14 Tuesday 18th October, 2011 Schoolgirl Achini wins Prima Champions Cup open singles unveiled after charming for third consecutive year opening ceremony BY CHATHURA PINNAWALA Over 500 aspiring young crick- eters from all parts of the island gathered to the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo yesterday for the opening ceremony of the Prima Champions Cup which is set to com- mence from today onwards. It was ironic that the cauldron of - the Premadasa Stadium- was selected as the venue for the special occasion as it would have given the budding talents a glimpse of what lays ahead if they are to break into the national level. The broad stands, towering flood- lights and the massive playing field are sure to provide ammunition to youngsters to work harder in realiz- ing their ultimate dream of repre- senting Sri Lanka and having the expectations of a country on their shoulders. Altogether 26 teams lined up for the Inter-District tournament and the best players will get selected for the Provincial tournament consist- Tan Beng Chaun, Group General Manager of Prima hands over a kit bag to the Jaffna ing ten teams. District Kumara Kasheelan during the opening ceremony of the Prima Champions In the inaugural year in 2007, Cup yesterday at R. Premadasa Stadium. Also in the picture is SLC chairman, Upali Colombo and Kandy were the joint Dharmadasa. (Pic by Kamal Bogoda) champions while Gampaha and Western province south arrive as the Sri Lanka which is crucial to the Women’s open singles champion Achini Ratnasiri makes a return in the final against Thilini defending champions of district and continuity of cricket in the country. Hendahewa at the 59th Badminton Nationals which was worked off at Royal Sports Complex provincial tournaments respectively. I want to especially thank Prima for from October 13-16. (Pix by Siripala Halwala) Apart from the day’s captivating the support they have given us for sight of children from every corner the smooth sailing of this endeavor” Chandrika de Silva in the finals. of the country singing national he said. BY RAVI NAGAHAWATTE An interesting feature about the anthem loudly, all the districts were The theme of the tournament is nationals this year was that some of the given kit bags with essential cricket- ‘bringing out the champions.’ Visaka College schoolgirl Achini events (including the veterans’ events) ing gear in accordance with the Groups Ratnasiri created sensation at the 59th were contested by members of the execu- theme of the event. The players shall Group A- Kurunegala, Matale, Badminton Nationals played at the Royal tive committee of the Sri Lanka also have the luxury of getting a feel Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa. Sports Complex when she won the Badminton Federation and the selection of the International venues too as Group B- Colombo South ‘A’, women’s open singles for the third con- committee. some matches are scheduled for Colombo South ‘B’, Kalutara, secutive year. Badminton critics point out that these Galle and Pallekele. ing this great venture.” Ratnapura. Ratnasiri irrupted in joy after beating top officials of the Sri Lanka Badminton Speaking at the ceremony Group SLC chairman Upali Dharmadasa Group C- Galle, Matara, Thilini Hendahewa, another schoolgirl, Federation and selection committee GM of Prima, Tan Beng Chaun said too stressed the importance of the Hambantota. in a thrilling final, but not before going shouldn’t mix up their priorities. “Prima is happy to be partners with event and what it does to the psyche Group D- Kandy, Kegalle, through some anxious moments. Organizing of events at the nationals also Sri Lanka Cricket in unearthing the of the participants. “The creation of Nuwara Eliya. This final, which was the last event came into criticism because the schedule next crop of talented youngsters. a cricketing nursery is of para- Group E- Badulla, Ampara, for the day, had spectators watching from was often subject to changes which incon- This is a prolonged and dedicated mount importance to SLC in carry- Monaragala. the edge of their seats when Hendahewa venienced the players, spectators and the effort we started in 2007 and it has ing cricket forward and it is one of Group F- Vavuniya, Batticaloa, forced the match to go for a third game media. developed into a stable fixture of the the primary objectives of SLC cur- Trincomalee, Jaffna, Mannar. after winning the second game 22/20. The The tournament was sponsored by cricket calendar. The evolution of rently. With a sense of purpose and Group G- Gampaha, Puttalam, first game was won by Ratnasiri 21/8. McLarence Group of Companies, Laksiri the tournament has been amazing direction, it allows junior selectors Colombo North ‘A’, Colombo North Hendahewa had Ratnasiri struggling. Seva Group of Companies and Mihin and we intend to continue support- to identify talent at a young age from ‘B’. But then Hendahewa lost her composure Lanka. during the final moments of the third The results- game by making some judgmental errors Women’s singles- Achini Ratnasiri when retuning shots. Ratnasiri made beat Thilini Hendahewa 21/8, 20/22, 21/19 some pristine returns during the dying Women’s doubles- Achini Ratnasiri stages of the third game and emerged the and Upuli Samanthika beat Susmita Trimmed staff did winner with a score of 21/19. Badminton Illangakoon and Chandrika de Silva critics point out that the rise of yet anoth- 21/17, 21/16 er star in the making like Hendahewa is Men’s singles- Niluka Karunaratne not worry Sri Lanka the best thing that has happened to com- beat Dinuka Karunaratne 21/16, 21/19 petition in the women’s badminton. Men’s doubles- Niluka Karunaratne The men’s singles was won by Niluka and Dinuka Karunaratne beat Hasitha Under-19 Karunaratne who met his brother Dinuka Chanaka and R.S Dahanayake 21/12, – coach in the finals. 21/18 Ratnasiri won her second title at the Mixed doubles- Niluka Karunaratne Sri Lanka Cricket pruned the batsmen apart from Jayasinghe, nationals when she teamed up with Upuli and Kavidi Ishadika beat Nuwan staff of the Sri Lanka Under-19 namely Sandun Weerakkody (78 Samanthika to win the women’s doubles. Hettiarachchi and Achini Ratnasiri 21/19, before their tour of . Unlike against Australia), Niroshan The duo beat Susmita Illangakoon and 21/14 during the past several tours the Dickwella (57 against India), Shehan touring party did not include spe- Fernando (70 against India), topped cialized bowling and fielding coach- 50 runs. With the top order failing, es and a trainer. the late middle order batsmen Western Province South emerge Nawaz said the services of the Lahiru Madusanka (63 in the final, specialized coaches were available 56 against Australia) scored two half- Under-17 champs during the run up to the quadrangu- centuries to help Sri Lanka. lar tournament. Nawaz said that the team man- Sri Lanka reached the final of agement will consider replacements the tournament where they lost to for those who failed during the tour- India by five runs after restricting nament but will retain in the side the hosts to 168 runs. While India those who have shown potential as remained unbeaten, Sri Lanka lost future players even if they had all their three matches against India failed in this particular tourna- and reached the final courtesy of ment. their victories against West Indies “Dickwella did not do to his (two) and Australia (one win). potential as a batsman but he was Nawaz said that despite losing good as a -keeper. He held on the final and all their matches to ten catches and did four stump- against the hosts, his young team ings, so we can’t judge him on his Naveed Nawaz had a successful tour exposure in batting performance on this tour,” BY REEMUS FERNANDO Visakhapatnam. Nawaz opined. “The team learnt how to cope up The Trinitian accounted for Sri Lanka Under-19 coach Naveed with different match situations. The more dismissals than his wicket- Nawaz says the absence of a trainer Indians fielded a strong team. keeping counterparts from India, and specialized coaches did not have Despite losing, two of the matches Australia and West Indies. The Western Province South cricket team an impact on his team that reached were close matches,” said Nawaz. In the bowling department, BY REEMUS FERNANDO the final of the quadrangular tourna- “The team was young and for Lahiru Madusanka was the highest The Western Province South team by Trinitian Lakshan Jayasinghe was ment which concluded in many it was the first tournament.” wicket taker for Sri Lanka. captained by Peterite Julian de Zilva, the highlight for Central Province. Visakhapatnam, India on October 9. The team was captained by Madusanka picked up 12 in emerged champions at the Inter Brief Scores: “Their absence did not have a big Angelo Jayasinghe, who scored the six matches. Incidentally, with Sri Provincial Under-17 cricket tournament, WP South 194 all out 49.5 overs impact on the team. It was a short only century for Sri Lanka in seven Lanka’s top order batsmen failing organised by Sri Lanka Cricket, beating (Lahiru Milantha 53, Ishan Peiris 37, tour of two weeks and we shared the matches. However, he was not con- on more occasions, the late order Central Province by 74 runs in the final, Thilaksha Malshan 18, Janith Liyanage tasks assigned to other back up staff. sistent in the batting department batsman from St. Thomas’ College, played at Colts Grounds, last week. 16; Lakshan Jayasinghe 4/21) The Physio partly handled the train- getting out for ducks on three occa- Matale was also the highest scorer St. Peter’s College players, Julian de Central Province 120 all out 41 er’s job. Since it was a short tour sions. of the tournament for Sri Lanka Zilva with a five wicket haul and Lahiru overs (Dinuk Wickramanayake 22; there was no big impact,” Nawaz said There were batting concerns for with 235 runs in six innings at an Milantha with a half century excelled Julian de Zilva 5/20, Binura Fernando in reply to a query by ‘The Island’. Sri Lanka as only three recognized average of 58.75 runs. for the winners, while a four wicket haul 3/18)