and in another Olympic trial held from May 13 to 20 clocked 58.23 seconds a variance of 1.63 seconds.

Taking into consideration the timings of these three swimmers, Conrad Francis has the best timings and is being recommended by Anita Iossifidis who has gone on record of having known Conrad personally and had coached him in Nepal at the SAF Games and finds his purported Commission from the Olympic team a travesty.

The American's way

The CEO of a popular sport had his say in the dropping of a top notch coach. When he was questioned about this, speaking with a noticeable American accent, the CEO stated that the coach was axed because he was in the habit of visiting night clubs and coming late for practices. Another setback pointed out by the CEO was that the coach was even working for a bookie. What a situation. It looks as if several are now working for a bookie, including himself!

Not on the agenda

The formation of the Central Province Cricket Association has been done in a haphazard way. Rover learns that it was not on the agenda and no provincial Associations were consulted in the district, namely the Kandy District Association and the Regional Board. Wonder who is behind this issue.

Three senior cricketers insulted

Three senior cricketers have been insulted by a 'big wig' from Galle. When it was requested not to have a green top for the triangular limited over matches, the message was conveyed to another 'big wig', who stated that the 'big wig' from Galle never listens to him too. 

Was this a coup to see that the young brigade goes out in order to bring back the old brigade? Ultimately the cricketers won their day when the person in charge of wickets ordered that the grass be cut. Who won the day?

Tickets aplenty

The Cricket Board Headquarters grandstand was packed to capacity, with complimentary ticket holders which has been a sell out otherwise. Many were heard grumbling in the corridors of the Cricket Board, the way these tickets had been issued somewhat resembling the tickets that were issued to the last World Cup.

Sports Law

The 'Sports Law' is outdated according to the present situation. Many are finding loopholes in the Sports Law to stay in power than the stipulated period. Added to that the new Sports Law, should be firm to the effect that the President of any sports body should be over 45 years of age and should have represented the country in that particular sport, not divisions of participation.

Change of heart

A prominent figure in the promotion of a popular sports from the Universities was ousted stating that he had not played the game at top level. Rovers learns that the same person who was instrumental in ousting this person, is now heard promoting another to the same job who also falls in to the category of not having played at top level. What double standards.

Motor Village

Rovers learns that 600 acres are to be taken over from the Hambantota area from the Cashew Corporation to build a motor village at a tidy cost. This motor village will comprise of a track for cyclists, motor cyclists, cars and go karts inclusive of a hotel.

Debarred

Rover learns that a female and male swimmer has been debarred from entering a leading swimming pool in Colombo. They have been debarred from entering this pool for misbehaviour.

12 Players & 12 Officials

Sri Lanka Basketball Federation has confirmed to the organizers of the Asian Basketball Confederation Youth Basketball tournament in Malaysia that they will be sending 12 players and 12 officials for the ABC to be held from 17th of this month.

Who are the Officials?

Sri Lanka Basketball Federation has nominated all the office bearers elected at the AGM held in March this year namely President (who has never played basketball), Vice-President (with dual citizenship and former national coach), Vice-President (from upcountry and former Treasurer SLBF), Vice-President (former president of SLBF), Hony. Secretary, Hony. Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Former Hony Secretary of SLBF, Manager, Coach & FIBA Referee.

Who approved the Officials?

Rover understands from reliable people from the Executive Committee of the SLBF that they had to pay a large sum of money to a Secretary to obtain the approval of the officials. This was necessary as the authorities had insisted on the letter to issue visas to ensure all return to Sri Lanka afrer the ABC.

What has SLBF done up-to date?

Sri Lanka Basketball Federation since its AGM in March '00 have made arrangements for four foreign trips for its office bearers and not done any work for promotion and development of basketball in Sri Lanka. Rover is informed that the man behind this move is the unemployed Vice- President with dual citizenship.

Where is the Prize Money?

Why has the prize money due to the national champions and runner- up in the men and women division not paid todate? Who has swindled the monies? Has it been utilized for some office-bearers family maintenance? At the press conference held by the SLBF for the nationals it was told to the teams in the presence of the sponsors that the teams will be given prize monies.

Why no accounts at AGM?

Why was the audited statement of accounts not presented at the SLBF AGM? Who is responsible for the financial situation of the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation? Over to you Ministry of Sports. What action are you going to take against the culprits Ministry of Sports? 

Return to Sports Contents