Wednesday 19th August, 2009 15

Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele celebrates after winning the gold medal in the final of the Men’s 10,000m at the World (AP) - Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia con- Athletics Championships tinued his dominance in the men’s 10,000, winning in Berlin on Monday, his fourth consecutive title at the world champi- Aug. 17, 2009. (AP) onships Monday. Bekele, who is a two-time Olympic champion in the event, sped away from Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea as the bell rang marking the last lap, opening a 20-metre gap on his main competitor and crossing the line in 26 minutes, 46.31 seconds. “I planned already to stay behind until one lap is to repeat his double gold per- “It’s great to win for the fourth time,” Bekele left, and then kick,” Bekele said. formance of the said. “I am so happy.” And that’s just what he did. Olympics and run in the Tadese took silver in 26:50.12, and Moses Dniema Trailing Tadese by a step entering the last lap, 5,000, which starts Masai of Kenya earned the bronze in 26:57.39. Bekele charged past with a burst over 200 metres and Thursday. Bekele’s victory in Berlin comes as no surprise - cruised from there, taking home his fourth consecu- For now, Bekele he has dominated the event since 2003. He owns the tive world title and equaling the four 10,000 world said he just plans to world record and has never lost the 10,000 at a major championships that Haile Gebrselassie won. let his 10,000 win event. Tadese, meanwhile, was thrilled to get his hands soak in and will With 3,600 metres to go, Bekele Tadese, Masai on his first medal. start thinking and Micah Kipkemboi Kogo of Kenya opened up a “I am very,very happy,” Tadese said. “The race about the 20-metre gap on the rest of the field. Kogo dropped was tough because for many,many laps I was in 5,000 tomor- off first, later followed by Masai, who fell off the front. The problem is at the finish. I am happy row. pace with three laps to go. because this is my first time to be second at the “I have That left Tadese and Bekele to duel for the gold. world championships.” plenty of For Bekele, who is known for his amazing finish- With Bekele’s dominance in the 10,000 assured, time,” ing power, everything was going according to plan. the only question is whether the Ethiopian will try Bekele said.

Jamaica’s Fraser sprints to gold in 100 Savigne wins

“As a country, we have worked really hard,” said Fraser, who won world title

Olympic gold in Beijing. Pyatykh of Russia took bronze with “We’re young and we result of 14.58. “I am very satisfied,” Savigne have so much fire burn- said. “At the beginning, I lacked ing for our country. Our coordination and was really nerv- ous, but I told myself to stay country is so small. focused on the result.” Her best attempt Monday was far Every day they talk short of the 15.28 she jumped to win about the crime and the title two years ago, but she was- n’t bothered by it. corruption and all that. “I think I could have jumped We want something dif- more than 15 meters, but the most important thing here was to win the ferent for them to men- ’s Yargeris Savigne competes in the championship,” Savigne said. Her victory also provided a bit of tion.” final of the Women’s Triple Jump during consolation after a disappointing the Championships in Jamaica’s Shelley-Ann Fraser, right, celebrates after winning the gold medal with her com- sided. fifth-place finish at last year’s “As a country, we have worked really Berlin on Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. (AP) Beijing Olympics. patriot and silver medalist Kerron Stewart after the final of the Women’s 100m at the World hard,” said Fraser, who won Olympic gold BERLIN (AP) - Yargelis Savigne While Savigne’s gold in Berlin Athletics Championships in Berlin on Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) in Beijing. “We’re young and we have so successfully comes as no surprise - especially much fire burning for our country. Our defended her with two-time Olympic champion BERLIN (AP) - Shelly-Ann Fraser “That we’re dominating,” Stewart said. country is so small. Every day they closed her eyes as she crossed the finish These days, that’s very true. The triple jump world Francoise Mbango Etone of talk about the crime and title Monday, and Cameroon pulling out of qualifying line, almost afraid to open them back up Caribbean island with a population of 2.8 corruption and all that. We Cuban teammate - Gay’s silver came out of nowhere. and glance at the Olympic Stadium score- million people is crushing the big, bad want something different for The 26-year-old Cuban had never board. Americans, who go nearly 307 million them to mention.” picked up the Like she had anything to worry about. strong. Like sprinting. There, the medaled at a major event, and didn’t Fraser won with apparent ease in a The Jamaican’s command began in country is in a league of its silver. event make it into the final round at time of 10.73 seconds, edging Jamaican Beijing, where the country won five of the own. Already last year’s Olympics. But on her teammate Kerron Stewart in the final of six sprints events. The Americans’ chances of leading after fourth attempt she jumped 14.61 to the 100 metres Monday at the world cham- Now, it’s rolling over to the worlds. evening the score anytime soon three rounds, better Pyatkyh’s 14.58 and move into pionships. Carmelita Jeter of the United First, Usain Bolt ran right past top don’t look good. Not after Gay Savigne took second place. States held off a charging Veronica rival Tyson Gay and the rest of the field in pulled out of the 200-metre com- the title with “This medal was a surprise,” Campbell-Brown for third, preventing a a world-record time of 9.58 seconds on petition with a sore groin. Given her best jump Gay said. “I am very happy. I Jamaican sweep. Sunday. Then Fraser follows that up with a the way Bolt is running, it of 14.95 meters on her thought that with my jump I was So, what does this performance in the convincing win of her own. would’ve been a tall order even if fifth attempt. Gay finished second not going to be able to get the sprints tell the world? For a rivalry, this sure has become one- Gay was healthy. with a jump of 14.61, and Anna medal.”

Under-17 Division I Cricket MSBA Semi-League Basketball Tournament A Battle of the Maroons in pre-quarters Softlogic and DPMC

The Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Moratuwa had to bow down after doing St. Anthony’s College, Wattala Vs. Association announced the pre-quarter well early. Revata College, Balapitiya record wins final line up for the Inter School Under-17 The pre quarter final line up is as D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo Vs. by Manjula D. Phillips Division I tournament yesterday,drawing follows: Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala Shanika (10) were the best shooters for arch rivals Ananda College with Nalanda Trinity College, Kandy Vs. Thurstan Ananda College, Colombo Vs Nalanda Rusiru Ranathunge (36) steered the winners while Gayani Wejesiri College in one of the matches. College, Colombo College, Colombo Softlogic Group to victory over Mobitel chipped in with (21) for the losers. Ananda, who emerged champions in Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya Vs. Mahanama College, Colombo Vs. Lanka by 07 points in an ‘E’ Division Twenty seven reputed basketball Group G in the second round, will play S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia Richmond College, Galle match in the MSBA Semi-League teams from the mercantile sector are host to Nalanda who ended runners up in St. Joseph’s College, Darley Road Vs. All pre quarter final matches of the Basketball Tournament played at the competing in the tournament which is Group F,one of the toughest groups in the St. Anthony’s College, Kandy Under-17 Division I tournament will be Otter’s Aquatic Club Courts on August divided into five divisions in the men’s second round where Royal College, Maris Stella College, Negombo Vs. St. played this week. 17 (Monday). category and two divisions in the Colombo and St. Sebastian’s College, Benedict’s College, Kotahena (RF) At the breather, Mobitel Lanka led women’s category. by a slender margin (26-25). The semi finals will be worked off Prabath Fernando (10) was the best from August 31 onwards and the finals scorer for the losers. will be played on September 8. Junior Tennis Nationals 2009 In the second match played at the Matches will commence at 5.30 p.m. same venue, David Peiris Motor daily on week days at the Otters Company edged out Mobitel Lanka in a Aquatic Sports Club Courts. Asalya, Medhira enter Girls U-10 finals ‘B’ Division match in the women’s seg- The tournament, organized and ment. conducted by the Mercantile Services by Revata S. Silva Wickremasinghe (from Ratnapura) (3) bt Girls U-14 Singles At half time, DPMC led 27-18 and Basketball Association (MSBA) and Pavithra Vasanthakumar 9-5, Medhira (22 participants): kept their winning momentum, posting sponsored by Hatton National Bank is Top seed Asalya Bandara and 4th Samarasinghe (4) bt N. Nethra Dinushki Ranasinghe (1) bt Fathum a 51-39 victory over Mobitel Lanka. being held for the 15th consecutive seed Medhira Samarasinghe reached the (Batticaloa) 9-2, M. Sithara (Ratnapura) Issadeen 6-0, 6-1, Samendri de Silva (5) bt Shalika Dilrukshi (14) and Piumi year. first finals of the competition on bt M. Umeshi (Ratnapura) (2) 9-6 Sashini Mudalige 6-1, 6-0, Vinuri Tuesday, the 4th day of this year’s Junior Semi-finals: A. Bandara bt P. Wickremasinghe (3) bt Rukshana Abdeen Nationals Tennis Championship, now Wickremasinghe 9-6, M. Samarasinghe bt 6-0, 6-0, Rishmitha Sivakanthan (7) bt underway at the SLTA hard courts in M. Sithara 9-4 Oshani Wickremasinghe 6-1, 6-0, Nethmi Colombo. Waduge (8) bt Thewuni Devaraja 2-6, 6-3, Under-19 Boys’ Inter-School Cager tournament 2009 The Championship will continue till Boys U-10 Singles 6-1, Kavindya de Silva (6) (Negombo) bt August 30 and will precede the much (32-player draw): Jayathma Navaragodagedera 6-1, 6-0, anticipated 94th SL (Senior) Tennis Adavan Pushparaj (1) bt Aravinthan Thisuri Molligoda (2) bt Melissa De Mazenod impress Nationals that’s scheduled to begin on Rajendran 9-0, Rahul Wijeratne bt Vihan Nugegoda 6-1, 6-0 August 29, and proceed till September 13. Herath (7) 9-5, Jerique Rajapakse (3) bt by Manjula D. Phillips The SLTA Referee for the Junior D.M.D. Dissanayake 9-3, Nathrath Alam Boys U-14 Singles Inter-School Boys’ Cager tournament Nationals this year is (Ms) Ishara (Matale) (8) bt Rishee Wijeratne 9-1, B.K. (32-player draw): played at De Mazenod College Seneviratne. Taraka (5) bt Vikum Jayasuriya 9-1, Quarter-finals: Sharmal Dissanayake Charith Madusanka(22) and Lanka Basketball courts in Kandana on Isuru Wijeratne (4) bt Meshan (1) bt Aaron Assaw (5) 6-1, 6-0, Yasitha de Rodrigo (16), showcased their accurate August 17 (Monday) Results on Tue. (Aug. 18) – Nanayakkara 9-5, Avindra Perera (6) bt Silva bt Buddhika Ruwanpathirana 6-1, 6- netting habits for De Mazenod College, At half time, the Mazenodians were Girls U-10 Singles (9 participants): Yasith Ratnayake 9-6, Andrew Muttiah 3, Dhanushka Abeywardene (7) vs Kandana to outplay Kingswood ahead 25-19. Samitha Dharmasena (11) Asalya Bandara (Seed 1) bt Serina (2) bt Krishan Ratnayake 9-0 Nishangan Nadarajah (3), Aritha College,Kandy by 67 to 34 in a Group and Asanka Chandrasinghe (07) were Madanayake 9-3, Piyumi Weerasinghe 92) bt Joshua Moraes 6-0, 6-2. ‘E’ match in the ongoing Under-19 the best scorers for Kingswood.