Tuesday 21st June, 2011 15

Mackwoods Ladies Strokeplay Golf Championship 2011 PSD cop cum athlete Jacky Dias in the lead

Jacky Dias took the lead after the Mackwoods Ltd are the sponsors of first round of the Sri Lanka Ladies this prestigious Golf Championship. Strokeplay Championship played at the in rare feat for Police Royal Colombo Golf Club with a 82. Day 1 Scores BY REEMUS FERNANDO view with The Island after the athlete One shot behind is evergreen Suwen 1. Jacky Dias 82 bagged two golds at the Junior National Selvaratnam with a 83. In joint 3rd 2. Suwen Selvaratnam 83 Selected to Sri Lanka senior athletics Athletics Championship two weeks ago. place is reining champion A Rasika 3. A Rasika 89 pool at the age of 21, PSD cop cum ath- “I did not do serious athletics until I from Victoria Golf & Country Club 4. Niloo Jayatilaka 89 lete Chathurika Hemamali is the joined Sri Lanka Police. I had not even along with glamorous and effervescent 5. Dinali De Zoysa 95 youngest long distance prospect to have taken part at Divisional level at school,” Niloo Jayatilaka. 6. A Sandya 97 emerged in the women’s category as of said the lass hailing from Ayagama, The second round will be played off 7. K Herath 98 late. The long distance runner who had Ratnapura. today with the final days play on the 8. Manori Jayakoddy 99 taken athletics seriously only after join- “Her talent was identified when she 22nd June followed by the prize distribu- 9. Kishani Vethavinayakam 101 ing Sri Lanka Police set two new meet took part in the Police Inter Division tion ceremony. records at the Junior National Athletics meets. She had the talent and we just Championships at the Mahinda trained her,” said H.D.A. Gunasekara, Rajapaksa International Stadium recent- the police constable who coaches her ly. At a time when the athletics scene is under the supervision of veteran coach Davis Cup 2011 final dominated by the Sri Lanka Army, Air Dervin Perera. Force and Navy, Hemamali has achieved Hemamali and her coach a rare feat for the establishment she Gunasekara both thanked the IGP and standings announced works for. If not for her two records, Sri their superiors for helping Police ath- Lanka Police would not have entered its letes. Hemamali also thanked IP BY REVATA S. SILVA ed next year to Group-III and therefore name in the Junior National record book Mannapperuma who was instrumental won’t feature in Group-II. which is dominated by performances of in securing her a place in the Police ath- The final standings of this year’s In the meantime, Rep. of Korea and athletes of tri forces. letics pool. Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group-III Pakistan, and Indonesia and Thailand As Hemamali says she had joined Sri Hemamali has been included in ‘E’ sponsored by BNP Paribas which was will be fighting each other also next Lanka Police to persevere in a career as segment of the National Athletics pool held at the Sri Lanka July for a Group-I promotion in 2012. a woman constable but a change of fate where she is the only 5000 metres runner Association (SLTA) in Colombo from One of those countries will enter Asia- saw her taking part in athletics. in the women’s category, a good omen for June 15-19 was announced by the ITF Oceania Zone Group-I in 2012 and the Incidentally, it is the other way around her age. Referee Ashraf Hamouda after the rest of the three will again feature in for most of the national athletes who This year has been Hemamali’s best completion of the event last Sunday Group-II next year too. show promise at young ages and are as she has clocked within the range of 17 (June 19). recruited by tri forces and police to minutes in the 5000 metres. She has aver- Sri Lanka was placed in the Results on Sunday (June 19) - brace their ranks. aged below 18 minutes at the first two Promotion Group along with Lebanon, Sri Lanka bt Lebanon 3-0 Hemamali clocked 17:34.37 seconds to legs of the athletics league conducted by Vietnam and Malaysia and in the (Results published on Monday) win the Under-23 Girls’ 5,000 metres with Chathurika Hemamali proudly displays her the Sri Lanka Athletics Association Relegation Group, the four countries Vietnam bt Malaysia 2-1: a new meet record, shattering the record medals won at the Junior National before bagging golds at the Junior that featured were Kuwait, Oman, UAE Yew-Ming Si (Mal.) bt Quoc-Khanh (17:37.99 sec) established by W.K.L.A. Athletics Championship held at Mahinda Nationals. and Myanmar. Le 6-3, 6-3 Nimali in 2009. Later she also made her Rajapaksa International Stadium, A student of Namunutenna MV, Thanh-Hoang Tran (Viet.) bt Ariez own 10,000 metres record returning a Diyagama. Namunutenna (Grade 1-5) and Sri Final positions: Elyaas Deen Heshaam 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 time of 37:08.49 seconds to win her sec- Rahula MMV,Ayagama, Hemamali 1. Sri Lanka (promoted), 2. Lebanon Min-Quan Do & Quang-Huy Ngo ond gold. Incidentally, she erased a “This is a result of just two years of joined Sri Lanka Police in 2008. She was (promoted), 3. Vietnam, 4. Malaysia, 5. (Viet) bt Ahmed Deedat Abdul Razak & record (38:22.1 sec) established by D.P.N. training and guidance of several officers first attached to the Weyangoda Police. Kuwait, 6. Oman, 7. UAE (relegated), 8. Mohamed Nazim Khan 6-0, 7-6(4) Anuradhi of Sri Lanka Air Force in who identified my talent after I joined She is currently attached to the Myanmar (relegated) Kuwait bt Oman 3-0: 2004. the Police,” said Hemamali in an inter- Presidential Security Division. Abdulrahman Alawadhi bt Khalid Next year in Group-II - Hamdi Al-Barwani 6-1, 6-1 In 2012, Sri Lanka will feature in Ali Ghareeb bt Abdulmalik Alawfi the Asia-Oceania Zone Group-II for a 6-2, 6-1 Under-17 ‘B’ Division Basketball second time in three years. A. Alawadhi & A. Ghareeb bt A. The Group-II will consist of coun- Alwfi & K. Al-Barwani 6-0, 6-1 tries like Rep. of Korea, Pakistan, UAE bt Myanmar 2-1: Cager semis and final today Indonesia, Thailand, Syria, Hong Kong, Hamad Abbas Janahi (UAE) bt The semi-finals and the finals of the International School, Colombo 49-26 for the semi-finals beating Gateway Iran and Pacific Oceania (region). Aung Kyaw Naing 6-2, 6-0 Inter-School Under-17 ‘B’ Division will take on St. Aloysius College, Galle, College, Kandy 58-48. In Group-II this year, Syria and Omar Awadhy (UAE) bt Phyo Min Basketball Tournament will be played while Amal International School, Semi-finals will be followed by the Hong Kong, and Iran and Pacific Thar 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 at Kingswood College premises in Wellawatta will take on Ananda consolation final and the final. Final Oceania (region) will be playing the Nge Hnaung & Zaw-Zaw Latt (Mya.) Kandy today. College, Colombo in the other semi will get under way at 4.30 Pm at the relegation play-offs next July and two bt Mahmoud-Khalifa Al Balushi & Kingswood College, who qualified to final. same venue. (RS) countries from the four will be relegat- Khaled Al Hassani 6-0, 6-0. the semi-finals beating Alethea Amal International School qualified Wimbledon 2011: Nadal makes winning start

WIMBLEDON, England 2008, he missed the tournament only see pluses for today. I (AP) — Rafael Nadal opened his the following year with a knee missed being out here playing.” Wimbledon title defense in con- injury. Amanmuradova, who has vincing style Monday, shaking “Fantastic,” he said. now lost in the first round at off an early service break and “Seriously, I never played in a Wimbledon in all four appear- cruising to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory court like this. (It) was a big ances, is taller than Williams at over Michael Russell. emotion to be the first player to 1.90 meters (6-foot-3) and can hit In keeping with tradition, the play in this fabulous court. It the ball hard. But once Williams defending men’s champion was a very, very exciting feel- found her rhythm, she couldn’t played the first match on Centre ing.” be stopped, winning six games Court at the All England Club — Watching it all from the in a row and the last 12 points to and the top-ranked Spaniard put Royal Box were Nadal’s parents, close out the match. on a worthy performance to kick Sebastian and Ana Maria. Williams made a statement off proceedings on the 125th edi- “Too many beautiful things not only with her tennis but tion of the championships. to see my mom and my dad in with her fashion sense — wear- Five-time women’s champion the Royal Box,’” Nadal said. “I ing a one-piece playsuit which Venus Williams, back on her think for them (it) was a great exposed some of her back. The favorite grass surface, also swept experience. So, everything in outfit featured cutout sleeves, a into the second round with a general was very, very nice deep V neckline and a gold belt straight-set win over 97th- today.” wrapped around the waist. ranked Akgul Amanmuradova of Also due on Centre Court “It’s a jumper,” Williams Uzbekistan. were Francesca Schiavone and said. “Jumpers are very ‘now,’ as Nadal, coming off his sixth , with Tomas is lace. The shoulders have a lot straight title and Berdych and Andy Roddick of draping. It’s a kind of trendy 10th overall champi- scheduled on Court 1. dress. It’s fun. The back is a like onship, double-faulted to go Williams, who returned to a cutout or peekaboo. I’m always down a break 4-2 in the first set action at Eastbourne last week trying to do something different against the 91st-ranked Russell. after an injury layoff of nearly and fun.” But Nadal buckled down, ran off five months, looked right at Williams, who had been side- six straight games to take the set home at the All England Club as lined after injuring her hip at and go up a break in the second. she beat Amanmuradov a 6-3, 6- the , returned He was in total command the 1. last week and won two matches rest of the way against the 33- Williams kept her opponent at the Wimbledon tuneup at year-old American. waiting for several minutes on Eastbourne. Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his first round match against Michael Russell of the US at the All “I started so-so in the first Court 2, with Amanmuradova Williams has fallen to No. 30 England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, Monday, 20 June, 2011. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus) set, but after that I start to hit sitting patiently on her court- in the rankings, but is seeded very well the forehand and I side chair for the 31-year-old No. 23 — the same position she era and the oldest in this year’s grass. But Zvonareva raised her while big-serving Canadian think I finished playing a very American to arrive. held when she won the tourna- draw, came out of retirement in game when she needed to and Milos Raonic, playing his first good level,” Nadal said. Once play started, Willliams ment in 2007. Playing in her 15th 2008 but lost in the first round closed out the match with an Wimbledon, was a 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6- The two players shared a took Amanmuradova apart in 59 Wimbledon, she extended her the last two years at the All ace. 3 winner over of laugh after Russell successfully minutes with her hard-hitting record to 69-9. England Club. The first seeded man to lose France. No. 14 Stanislas challenged what had been ruled all-court game. She served seven Williams’ second-round oppo- In another featured women’s was No. 30 Thomaz Bellucci of Wawrinka beat Potito Starace, an ace by Nadal on match point. aces, broke four times and had nent will be Japan’s Kimiko match, 2010 runner-up Vera Brazil, who fell 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-2 to Italy, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Nadal won the next point, 23 winners to only five unforced Date-Krumm, who became the Zvonareva overcame 115th- Rainer Schuettler of Germany. Other men’s winners includ- though, to finish the match in errors — none in the second set. second oldest women to win a ranked American Alison Riske The 35-year-old Schuettler is ed No. 9 Gael Monfils, who beat just under two hours. “It’s always great to be back,” match at Wimbledon, beating 6-0, 3-6, 6-3. The second-seeded the oldest player in the men’s Matthias Bachinger 6-4, 7-6 (3), It was the first time Nadal Williams said. “To play a few Katie O’Brien 6-0, 7-5 on Monday. Russian looked in trouble after draw. 6-3, and fellow Frenchman and has walked onto Centre Court as matches at Eastbourne helped The 40-year-old Date-Krumm, the second set against the 20- Tenth-seeded American No. 17 Richard Gasquet, who defending champion. After win- me feel pretty comfortable here. the third oldest women to com- year-old Riske, whose best Mardy Fish beat Spain’s Marcel defeated Santiago Giraldo 7-5, 6- ning the title for the first time in All in all, I’m pretty pleased. I pete at Wimbledon in the Open career results have been on Granollers 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-4, 3, 7-6 (3).