Lanka Lions athletic meet

Outstation talent unearthed in Colombo

The inaugural Lanka Lions Sports Club Junior Athletic meet had attracted a record 1327 boys and girls in the age groups of under 12,14 and 16 sponsored by Milo concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

Pasanna Srilal of Anuradhapura and Shymalie Lakmalie of Hambantota bagged the under 16 boys and girls challenge trophies with noteworthy performances in the 200 metres event respectively.

Sri Lanka clocked 23.9 seconds and was awarded the E.K.W. Gunawardena challenge trophy for boys under 16 and Lakmali was awarded the Ramani Mangalika challenge trophy for girls under 16 winning the 200 metres in 27.5 seconds.

Irosha Dilmini Ranaweera of Colombo was awarded the girls under 14 Damayanthi Darsha challenge trophy winning the 200 metres in a time of 28.8 seconds and Madushan Bogahawatta of Colombo was awarded the Sugath Thillakaratne challenge trophy for boys under 14 winning 200 metres in 26.2 seconds.

The Sriyani Kulawansa challenge trophy was won by Malsha Jayamaha of Colombo for her winning the girls under 12 100 metres in 14.9 seconds.

Viraj Charitha Vithana of Colombo was awarded the Chinthika de Soysa challenge trophy for winning the boys under 12 100 metres in 14.2 seconds.

The Silver medalist at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and the bronze medalist at the Asain Games in Bangkok last year Sriyani Kulawansa was the chief guest and gave away the awards with Sunil Wickremasinghe the Sales Manager of Nestle Lanka Limited the guest of honour. The results.

High Jump - Boys U 12 - Final

1. K.C.L. Wijesinghe - Gampha 1.30m, 2. Nadeesha Rangana - Puttalam 1.25m, 3. E.M.S. Ekanayake - Kurunegala 1.25

Shot Putt-Girls U 16 - Final

1. H.B. Niluka Hitibandara - Kurunegala 8.06m, 2. Menaka De Silva - Colombo 8.02m 3. T.M. Thushari Thennakoon - Badulla 8.01, 4. Sunethra Naghawatte - Colombo 7.84

Long-jump - Boys U 14 - Final

1. S.D. Kahadawaarachchi - Kurunegala 5.32m, 2. M. Shakeer Abul Nashan - Colombo 5.24, 3. M.A.M. Altha - Kandy 5.14, 4. A.G. Dinesh Kumara Gunasinghe - Polonnaruwa 5.10, 5. W. Chathima Maduranga Dayarathne - Colombo 4.92, 6. W.R. Jayawardena - Kurunegala 4.90, 7. Siran Ashitha - Gampaha 4.78

High Jump - Girls U 12 - Final

1. B.M.N.K. Basnayake - Kurunegala 1.28m, 2. D.N.S. Udayangani Nelumdeniya - Kegalle 1.26, 3. R.D. D. Lenora - Galle 1.25, 4. M. Lahiruni Madushani - Colombo 1.24

Long Jump - Girls U 16

1. K.H. Samanthi - Galle 5.02m, 2. Madumalie Buddi Kurmari - Galle 4.89, 3. Rasuni Chathurangani Karunarathne - Colombo 4.86, 4. Lakmini Prasadika Jayapala - Kurunegala, 5. R.G. Niluka Priadarshani - Kegalle

300 M Hurdles - Boys U 16 - Final

1. N. Danushaka Alahakoon - Gampha 43.3 sec, 2. G.P.D. Danuka pathirana - Kurunegala 43.6, 3. Mohomad Rished Preena - Colombo 44.0, 4. L.M. Chamara Sankapala Kulasooriya - Anuradhapura 45.5, 5. L.H. Thilaka Ravindra Nadsiri - Kurunegala 46.6, 6. S.P.G.D. Salinda Darmappriya - Kandy 47.6

300 M hurdles - Girls U 16 - Final

1. Lakshila Maduwanthi - Ratnapura 51.3 sec, 2. Chamari Ranbandara - Kurunegala 51.4, 3. Indrani Pieris - Rathnapura 53.9, 4. D.T. Ganga Sarangika - Hambantota 55.1, 5 L. Inoka Perera - Kurunegala 56.5, 6. Janithri Namasena - Kalutara 56.7

Long Jump - Boys U 12 - Final

1. T. W. Pathum Amila Shainda - Rathnapura 4.49sec, 2. E.M.S. Ekanayake - Kurunegala 45.39, 3. Salinda Sampath - Gampha 4.38, 4. Lahiru Prasanna - Rathnapura 4.28, 5. Thilan Sepala Perera - Colombo 4.18, 6. Adeesha Chathuranga 4.06, 7. Sajith Vidma Kumara - Puttalam 4.06, 8. Derick Kumara - Gampha 4.03

Javelin Throw - Girls U 16 - Final

1. K.P.C. Maheshika Karunanayake - Kegalle 28.40m, 2. D.M.A. Priyadarshnni - Kurunegala 27.70, 3. M.B.M. Sudarshiri Nayana - Badulla 25.56, 4. Amali Shanika - Puttalam 25.47

High Jump - Boys U 14 - Final

1. M.A.M. Axahim - Kandy 1.56m, 2. W.L. Klinton Jayamal Puttalam - 1.56, 3. Shiran Asitha - Gampha 1.48

75M - Girls U 12 - Final

1. Malsa Jayamaha - Colombo 11.2 sec, 2. Lalani Seuwandi Banadara - Matale 11.3, 3. Ishali Sulakshika Chandrasekara - Matale 11.5, 4. Nayana Wanigasekara - Gampaha 11.6

75M - Boys U 12 - Final

1. Viraj Charitha Vithana - Colombo 10.7 sec, 2. Ranil Kumara - Gampha 11.5, 3. Derik Kumara - Gampaha 11.6

Long Jump - Girls U 14 - Final

1. E. A. Kosila Erangi Edirisinghe - Kandy 4.86m, 2. S.S. Suleka Buddi Prasadi - Puttalam 4.81, 3. A.A. Madumalie Thilakarathne - Kurunegala 4.56, 4. Ishani Seuwandi Perera Puttalam - 4.43

200 M - Girls U 14 - Final

1. Irosha Dilmini Ranaweera - Colombo 28.8 sec, 2. K.W.S.K. Madushari - Colombo 29.2, 3. W. Nipunika Thiyangani Feranndo - Puttalam 29.5, 4. D.G. Shameera Madushari - Kandy 30.0

200M - Boys U 16 - Final

1. P. Prasanna Sirilal- Anuradhapura 23.9 sec, 2. G.A. Tharidu Eranga - Kalutara 24.1, 3. Janaka Lasantha Nanayakkara - Nuwara-Eliya 24.3, 4. M.R.P. Rithas 24.5

200 M - Girls U 16 - Final

1. P.A. Shyamali Lakamalie - Hambantota 27.5 sec, 2. K.P.C. Maheshika Karunanayake - Kegalle 27.9, 3. W.M. Harshani Wickramasinghe - Kurunegala 28.3, 4. P.G. Niluka Priyadarshani - Kegalle 28.6

200 M - Boys U 14 - Final

1. Harsha Madushan Bogahawatte - Colombo 26.2 sec, 2. A.R.S.I.P. Agalawatte - Kurunegala 26.6, 3. L.M. Attygala - Colombo 26.8, 4. S.D. Kahadawaarchchi - Kurunegala 27.4

Discus Throw - Boys U 16 - Final

1. Y.G. Meeron Ashanka - Hambantota 38.45m, 2. A.M.P.N. Adhikari - Anuradhapura 36.38, 3. D.D. Ranjitha Wanniarchchi - Colombo 34.58

800 M - Boys U 16 - Final

1. A.G. Janaka Chandima Edward - Polonnaruwa 2.07.3sec, 2. S.K. Sumudu Kumara - Kurunegala 2.09.3, 3. K.D.G. Dissanayake - Kurunegala 2.09.7

800 M - Girls U 16 - Final

1. Dilini Rajapaksha - Kandy 2.26.2sec, 2. H.G. Inoka Chathurangani - Anuradhapura 2.29.3, 3. Milani Nelka Gamage - Hambantota 2.29.4, 4. Damayanthi Dissanayake - Kandy 2.29.5

High Jump - Girls U 14 - Final

1. E.K.K. Erangi Edirisinghe - Kandy 1.40m, 2. Ishani Seuwandi Perera - Puttalam 1.34, 3. R.M.D. Ganga Dilmini - Kegalle 1.26

Long Jump - Girls U 12 - Final

1. Ishali Srakshika Chandrasekara - Rathnapura 4.60m, 2. R.D.D. Lenora - Galle 4.12, 3. Malsha Jayamaha - Colombo 4.2

Javelin Throw - Boys U 16 - Final

1. Denver Pereira Colombo 51.02m, 2. Kosala Gavinda Bandara - Anuradhapura 49.69, 3. K. Thusitha Tharanga Pathnapala - Kegalle 46.65

Shot Putt - Boys U 16 - Final

1. I Hettiarachchi - Colombo 11.83m, 2. Denver Pereira - Colombo 11.76 3. S. Suranga Cooray - Colombo 11.33

Long Jump - Boys U 16 - Final

1. K.C.W. Karunanayake - Polonnaruwa 5.99m, 2. M. Sanath Manjula - Kurunegala 5.88, 3. Darshan Kodithuwakku - Colombo 5.87

100 M. Hurdles - Boys U 16 - Final

1. K. A. Indika Bandara - Colombo 15.3m, 2. C. Wimal Chanaka - Anuradhapura 15.5, 3. Ashantha Malia Hettirarachchi - Colombo 15.6, 4. S.P. G.D. Salinda Darmappriya - Kandy 15.8, 5. Chamal Gunathilake - Galle 16.0

100 Hurdles - Girls U 16 - Final

1. M.A. Udeni Priyanika - Kurunegala 17.2 sec, 2. D.M. Maduwanthi Shamila Divakara - Kurunegala 17.4, 3. W.P. Chamari Ranbandara - Kurunegala 18.1, 4. L.P. Madumalie Buddhi Kumari - Galle 18.3, 5. Lakshila Maduwanthi - Rathnapura 19.1, 6. Presangi Mallawawadu - Colombo 19.4

Discus Throw - Girls U 16 - Final

1. M.G.D.M.N.L. Jayasekara - Kurunegala 26.21m, 2. B.K. Bimalie Lakshitha - Colombo 25.15, 3. Osadi Gunasekara - Colombo 24.91

High Jump - Girls U 16 - Final

1. Rasuri Chathurangani Karunarathne - Colombo 1.53m, 2. R.K.A. Priyangika Maduwanthi - Kurunegala 1.53, 3. Chandima Lasanthi Kodikara - Hambantota 1.41

100 M - Girls U 16 - Final

1. P.A. Shyamalie Lakmalie - Hambantota 13.1sec, 2. K.P. Maheshika Karunanayke - Kegalle 13.2, 3. Ashani Fernando - Colombo 13.4

100 M - Boys U 12 - Final

1. Viraj Charitha Vithana - Colombo 14.2 sec, 2. T.W. Pathum Amila Shaminda - Rathnapura 14.4, 3. Thiwanka Ravinath Punchihewa - Ratnapura 14.8

100 M - Girls U 12 - Final

1. Malsha Jayamaha - Colombo 14.9sec, 2. Ishali Surakshika Chandrasekara - Rathnapura 15.0, 3. Nayana Wanigasekara - Gampaha 15.3

100 M - Girls U 16 - Final

1. Janaka Lasantha Nanayakkara - Nuwara-Eliya 51.8sec, 2. Indika Rubasinghe - Badulla 52.9, 3. G.A. Tharidu Eranda - Kalutara 53.5

100 M - Girls U 14 - Final

1. Irosha Dilmini Ranaweera - Colombo 13.4 sec, 2. Nilushika Silva - Colombo 13.8, 3. K.W.S.K. Madushari - Colombo 14.1

400 M - Girls U 16 - Final

1. P.G. Niluka Priyadarshani Gunasinghe - Kegalle 64.6sec, 2. D.M. Niluka Kumudini Dassanayake - Badulla 65.4, 3. K.K. Lakmini Pradeepa Chandrasena - Kegalle 65.7

100 M - Boys U 16 - Final

1. H. Lasitha Silva - Kalutara 12.0sec, 2. M.M. Sanath Manjula Munasinghe - Kurunegala 12.1, 3. Ashantha Malinga Hettiarachchi - Colombo 12.2

100 M - Boys U 14 - Final

1. A.R.S.I.P. Agalawatte - Kurunegala 12.6 sec, 2. S.D. Kahadawaarachchi - Kurunegala 12.9, 3. Harsha Madushan Bogahawatte - Colombo 12.9

High Jump-Boys U 16 - Final

1. A.S. Rifaz Ahamed - Kandy 1.83m, 2. A.A.D. Nalin Priyadarshana - Kurunegala 1.76, 3. M.A.S. Marasinghe - Kurunegala 1.76.

Ton by Milinda

A fluent knock of 122 by Milinda Silva helped D.S.Senanayake total 259 for 4 in their under 15 division 1 Horlicks Trophy inter school cricket tournament against Dharmapala at Pannipitiya.

D.S.beat Dharmapala by 125 runs.

Dharmapala-134 all out. Kanchana Gunawardena 2 for 22. D.S.Senanayake-259 for 4. Milinda Silva 122, Kanchana Gunawardena 40, Yasith Mihiranga 34, Kulanga Tissa 3 for 5

Amateurish batting

The spineless batting display put out by our cricketers in the two recent World Cup matches seem to indicate that there are serious problems other than the batting and bowling etc. It is evident that there are deep-rooted difficulties which call for remedial action which can defy the attempts of coaches and technical advisors. This team is in disarray whenever there is an opposition which plans its strategy, puts up a united front after supplementing each others failures and weaknesses and adhering to the principles enshrined in the game of cricket.

These are obviously psychological problems which are for the team leader to locate and take appropriate action. A team leader like Hanse Cronje can obviously bring out the best in his men and keep then on the frontline in any department of the game. There was so much listlessness in our batting line-up in the recent games that there has to be a fundamental problem which gives rise to this. What they need most is not a coach but psychological advisor. While training and practice are important, there is no substitute for leaderhip and inspiration.

J.S.F.

Introducing the players

Zulfikar a lad with guts and determination

By Ravi Nagahawatte

Wesley's Zulfikar Halimdeen is a ruggerite who is made of guts and determination.

Despite possessing a small frame he says that he sees no real barrier which can stop or slow his progress in his club career.He represents CR and FC in the domestic club competition having successfully completed his school career last year.

Halimdeen enjoyed great success as a schoolboy ruggerite last season when he did his alma -matter -Wesley-proud with a stupendous performance with his kicking boots.

He turned the tide in Wesley's favour many times and what worked as the match winning move by the team's captain on each occasion was the decision to let Zulfikar kick.

His spot kicks almost always found its target.

He was known for being the saviour of the side at times of adversity.

However he never forgets his beginings . He recieved his primary education at St. Anne's Kurunegala before crossing over to Wesley.

Learning his basics under Sanath Martis , Zulfikar showed signs of blossoming into a 'star'when he made it to the St.Anne's College senior team at the age of fifteen.

Two years later his school won the All Island 'B' Division Tournament and his school team had the first taste of playing 'A' division rugby the next year.

However Zulfikar was one among four who were lost to the school the following year . With their successful coach Martis deciding to offer his services to Wesley Halimdeen was left with little choice before switching schools .

"I had to take this decision in order to continue my rugby.

Executing a drop goal or kicking right a crucial penalty was done with such precision that the opponents always feared the lad whenever he placed the ball for a kick.

And from the two versions of the kick it is the drop kick that really gave him his trade mark as a match winner in the rugby field.

"Once I saw a Fijian dropping three goals and equalling a game.

That kicking performance really gave me a message.

From that day I knew the importance of that type of kick and the advancement a side can make by the points it brings".

Zulfikar's first impression of the game was to just pick the ball and run . However as years passed he learned the technical aspects of the game and realised how much he had to learn.

"My coach has sometimes hit me when I made mistakes . He always told us that we were gems who needed to be cut and polished".

Halimdeen's strongpoint is his fearlessness.

He recalls how once he injured his forehand in a match when an opponent's knee got in his way.

"There was a big injury and I wanted to come off . But my brother who was the team's captain said , " get up and play on" . If I had gone off the field that day it would have turned out to be a habit" said Zulfikar who says that one should not be afraid of a another.

"All are human beings , so why fear anyone".

Currently studying for his Advanced Level Examination he says that he stays awake till twelve midnight to study.

Then again he is up in the early hours of the morning to complete his studies which is now hectic with the examination just around the corner.

"Sports are not a hindrance to studies".

"I just want to be a good player" says Halimdeen.

I know only the ABC of rugby . I have a long way to go".

Zulfikar took this oppotunity to thank all who helped to make his sport and accademic career a success.

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