The 14th ITF Junior World Ranking tennis championships for boys and girls under-18 years of age has attracted over 30 foreign participants to be hosted by Sri Lanka at the SLTA Courts at Greenpath.
This championships, partly sponsored by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and co-sponsored by Aggreko International, will be held from tomorrow, January 27 to 31.
Ten countries have already confirmed participation with the break-down being: India (13), Pakistan (2), Chinese Taipei (2), UAE (1), Austria (4), Switzerland (2), Italy (1), Czech Republic (2), England (2) and Slovakia (1). Last year only seven countries participated.
The winner of the boys and girls singles and doubles will receive 40 international points, while the losing semi-finalists will get 30 points and the quarter-finalists 20 points each and the pre quarter-finalists 10 points each.
Suresh Menon, the ITF Central Development Officer for Asia will be the championships co-ordinator, which has been given a Group rating.
The last year's winners were:
Boys singles - Harsh Mankad (India).
Boys doubles - Yang-Yi-Ping and Hung-Tuo-Wei (Chinese Taipei).
Girls singles - Selutina Irina (Kazakastan).
Girls doubles - Selutina Irina and Daniela Politech (Austria).
(AF)
Table leaders Bloomfield consolidated their position further as they set the stage for an outright victory over Kalutara TC in a P Sara Trophy game at Reid Avenue yesterday.
After hitting an imposing 432/3 in their first innings Bloomfield bowled out their opposition for a paltry 125.Enjoying a lead of 307 runs the home side batted a second time and declared at 250/8 setting the visitors 557 for an outright victory.Kalutara replied boldly to be 63/1 at close.
Dashing opener Romesh Kauwitharana struck a beligerent century to help Colts to a formidabe 340/2 in reply to the Antonians first innings of 303 all out.Kaluwitharana blasted the Antonian attack to all corners of the field to hit 21 boundaries and 2 sixes in his unbeaten 137.Together with Sajith Fernando (82 n o )Kaluwitharana added 229 in an unbroken 3 rd wicket stand to help Colts to a commanding first innings total.
Galle CC created the seasons biggest upset when they grabbed first innings points from title favourites SSC.After bowling out SSC for 196 Galle hit up 220 in their first innings.However SSC came back strongly to be 259/5 in their second innings.Marvan Atapattu led the way as he marked his return to form with a timely century.SSC will be looking at an early declaration to force an outright victory today.
At Reid Avenue: Bloomfield vs Kalutara TC
Bloomfield 432/3 & 250/8 decl.(Nilantha Bopage 57 Ruwan Kalpage 50 Ruchira Palliyaguru 73 Priyantha de Silva 3/94 Ramesh Perera 2/25 Saman Fonseka 2/56)
Kautara TC 125(Saman Fonseka 29 Ruwan Kalpage 3/38 Kumara Dhrmasena 4/27 Priyankara Wickrema-singhe 2/2 ) & 63/1(N Tilekaratne 32 n o )
At Havelock Park: Colts SC VS Antonians SC
Antonians SC 303 (Pasan Wanasinghe 110 Nalaiha Devarajan 29 Dinuk Hettiarachchi 3/57 Chaminda Vaas 2/91 Tilan Saaraweera 3/43)
Colts SC 340/2 (Dulip Samaraweera 35 Sajith Chanaka 66 Sajith Fernando 82 n o Romesh Kauwitharana 137 n o )
At Havelock Park : BRC vs Sebestianites
Sebestianites 340 (Asela Fernando 92 n o Wende Labrooy 4/102 Lalith Sagara 3/74)
BRC - 204/5(Mahesh Raapakse 66 Indika Gala-goda 81 Anura Perera 5/26)
At Galle : Gale CC vs SSC
SSC 196 & 259/5 ( Marvan Atapattu 100 n o Nisal Fernando 77)
Galle CC 220 (P Sudarshana 57 Nuwan Soyza 3/23)
Evenly poised
The Panadura SC - Singha SC game was eveny poised with Singha having to make 240 runs for an outright victory.
Panadura SC 169 & 176 ( S Liyanage 32 A Bandua 4/63 S Jayantha 2/9)
Singha SC - 90 & 11/0
The tussle for positions in the National Olympic Committee (NOC) is hotting up between two contenders for the posts of Chairman and Secretary General.
The elections are due in March this year.
The contenders for the post of Chairman are Mannilal Fernando and Reggie Ranatunga, while Ranil Dias and H.U. Silva are the contenders for the Secretary General's post.
Fernando is presently a Vice President of the NOC and President of the Football Federation, while Ranatunga is the President of the Volleyball Federation.
While Fernando will be seeking election for another term as President of the Football Federation, Ranatunga has to step down as President of the Volleyball Federation since his term comes to an end after his tenure of holding office for two years according to the "Sports Law".
Sport lovers only hope is, that the better man wins.
In the contest of the Secretary General, Ranil Dias, Secretary of the Yachting Association and Assistant Secretary-General of the NOC will be contested by H.U. Silva, a Vice President of the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) and Director, Sugathadasa Stadium Complex.
The present Chairman and Secretary-General, Roy de Silva and Prema Pinnawela of the NOC have been debarred from re-contesting these posts because of an amendment to the "Sports Law", passed during the tenure of office of the former Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Nanda Mathew.
Minister Mathew brought this amendment to stop any official of holding office for more than two consecutive terms.
It is also discussed in sporting circles that the present Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, S.B. Dissanayake is considering in keeping in line with the NOC format of holding elections once in four years to enable those holding office in the National Governing Bodies in sport to follow-suit.
Once a new Chairman and Secretary-General are elected it is their duty to find out whether monies given through the International Olympic Committee Grants to the respective controlling bodies for sports, has been put to good use.
Meanwhile it is also learnt that two other contenders for the Chairman's post Ranjith Weerasena and Hemasiri Fernando are not keen on facing a contest with Mannilal Fernando and Reggie Ranatunga but are showing a willingness to take up the post if elected uncontested.
A good all-round performance by Mark Fernando helped St. Joseph's to gain a convincing ten wickets win over Royal in the Centenery Inter School cricket match concluded at Reid Avenue yesterday.
Mark Fernando struck a swashbucking 72 in just 43 balls and later captured 3 for 15 in Royal's second innings to send the Reid Avenue lads tumbling to their fifth defeat.
In reply to Royal's 195 for 8 declared, St. Joseph's hit up 268 for four before declaring at lunch. Mark Fernando 72 n.o and skipper Trevin Mathews (64 n.o) put on an unbroken 122 runs in an entertaining fifth wicket partnership that paved the way for an early Josephian declaration.
Royal - 195 for 8 dec and 141 (Umesh Goonewardena 64, Ruchira Jayasuriya 22; Mark Fernando 3 for 15, Dayan Woutersz 2 for 16, Amindha de Mel 2 for 30, Chaminda Fernando 2 for 30)
St. Joseph's - 268 for 4 dec (Monta Perera 29, Charinda Fernando 20, Trevin Mathews 64 n.o, Mark Fernando 72 n.o; Lasantha Liyanage 3 for 76) and (Charinda Fernando 41 n.o, Janaka Jayasuriya 24 n.o)
St. Sebastians Moratuwa gained their sixth win for the season when they trounced St. Anne's Kurunegala by a innings in the Inter-School cricket match concluded at Moratuwa yesterday.
Nimesh Perera, the St. Sebastians skipper, was the main architect of the victory scoring 143 and taking a match bag of 11 wickets for 76 runs.
St. Sebastians - 305 for 6 (Nimesh Perera 143)
St. Anne's - 138 overnight, a out 144 (K.Hathurusinghe 47, N.Iddagoda 29, S.Mendis 26; N.Perera 6 for 58, N.Fernando 2 for 20) and 58 (K.Hathurusinghe 10, S.Perera 10; Niesh Perera 5 for 18, A.Mendis 3 for 15, N.Fernando 2 for 12)
Set to make 209 in 20 overs S. Thomas' Mt. Lavinia were 193 for 5 in their Inter-School cricket match with Prince of Wales, Moratuwa which ended in a draw yesterday at Moratuwa.
Thomians, who took up the chase, scored 107 for the loss of one wicket and in 15 overs were 154 for one when Janaka Siriwardena was out for 98 after which the Thomians played it safe and settled for the draw.
Earlier Nilantha Cooray scored 121 with nine boundaries and seven sixes for Prince of Wales.
Prince of Wales - 198 (H.Fernando 54, S.Peiris 54 n.o; N.Ratwatte 5 for 27, R.Mahapatuna 2 for 36, N.Peiris 2 for 24) and 267 for 7 dec (K.Fernando 44, N.Ratnayake 26, C.Gaketiya 23, N.Cooray 121; S.Mednonza 4 for 60)
S. Thomas' - 158 for 2 overnight, 257 for 8 dec (R. Weerarane 34, U.Fernando 81, B.Karunaratne 59, N.Pieris 40; S.Pieris 5 for 62, S.Jayantha 2 for 67) and 193 for 5 (U. Fernando 19, J. Siriwardena 98, B.Karunaratane 38, R.Fernando 25, C.Galketiya 3 for 60).
Moratu V beat St. John's by 8 wkts
Set to make 54 in five overs, Moratu Vidyalaya scored 54 for two to gain an eight wickets win over St. John's Panadura at Moratuwa yesterday.
St. John's - 125 (Tilak Kumar 32; C.Buddhika 3 for 44) and 206 (C.Kumara 21, K.Niroshan 21, D.Ravindra 25, C.Buddhika 32, T.P.Thenuwara 22; R.Aponso 2 for 37, N.Chaminda 2 for 17, C.Dilruk 2 for 18, .Wickremanayake 2 for 32)
Moratu V - 278 (R.P.Jayasiri 71, Dhamika Wickremanayake 55, R.Aponso 23, H.Chaminda 28, L.P.Perera 34) and 54 for 2 (R.P.Jayasiri 24, A.Aponso 25 n.o)
Galle CC, one of the oldest provincial clubs playing cricket is on the verge of closing up because it cannot meet the expenses of taking part in tournaments.
They are depending for the Board of Control for Cricket to release monies due to them, since the current office bearers could not be penalised for no fault of there's.
The newly elected President of Galle CC explained that the club was in a bad financial state due to the monies due to them, being held back by the Board.
No account was made available to the Galle CC funds spent during the 1994/95 season.
The temporary statement submitted by the auditor cannot account for Rs. 7 million. The membership has called on the President to handover the matter to the CID for investigation.
According to the annual report of the Cricket Board, Rs. 15,000 have been given as a grant to Galle CC for 1994/95 by the then Board President who was also President of the Galle CC, which the current President mentioned as money "given by the right hand to the left hand".
Furthermore the office bearers of the 1994/95 period held a raffle which brought in nearly Rs. 700,000/-.
Monies have been spent, no winners were found. All were losers under the tenure of office of the former President, the current President states.
The President also added that the club auditors had pieced together the expenditure on the Stadium Development with greatest difficulty, where receipts for small sums have been obtained from some of the past committee and members and the membership. About 75 members present unanimously approved what was submitted, as this has to be given to the Board who are asking for a statement before releasing the sponsorship money from the Board to Galle CC.
The President added that a contract for Rs. 3 million has been given without calling for tenders.
Hatton National Bank retained the Mercantile League A Division and Mixed titles, conducted by the Mercantile Amateur Athletic Federations (Netball Section) and sponsored by Masons Mixture Limited and played for the Ronuk Trophy at Police Park.
In the A Division final, which was a repeat of last year, saw the Bank lasses snatch the trophy by 45 goals to 32, after leading in their respective quarters at 9-8, 14-12, 11-5 and 11-7.
In the Mixed final HNB beat Sampath Bank by 16 goals to 14, in a hotly contested match after being led by 8 goals to 5 at the half-time.
Textwood Industries won the B Division title, downing Reckit and Colman by 26 goals to 21, having led by 13 goals to 11 at the half.
Caravan Bakery and Pastry Shop had a winning debut defeating the favourites HNB "B" by 20 goals to 10, leading 14-4 at the breather.
Best shooter - Rangika Mahawatta (Caravans).
Best centre court player - Thushani Kodituwakku (HNB).
Best defence player - Somitha Kumari (HNB).
Best male player - Maxwell Saranapala (HNB).
Smartest team - Hemas Group.
Best team spirit - Polytex Garments.
Netball Queen - Thushani Kodituwakku (HNB).
(AF)
The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, S.B. Dissanayake in an exclusive interview with "The Sunday Times" confirmed that he had spoken to the President of the National Amateur Aquatic Sports Union (NAASU), Henry Perera regarding the removal of the suspensions on the four swimmers.
The Minister told "The Sunday Times" that he had requested the President NAASU to invite the parents of the four swimmers and the four swimmers themselves to a meeting at his Ministry, where the Minister himself would announce the immediate removal of the suspensions in the presence of the NAASU officials.
The Minister further told "The Sunday Times" that he took this decision since they were schoolboys and, specially, taking into consideration the talent of both Marlon S. Delano and Asela Pradeep who are certain medal prospects at the forthcoming SAF Games in Nepal in September this year. (AF)
N.S. Paramanathan will be the first junior tennis player from Sri Lanka to represent the ITF Central Asian team for boys under-14 in their 6th ITF East Asian Circuit championships in Thailand.
This championships will be played in Chiengmai from March 8 to 22.
The circuit will follow the same format as the recent event in Delhi.
Fine off spin bowling by Nuwan Jayawardena who captured 6 for 55 off 29.1 overs, of which 11 were maidens, restricted Trinity to 178 in their Inter-School cricket match with Ananda which ended in a draw at Asgiriya Stadium yeserday.
Ananda who batted for the whole of Friday, made 271 for 5 and declared. Skipper Indika Konara made a top score of 78 while .Perera contributed 66.
Trinity who were without their skipper Kumar San-gakkara made 178 in their firs innings with Sudanga Fernando (31 n.o), Indika Gunawardena (20), D.Weeraratne (26), K.Weeraratne (26) making valuable contributions. N.Jayawardena (6 for 55) and Jithendra Perera (4 for 22) bowled best for Ananda.
Ananda, who had a first innings lead of 93, made 54 for 4 and declared in their second innings off 12.4 overs. S.Maratota bowled well for Trinity to take 3 for 7.
Trinity were 14 for 1 off six overs at the close.
Cricket Board President, Mr. Upali Dharmadasa has blamed The Sunday Times for the fiasco created by the alleged muzzling of former coach Dave Whatmore.
Answering questions at a press conference held to introduce Bruce Yardley to the media, the CB President was critical when he said, "It was on a Saturday afternoon that a journalist from a newspaper telephoned and wanted me to give him permission to speak to Whatmore. I refused and the next day it was reported in a haphazard manner and was blown out of proportion".
The newspaper referred to was The Sunday Times and the article was titled "Cricket Board clamps total censorship " (S/T of 18/08/96.) He went on to say that there was no such censorship on Whatmore and he was only required to obtain permission which he got at all times.
With Dave Whatmore not in the picture at present we do not intend to unearth the past. However we would like to answer the allegations that have been levelled at The Sunday Times.
Firstly if The Sunday Times story on the censorship was blown out of proportion, why didn't the CB seek a clarification or a correction to the story?
It is the usual case with the CB and any other story involving the CB. Todate The Sunday Times has not received any clarification on that story. Although the CB President states today that Whatmore was given permission to speak to the media whenever he asked, why was the media not permitted to interview Whatmore during the last few months?
If, according to Mr. Dharmadasa no censorship was imposed on Whatmore, why did the former coach refuse to speak to journalists saying that the CB hierarchy has instructed him not to speak. Infact none of the journalists were successful in getting an interview with Whatmore after August 1996 until the time he left.
Mr. Dharmadasa also went on record when he told a journalist that the censorship on Whatmore - will be only until the Australian team departs after the Singer Four Nation tournament which was reported in a newspaper on 15/11/96. If there was no censorship on Whatmore why was this statement made?
According to Mr. Dharmadasa the coach had to seek permission even before the Singer Four Nation tournament.
It must be stated at this juncture that The Sunday Times had a formal interview with Dave Whatmore (July 14, 1996) before the Singer tournament and no such permission was obtained by Whatmore or the journalist from any official of the Cricket Board. Similar interviews were given by Whatmore to other English and Sinhala newspapers and the electronic media.
Mr. Dharmadasa also stated that the censorship on the coach was nothing new but something that existed in the CB constitution and was followed by previous Cricket Boards as well, where the coach had to seek permission from the CB Secretary.
We have no intention in questioning the CB constitution on this matter, but we spoke to a former Secretary of the previous Cricket Board.
Former Sri Lankan Captain Anura Tennekoon who was the CB Secretary during 1994/95 said, "Whatmore was given permission to speak freely to the media during my term and therefore it was never necessary for Whatmore to obtain permission before every single media interview. It was only during a foreign tour that the coach was required to seek permission from the manager before speaking to the media".
For Sri Lanka's new coach Bruce Yardley, the inaugural news conference would be something he would like to forget.
The verbal battle between the journalists and the Cricket Board President on that day would not have been what the former Australian Cricketer expected.
St. John's College, Panadura, scored its second successive victory when they defeated St. Mathew's College Dematagoda by ten wickets in their inter-school cricket encounter played at Panadura.
St. John's - 226 (R. Asela 73, C. Buddhika 67, K. Niroshan 26, T. Kumara 29, P. Priyashantha 3/47, P. Ranatunga 2/27) and 30 for no loss (N. Jayalath 22 not out).
St. Mathew's - 107 (C. Ramanayake 24, M. Indika 20, N. Jayalath 5/26, T. Kumara 3/12) and 147 (R. Farzan 28, P. Ranatunga 26, N. Jayalath 3/5, C. Buddhika 3/20).
Bridge (men and women), Yachting and Physical Culture have been added to the Robialac Colours Nite with their nominees to compete for the title of Most Popular Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year 1996.
The most popular sportsman and sportswoman will be picked from the votes received which will be indicated in the perfected coupons published in the daily newspapers. The publishing of coupons ends on March 12.
This grand show will be held on April 5 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.
Entries will close with Robialac Colours Nite, C/o Lankem Paints Ltd., P.O. Box 1993 Colombo.
(AF)
Former National Golf champion Mrs. Yvonne Abhayaratne is presently leading the Galadari Grand Prix for 1996/97 which event is one of the highlights of the Ladies Golf Calendar at the Royal Colombo Golf Club.
The Ladies Grand Prix is made up of 16 medal rounds played through the year which reflects the consistency of the golfers during the year.
The final round will be played this month, which is being organised by Mrs. Manthri Perera who has been the key person in organising this tournament.
The other places for the final round are: Mrs. H. Lourensz, Mrs. K. Herath, Mrs. S. Selvaratnam, Miss. S de Silva, Mrs. N. Jayatilleka, Anuk Chanmugam, Mrs. B. Jayaweera.
MONTE CARLO, (Reuter) - Dean Capobianco, the Australian sprinter facing a four-year ban after a positive test for anabolic steroids, will present his case to the international Amateur Athletic Federation's arbitration panel next month.
The IAAF, who had asked for more time to examine Capobianco's evidence, announced on Friday the panel would meet on February 8-9 to discuss his claims that a positive dope test in Hengelo, Netherlands in May last year could have been caused by eating contaminated meat.
"I have irrefutable scientific evidence showing the IAAF have known for years that athletes can test positive for some of their banned drugs simply eating meat contaminated by the same drugs," Capobianco said recently.
The IAAF, as in the Modahl case, claim their case is watertight and reiterated on Friday they believe Capobianco should not have been allowed to compete.
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