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Lankan spikers lose first game 3-0 Sri Lanka who came out for the first time in the 9th Asian Women's Junior Volleyball Championships here in Trang stadium lost to Thailand in straight sets 3-0 (15-2, 15-2, 15-3). Thais playing superbly completed the three sets in first 56 minutes. Thailand who are with a unbeaten record this year played top quality spiking. Though they were a tough outfit Sri Lankan skipper Nanda Kanthi and Mayadunna played at their best with support coming from team members. D. N. Munasinghe speaking to the media after the match paid a special tribute to Sports Minister and Volleyball Federation for arranging tours of this nature which is sure to improve the standard of Volleyball in Sri Lanka, which also is the national sport. He further added that the experience gained with these kind exposure could be of vital inportance for Sri Lankan spikers who are hoping to win the SAARC tournament. Second day of the championships saw Taipe demolish Malaysia 3-0 (15-2, 15-6, 15-5) while Austrlaia too overcame Vietnam in the same manner 3-0. The Australia - Vietnam game which lasted for little over one hour was umpired by Sri Lankan Preethilal Abeywardena. The final scores read 15-5, 15-4, 15-5. Thailand with four points leads Group 'A' while in Group 'B' Australia and China who gained four points winnning two games are placed on top. Today's scheduled games are Sri Lanka vs Korea, Thailand vs Malaysia, Vietnam vs Singapore and Australia vs Japan. Third
win for Uva soccerites Uva College, Badulla scored their third successive victory when they beat St. Thomas' College, Gurutalawa 2 - 1 in their Under 16 Milo Soccer encounter played recently at the Vincent Dias Stadium in Badulla. Incidentally, St. Thomas' College did not participate in football tournaments for the past decade. They led 1 - 0 at half time. Although Uva College won two of their earlier encounters, they had to struggle hard to beat STC at Badulla and scored their two goals in the last ten minutes. R. M. Rismie scored for STC in the first half while Inoka Udara and A. W. Azoor scored for Uva College. Referee: Keerthi Dissanayake. Ragama CC helped by a fine unbeaten 100 not out by all rounder Tharaka Samarathunga beat Petersons on the first innings in their U-23 match played at Wattala. Petersons were all out for 230 with leg spinners Chandika Hettiarachchi 3/36 and Lucian Wijesinghe 2/47 doing the damage. Ragama CC in reply were in trouble at 75/7. Samarathunga 100 and Chandana Wijeratne 46 added 135 for the 8th wkt to ensure victory. Earleir Sri Lanka U-19 poolist Dammika Vas Gunawardane had made an attractive 84. Petersons going in a 2nd time were reeling at 44/5, in the face of some hostile fast bowling of Antonian schoolboy Indika Perera, at close. Petersons were 91/5. SCORES: PETERSONS 230 all out (L. Lakmal 50, N. Wijesinghe 68, C. Hettiarachchi 3/36, L. Wijesinghe 2/47) and 91/5 at stumps - (N. Wijesinghe 17 not out T. Perera 24 not out - Indika Perera 3/21) RAGAMA CC - 340 for 8 dec (D. Vas Gunawardane - 84, Susil Priyantha 26, T. Samarathunga 100 not out C. Wijeratne 46, D. Vino - 6/131). Bristol University in Cup Final Bristol University emerged winners in the penultimate fixture of the Singer Cup Invitation Rugby Tournament when they beat the tournament favourites and their fellow countrymen - West of England - 22 points to 10 at Longden Place yesterday. The winners thus qualify for the final showdown on Saturday which once again sees both teams locking horns for the award. Victory came easy for the undergrads after a tiring first half where they manged to hold on to a wafer thin one point (6-5) lead. Place kicker Rob Gay-lard underlined his genius as a place kicker by kicking right five penalties and a conversion, and also stood as the match winner of the side by contributing seventeen out of twenty two points. Winger, Charlie Smith, also boosted his teams chance of winning yesterday by adding on the points through a try mid way in the second half. Smith, who began a move almost in mid-field, never looked behind after getting past the first defender and ended up under the posts for a glorious try. Rob Gay-lard's conversion put Bristol University well ahead and their opponents out of the game, but not before West of England scored again through flanker Tim Roles minutes before the end. Second row forward Teby Dodd touched down once for WoE in the first half. SPORTS MINISTRY DOCTOR DOUBTS STEROIDS COULD
BE FATAL The demise of the queen of the athletic track,Jackie-Joyner Kersee in her sleep on Monday has led to much debate.Her death has led to speculation as to whether it was the result of taking steroids.It has caused experts to question as to whether steroids could be fatal to sportsmen . With the debate hotting up,the ‘The Island’ sought the views of Dr.Gethanjana Mendis,attached to the Sports Ministry.He was of the view that steroids cannot be fatally harmful to an athlete."I don’t think steroids could lead to an athletes death.Of course,steroids weaken the bones and muscles", commented Dr.Mendis. Joyner’s sudden death at age 38 is bound to renew debate on the long drawn controversy that has clouded the field of athletics. One of the biggest drug related scandals to hit the athletic scene was the disqualification of Canadian,Ben Johnson who was stripped of his 200 metres title at the Olympics nearly a decade ago. However’DR.Mendis said it was too early to come to a definite conclusion. LANKAN
TT SQUAD JAPAN BOUND A strong Sri Lankan table tennis squad takes wing for Japan tomorrow to participate in the 14th Asian Table Tennis Championships.The championship will be staged from September 27 to October 4 in Osaka. The men’s team will be skippered by 19-year old Thilina Piyadasa who has been entrusted the reins for the first time.The women’s side will be led by Namal Gunasekera,a very experienced paddler.Two youngsters K.S.T.Chalitha of Devananda ,Ambalangoda and Rifka Kameel of Pushpadana BMV,Kandy get a break at international level. The others in the men’s squad are Ravi Vindyan of St.Anthony’s,Katugastota,Rohan Sirisena of Royal College.The women’s squad comprises national champion Deepika Rodrigo,Dilmini Direckz attached to the staff of Poramadulla Central. The men’s captain,Thilina Piyadasa speaking to the ‘The Island’ said that this was a tough tour."We cannot win,but look forward to gaining in experience". Former national champion,Lalith Priyantha will be the coach cum Manager.This is the first time he will be serving in this capacity. Meanwhile,the President of the Sri Lanka Table Tennis Association,Sarath Gunaratne will also travel to Japan to attend the Asian table tennis congress. |
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