Upbeat Sri Lanka looking to emulate Test success in T20s
Sri Lanka will aim to emulate their recent Test success in the shortest format of the game—T20—when they take on the West Indies in a three-match T20 series starting today at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium. The match will begin at 7 p.m. “We can bring the ODI and T20 teams to the level [...]
New Zealand stay in Women’s T20 last-four race with win over Sri Lanka
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, AFP: New Zealand eased past winless Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Set a target of 115, New Zealand cruised to victory. Georgia Plimmer, a 20-year-old opener, hit 53 before captain Sophie Devine smashed the only [...]
Sri Lanka finish fifth in CAVA U-20s
Sri Lanka defeated the Maldives 3-0 to claim the fifth place in the six-nation CAVA Under-20 Men’s Volleyball Championship, organised by the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and concluded yesterday at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo. The Sri Lankan team dominated all three sets, winning 25-12, 25-20, and 25-20 in the match for fifth and [...]
Sabalenka downs Gauff in three sets to reach Wuhan final
Wuhan, China, AFP: Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka fought back from a set down to beat Coco Gauff 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday and reach the Wuhan Open final for the third time. A champion in Wuhan in 2018 and 2019, Sabalenka improved her perfect record in the tournament to 16-0 and will next face Zheng Qinwen, [...]
Djokovic to face Sinner in Shanghai Masters final
Shanghai, China, AFP: Novak Djokovic fought through a knee problem to defeat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) in an “incredible fight” on Saturday, setting up a blockbuster Shanghai Masters final with world number one Jannik Sinner. Earlier the Italian beat Tomas Machac 6-4, 7-5, ensuring in the process that he will finish the year at [...]
Samson ton powers India to T20 series sweep after record total
Hyderabad, India, AFP: Opener Sanju Samson’s blistering century helped world champions India hammer Bangladesh in the final T20 on Saturday to sweep the series 3-0 after they posted the format’s highest total by a Test-playing nation of 297-6. The hosts went past Afghanistan’s 278-3 against Ireland in 2019. The Indian total is the second highest [...]
South Africa boost T20 WC semi-final hopes with Bangladesh win
Dubai, UAE, AFP: South Africa cruised to a 7-wicket win over Bangladesh to edge closer to the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals on Saturday although their tournament destiny lies in the hands of England and West Indies. After limiting Bangladesh to just 106-3 in 20 overs, South Africa reached their target with 16 balls to [...]
Sri Lanka keen to erase two-goal deficit against Myanmar today
The Sri Lankan men’s football team will attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit as they face Myanmar in the second leg of their two-match series at the Thuwanna YTC Stadium in Yangon, starting at 3:00pm today. Ranked 200th in the FIFA rankings, Sri Lanka faces a daunting task against the Myanmar team that is ranked [...]
Cricket Chief Selector in hot waters
The Matale High Court issued an arrest warrant this week for Upul Tharanga, the current Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee, after he failed to appear in court as a witness in an ongoing match-fixing investigation. Tharanga has left the country to participate in a cricket tournament in the United States without notifying [...]
Gayani Weralavithana, Sri Lanka’s first WFF Female Sports Model Pro
Sri Lanka’s Gayani Gisanka Weralavithana became the new Female Sports Model Pro at the Pan Pacific Ragnarok Pro Am 2024, an annual fitness, wellness and bodybuilding competition conducted by WFF New Zealand. The event, which had different categories, was held previous week in Auckland. With the crowing Weralavithana earned the professional division licence presented by [...]
We do need a change in National Sports too!
Now that the winds of change are blowing over our land and a clamor for everything and everyone to change, is resonating like a war cry, one may be fair in posing the question, what about our sports? Only a week ago, the Sunday Times Sports carried the story of the stench in the uppermost [...]
Resolute Ranithma Liyanage eyes World title despite loss in BWF Juniors
In a defining moment for Sri Lankan badminton, 17-year-old Ranithma Liyanage marked her name in the sport’s history by reaching the Round of 16 in the Under-19 Women’s Singles category at the BWF World Junior Badminton Championship, at the Nanchang International Sports Centre in Jiangxi, China. This accomplishment marks a significant milestone, as it is [...]
Sports Ministry seeking AG’s guidance on alleged malpractices by NOCSL officials
The Ministry of Sports is currently awaiting the Attorney General’s opinion on an investigation report concerning alleged malpractices by officials of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL). In response to the investigation, the NOCSL’s Ethics Committee has recommended the immediate suspension of Secretary General Maxwell de Silva, pending further investigations by law enforcement. [...]
NOCSL Secretary General criticises conduct of its EC
Dear Editor/Publisher, We refer to the article published on Sunday, October 6, 2024, titled “EC calls for immediate suspension of NOC Secretary General: Sports Ministry seeks AG’s opinion on best cause of action” in your newspaper in both print and online versions. At the outset, we would like to place on record that the National [...]
SpeedBay to host Sri Lanka’s first-ever 12-hour karting endurance race
The SpeedBay 12 Hours Endurance Karting Championship 2024 is set to take place in Sri Lanka for the first time next Saturday, October 19 at the SpeedBay in Bandaragama. As the inaugural 12-hour endurance competition in the country, it has sparked great anticipation, offering a fresh challenge for racers and a unique experience for local [...]
Speed and more speed tennis, where is it?
In early Victorian days of tennis, playing surface, racquets and the ball were basic and nothing like what we have now. These kept the speed down in tennis. In player development, ball control and the consistency achieved were the parametres of success. At one instant overhead service criticised because of its speed. Speed not considered [...]
Kandy All-Island Open begins
The Kandy All-Island Open Badminton Championship, organised by the Central Province Badminton Association (CPBA), an affiliation of Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), set off yesterday at the Provincial Council Sports Complex in Rajawella, Digana near Kandy. Rated as an SLB Grade I tournament, the Kandy All-Island Open Badminton Championship will consist of five different categories — [...]
Hirusha and Thashara crowned champions at SLB Novices Age Group Championship 2024
Hirusha Abeysinghe and Thashara Jayarathna were crowned champions at the SLB Novices Age Group Championship 2024 concluded at the New Saniro Sports Complex in Naiwala, Veyangoda. Hirusha overcame Gimhana Yagama in straight sets, while Tharasha took the better off Nishadi Thenushika in the Boys and Girls Under-19 Singles finals respectively to emerge winners of the [...]
Mikirhan and Gamage win School Games marathon event
J. Mikirhan and G.N.N. Gamage won the 21km Marathon Boy’s and Girl’s events of the All-Island School Games 2024 held in Dambulla last weekend. Mikirhan of Puwasenkulam Maha Vidyalaya braced the tape first among boys runners, as J. Vidushan of Muththiyankandu of Tamil Maha Vidyalaya finished at second place ahead of D.M.I.D.M. Gamage of Welimada [...]
Ritzbury Sir John Tarbat Schools Athletics Championship 2024 concludes showcasing athletic excellence and sportsmanship
The 92nd Ritzbury Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championship 2024, held from September 30 to October 3 at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo, concluded on a high note, with the nation’s top young athletes showcasing their skill and determination. The event, powered by Ritzbury, a devoted supporter of nurturing Sri Lankan sports, is a celebrated [...]