• Dhamissara MV reign supreme in volleyball
• Women cricketers set eyes on World Cup 
• HFC wins squash championship
• Amrith de Soysa outstanding 
• Rover pinpoints
• Sri Lanka to meet Chinese Taipei in the cup Quarter Finals today 
• India drop three players
• Cooray,Palihakkara in century stand for Moors
• Speedbirds and Kalutara SC vie for top honours

Dhamissara MV reign supreme in volleyball

Dhamissara MV got the better of Dhavisamara M V of Seeduwa by a margin of 3 rounds to none in the boy's final, while in the ladies final Dhamissara M V downed Weeraketiya Rajapakse M V of Hambanthota by a similar scoreline to make it a memorable double in this volleyball tournament for the lads of Nattandiya.

By virtue of having won the volleyball titles for both sexes this year, 

Dhamissara M V has been able to lay their hands to at least 81 schools volleyball titles beginning from the early 1980's.

During the ladies final the female team of Dhamissara M V have been given torrid fight for supremacy by their female counterparts of Weeraketiya Rajapakse M V in the first two rounds but the overwhelming dominance of the Dhamissara girl's had seen them prevailing in the end.

It has also been revealed that it was the first time the ladies of Hambanthota Weeraketiya Rajapakse M V had made into such a volleyball tournament final and despite the severe setbacks encountered by them by the scarcity of sporting material it was creditable they gave their more erstwhile rivals a run for their money.

Meanwhile it had also been mentioned that in the boy's final in the first round the lads of Dhavisamara MV had stretched the ultimate winners all the way but Dhamissara M V managed to get their act together when it counted most to dispose their opponents in the end.

That first round it is reported had lasted for a duration of one hour and 13 minutes.

The winners Dhamissara M V team received a cash award of Rs. 20,000, and a trophy, while the two runners up teams Dhavisamara and Weeraketiya Rajapakse M V collected Rs. 10,000 each plus a trophy for their efforts. 

In addition to these awards several other trophy's, certificates,and medals was also given at the prize distribution ceremony which was graced by former Paliamentarian Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.

This Super Sports Inter School Volleyball tournament which was sponsored by DSI limited was jointly organised by the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and the Schools Volleyball Federation.

Sri Lanka out to prove themselves

Women cricketers set eyes on World Cup 

With a 24-strong pool in training under Guy de Alwis, the Lanka team is well ahead in their schedule much to the delight of the organizers. The World Cup 2000 will be monitored by CRICINFO on their Website. They also has a parallel Website especially for the World Cup. 

The international Women's Cricket Council has expressed their satisfaction for all arrangement made for the tour by the Woman's Cricket Association of Sri Lanka, according to President, Gwen Herat. 

The principal sponsor is Lanka Tiles Limited while the co-sponsors are Hatton National Bank, CIC Paints, LATEC, Samarasinghe Brothers, L. B. Finance etc. 

Sri Lanka who is in the SUPER-8 will have to earn a place in the top four slots if to qualify for the World Cup 2004 in South Africa. Otherwise, they will have to qualify by playing with the rest of the countries in the IWCC Trophy in 2002. 

If Sri Lanka qualifies, they will have enough time on hand for International tours and also to host the Women's Asia Cup 2002 for which Mrs. Herat will make a bid at the International Conference. 

She said 'We shall be in a position to invite Bangladesh team who are elated as their country just attained Test status. Though Bangladesh is not in this World Cup, they will be represented at the International Conference. The other two countries for the Asia Cup are India and Pakistan.

Navin Samarasinghe retains the junior title

HFC wins squash championship

By Leonard Ratnayake

HFC's dominant performances mainly came from the two Guruge sisters who fought until the last blood in the events they participated, while top seed Menusha Hettiarachchi won a championship and a runner up trophy. Rasansie Lankage of Asian International School emerged the Girls U-19 champion when 

she beat the hot favourite Menusha Hettiarachchi who won the open championship at the La Kandyan squash tournament two weeks ago.Lankage finding her excellent form after a period of lukewarm squash came out strongly to stamp her authority in the court, although now she is mainly concentrating on swimming as her first choice sport. " I have to concentrate mainly on swimming, because my school have given me a scholarship, and I 

hardly find time to practice squash so I only play in tournament" said Lankage whose future with squash is uncertain. She had won Sri Lanka Junior squash colours twice and has won the junior championship in all age categories in her career. National Champion Navin Samarasinghe of Stafford International School continued his dominance in squash when he got the better of his school-mate Hirantha Gunadasa three sets to one. Navin thus holds all major championships in squash in the country.

There was a major upset in the U-15 Boys finals when the top seeded Harin Perera was toppled by the second seed Shezad Zahir of Royal College who beat his school mate opponent by three sets to one. Organisers says this year marked the highest number of entries ever which is 174 participants in the 11-year history of Junior National squash championships. Participation of 40 contestants from Kandy has been noteworthy since this is the first time the region has represented in the Junior Championships while it has been unfortunate that Anjalika Ratnayake of Kandy had proceeded upto semi-finals in the U-12 girls event but had to withdraw due to injury.

Amrith de Soysa outstanding 

Soysa outstanding

The other part of the competition enveloped the younger juniors quite new to the game. Running into 9 holes the local lads were outstanding showing much promise and the shape of things to come. Galagedera shot a great 47 showing tremendous promise followed by Wino on 51 and Selvakumar and Paddalgoda on 61 each. The little girls came in too with a competition of their own where Shrimada was outstanding with 71. The Gymkhana events followed surfacing much talent. Pradeep took the 3 hidden holes event, and Shamir Zavahir was great in the putting event. 

Another special feature of this competition was the coaching scheme spread over 3 weeks and it was quite encouraging to witness the sharp enthusiasm shown particularly by the kids of Kandy. Also it was heartwarming to see the patronage, and comforting to identify the talent and interest shown. 

Amrith de Soysa was the brightest and the best. A kid with absolute talent who thrives in adult company on the course must be moved away from his nursery and placed under the protection of a coach of repute. He is receptive to advice and ready to learn which makes the time ripe for progressive improvements. The Golf Union has a responsibility they cannot shirk any longer as there is no doubt Golf needs a top professional. A mould has to be made for de Soysa and the 3 Caddies who have shown exceptional skill need to have some of their rough edges polished. 

If the Carrom Society could bring in a record holding Coach to encourage their fold of enthusiasts why cannot the Golf Union and Royal Colombo Golf Club merge on this one major issue and bring in a responsible individual with their vast surplus of funds. The standard of Golf in Sri Lanka is absolutely poor and its not too late to chase the talent we saw in Pin Fernando and Nandasena Perera. 

Rover pinpoints

A senior official attached to the Ministry of Sports is never in his seat on Fridays, a day on which vital decisions are taken at the Ministry.

Rover understands that this official has a habit of going out with a member of the fair sex for religious observances and evening get-togethers on such days. No wonder the news is held up!

More the merrier

More officials had accompanied the Sri Lanka team for the 13th Asian Championships, with six observers and all have been funded by the Ministry. No reports are expected from these observers who are having a jolly good time according to reports reaching Rover. Maybe they are having a grand time end even going on shopping sprees like what happened at the Asian Games in Bangkok.

Why no Drug Tests ?

Drug testing was done at the Nationals but not at the National Sports Festival. Rover is made to understand that several athletes used drugs to enhance their performances at the National Sports Festival. What has the AAA got to say about this, and where are the results of the last drug tests? 

Five heads

Five heads were involved in denying the abuse hurled by a cricketer to a past official. The big five had met on the third floor of a certain building down Galle Road and had thought out the plan, which goes on to prove that five heads are better than one.

On the way out

Discussions were on on the phone by a lady-in-command attached to the Ministry of Sports, that there is no conspiracy involved in getting rid of Sugath Tillekeratne. Sugath himself had dug his own grave with his poor performances.

Revoked

The Minister was made to revoke two vital decisions he had made with regards to a coach and the other to a participant at the Sydney Olympics. One was changed on the appeal made by a nother minister and the other on the instructions on an official attached to the National Sports Council. Rover understands that this official had ill-adviced the minister before. The minister better look sharp as this official is up to no good and is holding on to his post to further his interests.

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