Junior boxers leave for India
Five boxers will leave for New Delhi, India to participate in an invitation
boxing meet scheduled to be held from February 1 to 4. The invitation has
been sent by the New Delhi YMCA requesting the ABA to send five junior
boxers to participate in this tournament. Several countries are billed
to take part.
The ABA held trials at the Depot Police to select the five boxers where
over 25 boxers who had been champions and runner up in boxing such as the
T.B.Jayah, Stubbs Shield and Junior championships were invited for these
trials. After the completion of the trials five boxers were selected.
The team comprises two boxers from Seevali MMV Ratnapura and one each
from Carey College, Nalanda and Vidyaratne Horana. The weight category
that the five boxers will be taking part are. Under 45 kg N.I.Sudesh (Carey
College) - Light fly weight. Under 57 kg G. Lal Kumar (Seevali MMV Ratnapura)
- Feather weight. under 51 kg K. Lasantha Seneviratne (Seevali MMV Ratnapura)
Fly weight. Under 60 kg M.L. Prabath (Nalanda College) Light weight. Under
54 kg D.L. Kahatapitiya (Vidyaratne Horana) Bantam weight. The team manager
is S.K.Karunaratne (Secretary ABA) while the coach is Don Leslie of Carey
College.
-MSA
Pakistan women's cricket developing fast-Shazia
By Bernie Wijesekera
The Pakistan's women's cricket tour here is not only to play cricket, but
also to bring about understanding and to further cement fellowship between
the two nations, said its manager Shazia Shabber, in an interview with
The Sunday Times.
Women's cricket has come to stay in Pakistan after our success against
Holland when we won the 7-match one-day series 4-3. The first and last
game was played under lights. The people are aware of women's cricket unlike
in the past.
Q. Are you one of the cogs-in the wheel for the promotion of cricket
among the girls?
A. I am a keen cricket fan and support the sport. Further I am
the manager since 1998. Today its wings have spread to schools and colleges.
It's developing fast.
Q. Is there outside support or assistance given by the controlling
body?
A. No. But well-wishers and lovers of the game are assisting
us. One of them is the present President of the PCB, Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia.
He is personally assisting the association. The Karachi National Cricket
Stadium is made available to us to train with all facilities.
Most of the members of the tour party are school girls and the average
age is under 20.
The headquarters is at Karachi. But there are branches in Rawalpindi
and Lahore.
Q. Who made this tour here possible?
A. Two players in the team made it a reality - the captain Shaiza
Said Khan, and her sister Sharmeen. Their father Said Khan, managing director
of United Carpets Ltd., gave total support. He is the main sponsor. He's
a patriotic person, put side his two children playing, in the team.
Q. Any comments of the on-going tour?
A. This is our second tour to Sri Lanka. The first was in April,
1998, in humid conditions. On the present tour the conditions are better
for cricket.
More than winning, the girls have much to learn whilst here. It's cricket-cum-educative
tour. More cricket is off the field. The country's culture, its rich heritage
and their way of life. Both countries belong to the Asian region and we
must live with understanding and help each other. This could be achieved
via sport.
Sri Lanka cricket is very good
Sri Lanka cricket is very good. Even the women are very keen and have the
skills. Mrs. Gwen Herat and her committee have done a good job whilst promoting
the sport at grassroots level. It has borne fruit when Sri Lanka is qualified
to play in the W.C. championship in New Zealand.
Not happy
But, I am not happy with the umpiring. They had to be consistent with their
decision making. Before you pinpoint at others put your own house in order.
From whatever quarter the poor players are made to suffer and at times
apparently they may lose their cool.
There may be human errors but must strive to avoid them. Otherwise it
isn't cricket.
Q. Are there any other tours in the offing for the Pakistani girls?
A. A tour to Scotland and to the West Indies. Plans are afoot
to invite Ireland.
Q. Is there a professional coach to train them?
A. Shakeel Sajjad, an experienced first class cricketer. He played
for Karachi City C.A., from 1985-99 and for National Bank of Pakistan.
Jayaratne creates history
Sanjeewa Jayaratne, the lad from Eheliyagoda Central, created history to
the newly formed Indoor Cricket Association and for Sri Lanka.
For the first time the Lankan team hosted World Cup champions Australia
in a 3 Test series at Talawatugoda.
The first match was played on January 22 amid pomp and pageantry in
a carnival atmosphere. It ended in an enthralling finish. The Aussies made
88 in 16 hours. The Lankans were 84 and had to make 5 runs in the last
ball.
Jayaratne, the lad who has never played cricket for his school barring
softball for Ratnapura Sivali Olympic Club had all fans agog with a straight
six to dent the Aussie unbeaten record.
Jayaratne, a talented young all rounder, now turns out for Tamil Union
and is employed at Access. He thanked The Sunday Times initially giving
him that much needed exposure to play in the big league. It helped me tremendously
and to Asoka de Silva, the international umpire who helped me.
The Austasia Sports Foundation is the brainchild of former Peterite,
Cedric Anthony, who is its chairman. It's being financed by him, said its
general manager Sanjeewa Weerasinghe.
Cedric now domiciled Down Under. The biggest breakthrough was when the
Lankan team created a new dimension, beating three times W.C. champs Australia
in a thriller.
That too, within six months after taking to competitive indoor cricket.
Today more schools and schoolboys indulge in indoor cricket. Some of the
club cricketers, too have opted for the shorter game, due to time factor,
Weerasinghe said.
Anthony has also helped us with an Aussie coach Craig Slocombe. Within
the short period Craig has done a fine job with his charges. Last July
2001, the Lankans toured Australia, won six matches in a 7-match itinerary,
speaks well for his experience.
The president Salinda Dissanayake, secretary V.C. Karunasena and the
Ex-co which include Romesh Kaluwitharane, S. Weerasinghe, Chitral Amarasiri,
Indunil Anthony and Rukmal Seneviratne had done an excellent job. Before
long they will be having a swimming pool squash and badminton courts, too,
all under lights.
The stadium was completed in May 2001. This was entirely funded by Austasia
Sports Ltd.
BW
Neville: Football's honest custodian
Neville is no more. He fought his last battle as painstakingly as he championed
the many causes of sport, especially that of Football. But like everything
in life, there is a time to hang up one's boots, and take your rest.
What made Neville different, was that he more than many others, became
the watchdog of many a sport in this country, speaking out against injustice
and officialdom, and seeking above all, the rightful status of the player
and his or her performance.
However it was to Football that he gave his all. Over the many decades,
he became the doyen of the game, supervising as if it was his right the
destinies of Sri Lankan Football. As a coach, he produced some of Sri Lanka's
best players in recent times, many of whom have taken on the mantle from
him. As an administrator he brought to the game unremitting discipline
that he practised on the field. Many will bear testimony to the scathing
criticism he made when convinced that a wrong move was in the making. And
many will remember that Neville would be the last to back down when he
felt that a principle was at stake.
I had the opportunity to encounter Neville as a colleague in two distinct
Football administrations, first in the Board of Control and later in the
new Federation. During both occasions, Neville oversaw the Technical Divisions
and persevered to induce an element of professionalism into the game. I
recall driving to his home in Maligawatte on most evenings during the mid-80's,
to consult and plan the structuring of Football Development into a sustainable
long term programme. The Junior Programme, we fashioned was one of this.
The sponsorships that gave such a fillip to the game was another collaboration,
I particularly enjoyed. Of course, there were the many debates we had in
matters such as this, but never did I doubt for a moment where Neville's
heart lay, and I was always the richer for it.
Neville has left us a void very difficult to fill. The many people who
attended his funeral stood in a pained silence knowing that a strong voice
for justice in sport was no more. Neville was the custodian of Football,
never mind who was in charge. As I slowly walked away from Kanatte that
evening, I could not help but wonder if the dazzle that Football once enjoyed,
had also left with him.
-Trevor Reckerman
Veteran cagers go international
The Sri Lanka veterans Basketball Association is to take part in the World
Masters Basketball Tournament scheduled to be held in Melbourne. Australia
in October2002.
The renowned World Masters Basketball Tournament, conducted for different
age groups under seven categories, is to draw teams from all over the world
and is regarded as one of the most popular sports events in Australia.
Contestants to represent Sri Lanka at the tournament will be selected
from those who have already represented Defence Services, Mercantile Sector,
Nationalized services, Police, Sri Lanka schools,all provinces in the island
and players who earlier represented the country, districts or provinces
at the National Tournaments conducted by the Basketball Federation.
Trials to select the pool for the tour will be held at the Royal College
indoor gymnasium during February 2,9,16, and 23 (Saturdays) beginning at
6.30p.m.
The Sri Lanka Veterans Basketball Association offered entry into two
age group categories ;(a)45-49years of age (b) 50-54years of age, The age
limits will be determined as of December31,2002.
Sri Lanka to meet Pakistan today
Sri Lanka will open its bid to qualify for a semi-final place in the ICC
Under-19 World Cup by playing Pakistan on Lincoln No 3 Today.
The Super League draw has been made after all the preliminary round
games were completed on Friday with Sri Lanka qualifying in the same side
of the League as India, West Indies and Pakistan.
The other side of the draw has New Zealand, Australia, South Africa
and England.
Sri Lanka's other games will be against India at Lincoln on Tuesday
and West Indies at Christchurch on Thursday.
The other game scheduled to be played in the super league today is between
India and West Indies at Bert Sutcliffe Oval
 Thomian
Schoolboy Jeewan Mendis
In the first round matches Sri Lanka lost to Namibia, won against Zimbabwe
and no result against New Zealand in the opening match due to rain.
Thomian Schoolboy Jeewan Mendis is in sparkling form with the bat scored
two half centuries so far and also took seven wickets with his right arm
leg spinners against Zimbabwe.
 Charith
Sylvester(Wicketkeeper)
Wicketkeeper DeMaznod schoolboy Charith Sylvester created a world record
by taking eight victims behind the stumps including four stumpings against
Zimbabwe in the final first round match. His performance was an Under-19
world record and is probably the best wicket-keeping performance in international
cricket at any level.
Chief scores of first round matches played by Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka v New Zealand: Sri Lanka 85/2 (19.5 overs) Sumalka Perera
35 n.o., Jeewan Mendis 13 n.o. - No decision
Sri Lanka v Namibia: Sri Lanka 141 all out in 40.5 overs (Jeewan Mendis
57)
Namibia 146/6 in 44.3 overs - Sri Lanka lost by four wickets.
Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe: Sri Lanka 206/9 (Sumalka Perera 57, Jeewan Mendis
57, Charith Sylvester 36) Zimbabwe 143 (Jeewan Mendis 7/19) Sri Lanka won
63 runs.
Sajith and Kalpani TT champs
By M.Shamil Amit
Sajith Priyadharshana of Sri Devananda College Ambalangoda and Kalpani
Herath of Girls High School Kandy emerged champions at All Island Table
Tennis tournament held at the Madampe MV and the Fisheries Sports Complex,
hall. The tournament was organised by the Table Tennis Association of Sri
Lanka and the Southern Table Tennis Association.
Five hundred and seventy three boys and girls from eighty nine schools
participated in this tournament. In the boys Under 17 final Sajith Priyadharshana
defeated Tharindu Samaraweera of S.Thomas Mt Lavinia in three straight
sets and Kalpani Herath overcame Chandi Hansa of Sri Devananda College
Ambalangoda. Kalpani Herath won the Under 15 prize. The Chief Guest was
Vajira Abytwardena Minister of Public Administration.
Results:
Boys: Under 9 - Chameera Ginige (Dharmasoka College) beat Sanka Dananjaya
(Dharmasoka).Under 11- Shantha Ganegoda (Royal Colombo) beat Milindu Keerthiratne
(St Sylvesters). Under 13 - G.M.Liyanage (Dharmarajah Kandy) beat Samudhita
Ishan (Sri Devananda). Tharindu Samaraweera (S.Thomas Mt Lavinia) beat
B.C.Chaturanga (Sri Devananda). Under 17 - Sajith Priyadharshana (Sri Devananda)
beat Tharindu Samaraweera (S.Thomas Mt Lavinia).
Girls: Under 9 - Pavithra Gimhani (Dharmasoka) beat Harindra Weerakoon
(Maliyadeva Kurunegala). Under 11 - Dinusha Manori (Sri Devananda) beat
Naduni Abeygunawardena (Girls High School Kandy). Under 13 - R.Wijekoon
(Maliyadeva) beat Shimali Wimalaratne (St Paul's Convent Kurunegala). Under
15 - Kalpani Herath (Girls High School Kandy) beat Nelum Gunasekera (Dharmasoka).
Under 17 - Kalpani Herath (Girls High School) beat Chandi Hansa (Sri Devananda). |
