Navin Samarasinghe (S. Thomas won a thrilling four setter to enter the Boys Under 19 final at the Signature Colonge squash tournament now in progress at Otters Aquatic Club courts yesterday.

Navin Samarasinghe put up a good challenge to experienced Kavinda Cooray (Prince of Wales). Samarasinghe the bottom seed won the first set against Cooray. Samarasinghe had a lead 8-5 in the second set but Cooray equalised 8 all. Navin fought back again to finish the set 10-9. Cooray taking control of the third set won at 9-6.

In the deciding set young Navin playing with determination won at 9-6 to enter the final.

The top seed Hirantha Goonasena defeated Eranga Amunugama to enter the Boys Under 19 final. Both Hirantha and Navin the top seed and bottom seed will clash in the final which could produce a keen tussle.

Unseeded Shazan Zahir created another upset when he overcame bottom seed Hiran Jayasinghe in the Boys Under 13 semi-final in three straight sets 9-5, 9-3, 9-4.

Top seed Harin Perera who beat Jagath Jayarathna in the semi-final will face Zakir in the final on Sunday.

In the women's final Dishna Ranjani meet Kushani Daluwatte.

According to the Secretary of Sri Lankan Squash Federation Padmini Samarasinghe only four entries were received for the women's open singles event which is disappointing.

All finals will be played at Intercontinental Hotel Courts which will be followed by the awards ceremony.

Results:-
• BOYS UNDER 19 (semi finals)
Hirantha Gunasena bt Eranga Amunugama 9-1, 9-0, 9-1, Navin Samarasinghe bt Karinda Cooray 9-4, 10-9, 6-9, 9-6.

• BOYS UNDER 13 (semi finals)
Shazan Zahir bt Hiran Jayasinghe 9-5, 9-3, 9-4, Harin Perera bt Jayath Jayarathna 9-2, 9-0, 9-0.

• WOMENS OPEN (semi finals)
Disna Ranjani bt Dharshika Kempitiya 9-1, 9-2, 9-0, Kushani Daluwatte bt Arosha Jayawardena 9-1, 9-6, 9-1.

• MASTERS OVER 45 (quarter finals)
Asoka Amunugama bt K. D. Gunarathne 9-5, 9-0, 9-2. M. Ratnayake bt Sriyan Samararatne 9-5, 9-6, 4-9, 9-6.

• INTERMEDIATE OVER 35 (semi final)
S. Indrakumar bt S. Padmakumar 9-2, 9-0, 9-7.

Richmond College had an easy victory over Gateway International School 89-42 in the Pizza Hut Invitation Basketball Tournament played for the Brig S. D. N. Hapugalle Trophy which in progress at Seminary Courts, Borella.

Richmondites took an early lead to score 36-16 at half time. The Galle lads dominated the second half too, to finish score a 89-42 win (St. Aloysius Seminary received walk over from St. Anthony's College Katugastota.

Results:

Doon School bt St. Mary's 55-7.
British Schools w/o from De Mazenod College Kandana.
St. Peter's w/o from Colombo International School.
Asian International School bt Dehiwela Central 79-31.
Richmond beat Gateway International School 89-42.
St. Aloysious Seminary received w/o from St. Anthony's College Katugastota.
Royal beat St. Michaels Batticaloa 67-61.
Prince of Wales bt St. Joseph's 89-65. (D.R)

Zahira College Group of 90 has organised an exhibition rugby match between the Old Boys and Present Boys to honour one of the school's old boys, the late Major Ifthikar Yoonus.

This event has been organised to pay tribute to the late Ifthikar who sacrificed his life in the Operation Jayasikuru. Ifthikar was an outstanding sportsman while in school and captained the rugby team.

The match will come off at the CR and FC grounds on October 4 at 4.30 p.m. with the Old Boys led by M. M. K. Namiz taking on the Present Boys who will be marshalled by Riyaz Hanis.

Mrs. Ifthikar Yoonus and the family members of the late Major Yoonus will present on the occasion as special invitees. (RN)

Carey College Under 13 ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams registered two good victories over Lumbini MV and Piliyandala Central in their Horlicks Trophy Group ‘C’ and Group ‘F’ fixtures played recently. Both matches were played at Health grounds Castle Street.

Carey College Under 13 ‘A’ beat Lumbini Vidyalaya in a Division III Group C match played at Health Grounds recently.

Lumbini Vidyalaya 21 all out (28 overs)
Rukshan Karunaratne 4/2, Shan Khalid 2/2, Viraj Colombage 2/5, Omar Bhar 2/1
Carey College 91 for 1 in 13 overs
(Manoj Jayaweera 18, Gihan Silva 55 not out)
Carey College 87
(Mohamed Shimaz 15, Mohamed Muzafer 12, Eresh Vandabona 11, Malan 4/1, Madush 2/12, Dilan 2/26)
Piliyandala Central 81 all out
(Harsh 15, Janaka 10, Madush 12 Sabuz Awuf 3/18)

The first ever Socer Tournament conducted by Football Federation of Sri Lanka for women will get underway today at the Police Park.

Fourteen teams have entered the tournament. All matches will be played on a knock out basis.

The Sri Lankan cricketers and Rifle shooters are highly disappointed as their performances at the Commonwealth Games were not recognised. They claim that the Sports Ministry is adopting double standerds for some certain sports.

A cricket official who spoke to this correspondent said that while Damayanthi Darsha was awarded Rs. one hundred thousand for her fourth place at the Commonwealth Games the cricketers were given the cold shoulder. "We have nothing against Dharsha. We would be much happier if she was given two hundred thousand. But then what about the cricketers fourth place," he asked.

This official explained that if Sri Lankan second string had beaten New Zealand in the semi-finals they were assured of a silver. "So we lost the silver by one wicket but yet we are discarded," he said.

Some of the National Rifle Shooting officials say their past performances are completely forgotten. "When Sriyani Sugath and Dharsha were awarded cash and land. The Rifle Shooters just looked on," one official said. What did the Sports Minister give us when we won a gold and two silvers at the last Canada Commonwealth Games 1994?", he asked.

He went on to explain that it was the women Rifle Shooters who first won golds at Commonwealth Games for Sri Lanka. "They were the first women — Mali Wickramasinghe and Pushpamali Ramanayake — ever to win medals."

This official said that the National Rifle Shooting Association brought two gold chains valued at Rs. 25,650 and awarded to Mali and Pushpamali. Silver medallists D. Chandrasiri and L. Rajasinghe were each presented a wrist watch which cost the NRA Rs. 9800.

"The Sports Minister even went on to the extent of awarding prize money to the 1974 Tehran Asian Games 400x4 Relay team. Plans are under way to present Rs. 10,000 each to the Netball team which won the Asia Cup, playing against Singapore, Malaysia and India. But the 1994 Commonwealth Medal has gone unnoticed" he said.

Coach Rajasinghe when contacted said that they do not shoot for money. "We eat ‘calderan bath’ (Army Rice) and shoot. Our shooters do not have sponsors, nor have apples and grapes for desert. But the produce medals" he said.

He explained that the shooters were under tremendous pressure to produce golds this year. "This upset them in Malaysia. But I assure you we will rise again and fight. I can assure you that 2000 Olympics will see at least 2 medals from us", he said.

Thomians under Naren Ratwatte coming out for the first time in the 98-99 inter-school cricket season, compiled a competitive score of 246/8 declared in their fixture against Richmond college which commenced at Mount Lavinia yesterday.

At stumps Richmondites replied with five for four wickets when the game was abruptly halted for bad light at 5.15 p.m. by the umpires.

Thomians who were put into bat by their southern counterparts were indebted largely to their vice-captain all rounder Suranga Peiris who top scored with 46 enabling them to put up a challenging total on the board.

Peries whose knock came off in 67 balls with four fours, and one six, was involved in two productive stands of 46 runs for the fifth wicket with Gihan Fernando (35), and wicket keeper bat Zakin Kanake (24 n.o) for the second wicket respectively, which helped Thomians in a big way to get out of the woods when at one stage they were tottering at 147 for 4 wickets.

However somewhat disappointing to note from the Thomian side was the failure of last years skipper and star bat Upeka Fernando to get among the runs when he scored 34 runs.

But skipper Ratwatte 18, and Kanake with an unbeaten 24 saw to it that the Mount Lavinia lads reached a total in excess of 240 runs.

For Richmond last seasons star paceman 15 year old Omesh Wijesiriwardena picked 2/50, whilst spinners Wickremasuriya with 2/36 and Oshad Sumathipala 2/32 also bowled best for the down south school.

Chief scores:

S. Thomas' College First innings: 246/8 wkts DCC., (Upeka Fernando 34, Gihan Fernando 35, S. Caldera 31, Zakir Kanake 24 n.o., Suranga Peries 46, Naren Ratwatte 18, Omesh Wijesiriwardena 2/50, Tarindu Wickramasuriya 2/36, Oshad Sumathipala 2/32)

Richmond First Innings - 5 for no loss at close.