• Sugath clinches bronze
• Lanka seventh in overall standing
• Women spikers off to Bangkok
• Shuttle tourney reach Pre/Q
• Joes win by 7 wkts
• M. E. Marikar remembered

Sugath Tillekaratne brought Sri Lanka her first medal, a bronze, when he finished the 400 m event clocking a noteworthy 44.61 secs. behind Ivan Thomas' (Wales) who clocked 44.52 secs. and Mark Richardson (England) 44.60 secs. for Gold and Silver respectively.

Sri Lanka's only medal at this level for athletics was way back in 1948 when the late Duncan White won a Gold in the 440 yards hurdles. Since then no Lankan has reached a final in athletics at the Commonwealth Games. Tillekeratne's entry into the final of this event is a milestone in his career.

Tillekeratne was trailing behind front runners to be in fifth slot for the first 100 meters of the event. At 300 meter mark he was second only to the winner Wales' Thomas. In the final 100 meter stretch he failed to maintain the pace which pushed him a hair's breadth, behind England's Mark Richardson right on the finishing line.

Thomas with this run managed to equal the record held by Richardson.

Tillekeratne improved on his timing in every attempt at this games. Preliminary round he clocked 45.97 secs. and improved again in the second round to record 44.55 secs.

In the semifinal he went further ahead when he was placed second with a timing of 45.09. His improvement at every attempt proved that he is capable of making a better achievement facing stiff opposition in international events of this calibre.

Dharsha at her best

Damayanthi Dharsha facing the toughest opposition for the fourth time in this event after switching on to 400 meter event from short sprints clocked the fastest time in her career when she completed the flat race in 51.06 seconds to be placed forth.

Jamaica's Sandy Richards 50.17 won the gold while Scotland's Alisun Kurbishley 50.71 and K. Frazer 51.01 went away with silver and bronze medals respectively.

Dharsha too gradually made it to the top day by day improving on her timing in every attempt at this meet. In the two earlier attempts she clocked 52.04 and 51.70 secs. to qualify for the final of this event.

Sri Lanka youth women cagers participating at the 14th Asian Youth Cager Championships lost their fifth game to Japan 114-12 points here in Japan.

Sri Lanka was placed fourth in the group with Japan, South Korea and Malaysia occupying the three top positions. In the overall standings Lankan cagers are positioned seventh. Today they will take on Hong Kong in their final game in the group.

Sri Lanka managed to score only 8 points in the first half and 4 points in the second session against Japan's 49 and 65 points.

Lankan cagers tried delaying tactics to keep possession of the ball which resulted in their opponents being awarded the ball in 17 occasions.

In the first half of the game Lankan cagers penetrated the defence successfully but failed to put up the most need finishing touches to collect points to swell their score.

Dilrukshi Heenatigala the skipper booked on five occasions had to leave the court in the second session.

Japanese girls made good use of the rebounds that came their way when Lankans failed to collect clearly.

Coach said he instructed them to have possession of the ball for long periods as he expected the Japanese youth were looking for target of around 150 points. Though they had the possession our girls failed in scoring said the coach Supun Wimal.

The semi finals are scheduled for today between China and South Korea and Japan and Taiwan. The critics say Japan and China could reach the final.

According to coach Sri Lanka is favoured to win today's game against Hong Kong. Hong Kong lost to Uzbekhistan by 5 points and won against India by one point.

This is also the first occasion that Sri Lanka was placed above India in an international tourney of this nature said the coach.

The final of the Championship and the closing ceremony are scheduled for Sunday Sept. 20.

Sri Lanka Women Spikers led by Ruchira Nanda Kanthi will leave the island tonight for Bangkok to participate at the 9th Asian Women's Volleyball Championships.

M. A. J. Frank Fernando is incharge of the contingent while D. N. Munasinghe (Coach), S. D. Sunil de Silva (Asst. Coach) and Madura Kiriella (Physic) accompany the team as other officials.

P. L. Abeysinghe an international referee too will be on tour who is invited by the organisers to officiate at the Championships.

The championships which commences on 22 Sept. is competed by eleven countries. The event reaches its end on Sept. 30.

The tour party — Ruchira Nanda Kanthi (Capt.), Inoka Ishani, Manori Priyadharshani, Minoli Anuruddhika, Thisitha Jayawardene, M. G. J. L. Nayanapriya, Rasika Nilukshi, Tennekoon, Sashika Rasangi Samarasinghe, Suwineetha Karunanayake and Niluka Priyangani Wijesooriya.

The 14th Novices Badminton Championships conducted by the Sri Lanka Badminton Association which began yesterday at the SLBA courts has attracted over 450 entries said the Secretary.

Entries have poured in from Ambalangoda, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala and Colombo. The Tournament has reached the pre-quarter final stage yesterday.

The finals will be worked off on Monday. Commercial Bank sponsors the Tourney.

St. Joseph's College gained a comfortable seven wicket win over De Mazenod College, Kandana in an inter-school cricket encounter at Kandana yesterday.

Joes who were trailing by 30 runs in the first innings managed to bowl out Kandana lads for 101 in the second essay when Ian Daniel 4/36 and A. Wijeratne 2/3 ran through Mazeno-dian batting line up.

Joes reached the winning target easily when D. Ramanayake (59) and Johannes Jayasuriya (48 n.o.) made quick runs to seal victory for Joes.

DE MAZENOD 160 and 101 — (Sumal Chirantha 38, Ian Daniel 4/36, A. Wije-ratne 2/3).

ST. JOSEPH'S — 130 and 133 for 3 (Johan-nes Jayasuriya 48 n.o., D. Ramanayake 59).

The first death anniversary falls today of sportsman and veteran sports journalist from Kandy the late M. E. Marikar.

M. E. Marikar, an old boy of St. Sylvester's College Kandy excelled in many sports for his alma mater. He led the school team in three sports Ñ hockey, soccer and athletics. He also represented the school team at boxing and cricket. He became the first Sylvestrian to play in the premier cricket tournament the Sara Trophy.

Leaving school he took a keen interst in soccer and joined the Young Stars SC from the Kandy district. Later he represented the upcountry, Army, Defence Services, Saunders SC, Colombo and the Greenfield SC. He also had the distinction of leadling the government services team.

Marikar as a middle order batsman and pace bowler represented Moors SC in the Sara Trophy. Later turned up for Army, Kandy Lake Club and Upcountry and the central province. Marikar was also a regular cricketer for the Sri Lanka Press XI during his career as a journalist.

Marikar serving as a sports journalist did everything possible to promote sports in the hill capital. As a journalist he was a prominent figure in Kandy for work towards sports.

The late M. E. Marikar will be remembered by all sports lovers in the central province for his services rendered in promoting sports. - (HM)