Rover Pinpoints........

Is it true?

Next for me

At a price

What a waste

In vain

Rewarded at last

Why no cager tournaments 

Girls assaulted by coach?

Kandy cagers to U.S.A without approval?

Why stop clubs from playing 

Trials again

Fans kept guessing

D.S. Soccer carnival today

According to an official of the OBA, the motive behind is to raise funds for this school's soccer development foundation. (B.W.)

Stiff opposition for Yoga Perera

Colombo Prokarts at Millennium Park widely acknowledged as the cradle of the motor racing, is sponsoring the All-Island Go Kart Championship consisting of six rounds and drivers will compete in the International class, National class, Yamaha class and the Open class.

International Karting Champion, the evergreen Yoga Perera will face stiff opposition from 16-year-old Thomian Dejan De Zoysa who in his first year of Go Karting underlined his talent by being runner up in the Championship, Randy Batcho who annihilated all opposition in the National class will also make a determined bid for championship honours. Two drivers whom you can never underestimate are Romani De Silva and Rohan De Silva who can turn tables on the best. Romani, third, in last year's event was plagued with engine problems but seems confident this year.

In the National Class last year's champion Randy Batcho will have to contend with the dazzling performance of Romani de Silva and new entrants, Andreas Klaus and Niroshan Perera. Last season's solitary female competitor, Shehara de Silva will try to be in the thick of the action this championship.

Zackie Ismail who fought tooth and nail with Sampath Karunarathne before emerging victorious in last year's final round will have Nimal Wimalasuriya, Mickey Selvanayagam and some new drivers in the fray.

The MRA who revived karting two years ago is also expecting a Singaporean driver to compete in the International class on Sunday. He is sponsored in Sri Lanka by Yoga Perera and this augurs well for the future with our Karters also having the opportunity of making reciprocal visits for International Kart meets.

National Billiards Championships in progress at the Race Course

The semi-finals will be played on Thursday July 19.

Players qualified from the districts of Colombo, Kandy, Galle and Nuwara-Eliya will participate in the final round.

The players representing the different districts are, Colombo - 16, Galle - 4, Nuwara-Eliya and Kandy 8 each.

Six players relegated from the last year's national will also participate bringing the number of participants to 42.

The quarter finalists will qualify to play in the nationals.

A high standard of billiards is expected as most of the youngsters are keen and improved. Play commencing at 2 p.m. daily.

Rizvi Farook tops SLARDAR Rally

Pubudu went on to annex the first place in the diesel category driving his Toyota Hilux. In third place and creating bit of an upset was "Miniman" Deshan de Silva and co-driver Rohan Speldawin also in a Toyota Hilux with 155 debits. The experienced pairing of Stefan Furkan and Oiitha Gunaratna drove steadily throughout the three stages to be rewarded with 4th place. Young Dilsard Hamdoon with Zamry Mathany went into the final stage just 2 points behind the winner Rizvi Farouk. Unfortunately Dilsard's Ford Laser developed mechanical problems after Thalawakele and he could not maintain the pace of the front runners. Veteran Mahesh Gammanpila co-driven by newcomers Dilhan Jayawardena drove a brilliant final stage to vault up the leader board and finish in 6th place. Mahesh and Hamdoon had equal debit points of 216.

Team Gajaba which consisted Pubudu Wickrama, Mahes Gammanpila and Nishantha Nambuge driving Toyotas easily won the team award. The lone motorcyclist Shafraz Junaid and Azad Zaifuddin did remarkably well to complete the course despite having a bad fall on the slippery and muddy estates roads. 

Once again the organizers of SLARDAR came up with a perfect performance and all competitors were high praise for the slick organization of this mammoth event.

Results

Risvi Farouk, (Peugeot 205) (Debit points114); Pubudu Wickrama (Toyota Hilux) (125); Deshan de Silva (Toyota) (155); Stefan Furkhan (Nissan Sunny) (193); Dilshad Hamdoon (Ford Laser) (216); Mahesh Gammanpila (Toyota Truenoo) (216); Nishantha Nambuge (Toyota Hilux) (233); Prasanna Ranasinghe (Isuzu Trooper) (247); Mansur Hassen (Toyota Hilux) (270); M. Nafees Faleel (Mitsubishi Pajero) (530).

Team Results: 1 Pubudu Wickrama, Mahesh Gammanpila, NIshantha Nambuge (Team Gajaba), Debit Points (574) 

2. Deshan de Silva, Arjun S. Abeysinghe, Shafraz Junaid (Rally Raiders) (1618)

3. Dilshad Hamdoon, Prasanna Ranasinghe, Ashhar Hameem (Preethi Marble) (1667). 

Stage Winners: Stage 1: Rizvi Farouk. Stage III: Pubudu Wickrama Stage IV: Rizvi Farouk

Class Winners: Motor Vehicle Diesel: 1 Pubudu Wickrama, 2 Dehsna de Silva, 3 Nishantha Nambuge. 

Motor Vehicles: Petrol: 1 Rizvi Farouk, 2 Stefan Furkan, 3 Dilshad Hamdoon. 

Talduwa Rally Cross 2001 on July 22

By M.Shamil Amit

Speaking at a press briefing held at the Army Headquarters, Logistic Commander General M.G.Muthaliph emphasised that last year the Rally was an instant success and the people of the area were looking forward for this event and had been making inquiries and had made a request to have it this year as well. He said that the Army Sports committee is working round the clock not only to prepare this track but also to find safe spectator enclosures since large crowds are expected to watch this spectacular event. 

Motor racing drivers are expected to sieze this opportunity to exhibit their skills and talent on this spectacular track which has grass, loose gravel, a hard soil surface and ashpalt... the only track of its kind in Sri Lanka. All gate money raised at the event will be presented to the Army Welfare Society for use of disabled soldiers. General Muthaliph thanked the KV Club for giving the premises free of charge. 

The Army will be strict on spectators and no one will be allowed to roam about 

Roshan Mahanama's Autobiography 

Roshan Mahanama's autobiography "Retired Hurt" with Ken Peisse was successfully launched in Melbourne on May 11, 2001.

It created quite a sensation in Australia in view of certain frank comments made in his book regarding Australian Cricketers. His numerous fans and cricket-lovers are anxiously awaiting for the launch of this exciting book in Sri Lanka.

Vishva Lekha in association with Roshan Mahanama, have now finalised plans to launch this book in Sri Lanka at 6.30 p.m. on July 31 at the BMICH.

Every effort is being made to make this launch the grandest ever book launch in Sri Lanka. A galaxy of 1500 VIP guests including International Cricket Stars are expected to grace this occasion. Among them will be:

• Tony Greig as the Keynote Speaker 

• Leading Indian and New Zealand Test Stars • Ministers and Members of Parliament 

• Members of the Diplomatic Missions Corps • Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, President Sarvodaya • Past and Present Sri Lankan Cricket Stars • Chairman and Directors of Companies, Corporations and Banks • Principals of Schools • Past and Present Cricket Board Officials • Local and International Media. 

Lanka out to prove their strength in traingular one dayers

By Marlon Fernandopulle

The tournament will be of added importance for all three teams as it will have a direct bearing on the draw for the next World Cup which will take into account all one day games played by each country until September this year since the last World Cup in England in May 1999.

Sri Lanka have proved, time and again, that their strength lies in the one day game. Playing at home gives Sanath Jayasuriya's team the edge over the opponents and the islanders should go in as favourites.In their last appearance in Sharjah the Lankans clinched the Triangular tournament which also featured Pakistan and New Zealand. Since then the Lankans have enjoyed a well deserved break and regrouped in the past eight weeks to prepare for the forthcoming Triangular tournament and the Test series with India.

In addition to coach Dav Whatmore putting the boys through their paces two former Sri Lanka cricketers Rumesh Ratnayake and Lalith Kaluperuma have been helping out with the fast bowlers and spinners respectively. Another feature of the recent sessions has been the additional batting training given to the bowlers as well as the inclusion of bowling allrounders to their squad. All this should help the Lankan team to outsmart their opponents.

India have enjoyed a mixed fortune in the one dayers lately. They won all four league games and lost the final to West Indies in the Triangular in Zimbabwe. Prior to this at home they beat Zimbabwe 4-1 but lost to Australia 3-2. The over reliance on Sachin Tendulkar has been their key problem. Tendulkar has been in devastating form scoring his 29th one day century in Zimbabwe, however when the maestro fails, India falters. Although they have the likes of skipper Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Lakshman, S. Das the Indians rely heavily on Tendulkar's willow and his absence in the team is certain to be a big blow to the team.

Stephen Fleming's New Zealanders will be eager to erase the home defeats against the Lankans earlier this year. New Zealand were beaten 4-1 but later did well to beat Sri Lanka in Sharjah with a depleted side. Their youngsters are full of talent and with the return of the experienced Nathan Astle, Adam Parore, Daniel Vettori and skipper Fleming, the Kiwis will not be easy meat. They have proved in the past that on their day they can beat any team. 

Lanka in Pool one

Sri Lanka will play along side Korea, Malaysia and Czech Republic in which tournament 16 countries will participate.

The others groupings are:

Pool 2 - China, Belgium, Arabian Gulf and Singapore. 

Pool 3 - Hong Kong, Germany, Kasakhastan and India. 

Pool 4 - Chinese Taipei, Denmark, Netherlands and Thailand. Sixteen schools too will scrum down including four combined districts, Ruhunu, Kurunegala, Matale and Sabaragamuwa; Dharmarajah, Isipatana, Kingswood, Royal, St. Anthony's, St Peter's, St Sylvester's, S.Thomas', Thurstan, Trinity, Vidyartha and Wesley.

Roshan makes winning debut for CR

By Bernie Wijesekera

CR sans six regulars due to injury took the field as underdogs. But they fought back to the end with a never-say-die approach to keep their opponents at bay. 

Acting captain Asanga Rodrigo playing with authority, be it in defence or attack, helped CR to dominate the first half. Roshan Peiris playing in the pivotal position of fly-half, was a tower of strength. He fired two penalties in the first half. The youth player who paired off with the seasoned Nishantha in place of injured Bohoran, played intelligently from the base.

For the Havies it was a case of missed opportunities. Just before the short whistle they could have scored with a move created by Antonian schoolboy Tikiri Dissanayake. Sanjeeva Jayasinghe darted to the corner flag, but was stalled by winger Ekanayake.

After the break the Havelocks back division got their act together and scored two tries through Trinity fullback Tisal Jayawardena - an unconverted try 6-5. 

* At NITTAWELA Kandy Youth scored a hard fought 14-11 win over Air Force.

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