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Badminton
Nationals Thushara Edirisinghe and Chandrika de Silva retained the Mens and Womens Champions of the 46th Badminton National Championships concluded at S. Thomas’ Gymnasium yesterday. Thushara Edirisinghe (Bartleet) won the title for the second consecutive time by defeating Duminda Jayakody in straight sets. However the mens final was more exciting with both shuttlers taking 75 minutes to finish their game. Edirisinghe the bottom seed took an early lead (4 - 0) but Jayakody, the fifth seeded fought back. Edirisinghe made some fine strokes and won the first set. 15 - 12. In the second set though Jayakody took a clear lead of 6 - 0 Edirisinghe made a dramatic come back (10-7) and finally clinched the set and the title (15 - 10). In the womens final Dilhani de Silva of Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda defeated champion Chandrika de Silva of Seylan Bank. Dilhani the bottom seeded shuttler took an early lead with 9-2 but Chandrika used her experience with 8 - 7 and ended the first set 11-9. However the second set Chandrika used her vast experience easily beating her opponent Dilhani 11 - 3. Meanwhile the plate event men’s final Thomian shuttler Rajitha Guruge won the title defeating Yohan Gunasekara from S. Thomas’ Mt. Lavinia in straight sets 15 - 10, 15 - 4, while the 15-year- old Visakian Rasangi Kalpana defeated 13-year-old Dharmasoka shuttler Namalee Erandika 11-3, 11-2 to take the plate women’s single title. Rajitha Guruge was adjudged the most promising young shuttler of the tournament. Commercial Bank sponsored, this even for the second consecutive year. Mahendra Amarasuriya the Chairman of Commercial Bank was the Chief guest and game away the awards. Ravi Dias Deputy General Manager Commercial Bank Richard Rodrigo Senior Manager Marketing and SLBA President and Secretary Eraj Wijesinghe and Ajith Wijayasinghe also graced this occasion. Results: (Finals) • Plate Women’s Singles - Rasangi Kalpana beat Namalee Erandika 11 - 3, 11- 2. • Plate Men’s Singles - Rajitha Guruge beat Yohan Gunasekara 15 - 10, 15 - 4. • Men’s Open Singles - Thushara Edirisinghe beat Duminda Jayakody 15 - 12, 15 - 10. • Women’s Opens Singles - Chandrika de Silva beat Dilhani de Silva 11 - 9, 11 - 3. Murali CEAT cricketer of the year M. Muralitharan has earned yet another rare honour when he is nominated as the CEAT international cricketer of the year. Following are the ratings as at 27 October 1998 tabuylated under Player Country Total and CEAT Points Rating M. Muralitharan Sri Lanka 64 1 Allan Donald South Africa 44 2 Alec Stewart England 41 3 Mark Taylor Australia 37 4 Sanath Jayasuriya Sri Lanka 36 5 Angus Fraser England 35 6 Sachin Tendulkar India 28 7 Ajit Agarkar India 28 7 Jacque Kallis South Africa 26 9 Mark Boucher South Africa 25 10 Darren Gough England 24 11 Aravinda de Silva Sri Lanka 24 11 Dominic Cork England 22 13 Mohd. Azharuddin India 22 13 Hansie Cronje South Africa 22 13 Bens and Trinco Joes in semi finals St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena entered the Semi-finals of the All Island Milo Division 1 Schools Soccer tournament by beating D. S. Senanayake College by 2 - 0 at H. M. Mohamed ground. National schools player Roshan Menaka scored both goals for the victors who dominated the entire game. Last week they also became Colombo District Schools soccer champions. Meanwhile St. Joseph’s College Trincomalee defeated St. Joseph’s Colombo by 4 - 3 (Penalties) to enter the Semi-finals of the same tournament. Tomorrow Bens will meet Trinco Joes in Semi-finals. 16th Rugby
Asiad Singapore Rugby Union (SRFU) has decided not to host the Asian Under-19 rugby tournament which was scheduled for next year. This was revealed to member countries at the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARF) meeting held last Saturday. The reason for the pull-out being the loss of its main sponsor. The tournament which is to cost are around $ 250,000. None of the countries agreed to take over from Singapore. Last year it was held in Taiwan. Jamie Scott Hongkong was elected the new Secretary General of the ARFU at its council meeting. Decho Sariputhra the outgoing Secretary General came in for heavy criticism for allowing non-nationals in the Singapore national team for the recently concluded tournament. Sariputhra served for six years in this capacity. The 17th Asian Rugby Championship will be staged in Tokyo, Japan in year 2000. The third place was won by Thailand defeating Malaysia 28-8. Fifth place went to China who crushed debutante India 44/13. The new officials of the Asian Rugby Football Union Council: President-Zen Shirai (Japan), Senior Vice-President Adm Han Sakulpanich (Thailand), Junior Vice President-Peter Duncan (Hong Kong). Secretary General Jamie Scott (Hongkong). Treasurer Dermot Agnew. Negombo CC through to final on bonus points Negombo CC qualified to play in the final of the U-23 Division I final on bonus points. Their semi final against Rio SC which was played at Sara Stadium could not be completed due to bad weather. They will now meet Wennappuwa CC this week end. Negombo CC made 181 for 7 wickets before declaring their innings. Damien Fernando top scored for Negombo CC with 38 while Ranga Dias (28) Nuwan Priyankara 24, Lakmalka Fernando 24 n.o., Lakamal Fernando 17 and Lakmal Fernando 15 too made valuable contributions. R. M. Chandradasa bowled well to claim 4/26. Rio SC in reply could manage only 104 for 5 wkts. M. G. Roshan top scored with an unbeaten 30. Lakmalka Fernando grabbed five wickets out of five wickets that fell from Rio SC. Scores: NEGOMBO CC 181 for 7 decl. (Damien Fernando 38, Ranga Dias 28, Nuwan Priyankara 24, Lakmalka Fernando 24, Lakmal Fernando 17, Mevan Fernando 15, R. M. Chandradasa 4/26). RIO SC 104 for 5 wkts (M. G. Roshan 30 n.o. T. Srilal 22, W. Samantha 24, Lakmalka Fernando 4/42). — BP |
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