Tuesday 24th June, 2008 15 MCA Division B SSC Open Badminton Championship 2008 Tournament Commercial Niluka and Chandrika Bank break 14 year old jinx deserving victors by Reemus Fernando Praneeth Thivanka and Rally Thisera combined to put on 102 runs for the fourth for the Shantha Fonseka led Commercial Bank ‘A’ team to record a six wicket victory over HNB B in an MCA Division B tournament match played at BOI Grounds on Saturday. Chasing a revised target of 162 runs in 38 overs, Commercial Bank was well aided by the run between Thivanka and Thisera who scored 64 and 52 runs respec- tively in the rain affected game. The tone of the victory was set eari- er by Achela Ranasinghe who shared six with skipper Fonseka to bundle out HNB for 158 runs. Ranasinghe picked up four wickets. Incidentally, the victory is believed to be Commercial Bank’s first win against HNB in 14 years. Commercial Bank who have met HNB on numerous occasions including in the finals of MCA tournaments had never tasted vic- tory for 14 years, a spokesperson for Commercial Bank said. HNB beat Commercial Bank in the finals in 2000 and 2006 and when the Niluka Karunaratna (L) and Chandrika de Silva receive medals and certificates from the General Secretary of the SSC, Nimal Dias Jayasinha. two met in a quarterfinal of the MCA Division B tournament last year the by Lakmadu Shanthiram of them combined to beat Chameera Dilshan Kariyawasam 21/14, 21/15 21/19 was the same. and Duminda 2-0 while in the Mixed After reducing HNB B to 140 runs, Niluka Karunaratna and Doubles, Niluka and Nadeesha Girl’s U-18 Singles - Final Open Mixed Doubles - Final Commercial Bank had to end up in dis- Chandrika de Silva were locked in defeated Niroshan and Chandrika in Lekha Shehani beat Niluka/Nadeesha beat appointment when the former fought another skillful exhibition at the straight sets to win the Rs.30,000 Chameka Madurawe 21/15, Niroshan/Chandrika 21/15, 21/19 back to record a 37 run victory. SSC Open Badminton cash award. 21/12 Scores: Championship worked off last Meanwhile, Chandrika De Silva Open Men’s Doubles - Final HNB B 158 for 8 in 38 overs (Vendon Sunday at the SSC Sports Complex. emerged champion in the Women’s Mixed Doubles U-18 - Final Niluka/Diluka beat Labroy 31 n.o, Crishantha Peiris 24; The championship was conducted Open Singles, beating Achini Nuwan/Achini beat Chameera/Duminda 25/23, Achela Ranasinghe 4/30, Shantha by in collab- Ratnasiri. Dilshan/Chameka 21/18, 21/11 Fonseka 2/25) oration with the Lekha Shehani and Udara 21/17 Commercial Bank 166 for 4 in 35.4 Badminton Association (SLBA) and Nayanajith won the Under-18 Girl’s Open Women’s Doubles - Final overs (Praneeth Thivanka 64, Rally was sponsored by Bank of Ceylon, and Boy’s Championship beating Veteran’s Over 40 Men’s Chandrika/Kanchanabeat Thisera 52 n.o, Manjula Silva 21, Jehan ‘Ole Springs Bottlers’ and ‘Fonterra Chameka Madurawe and Dilshan Singles - Final Gayani/Subodha 24/22, 21/18 Fernando 18 n.o) Brands Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd.’ for the sec- Kariyawasam, respectively. Kamal Gamlath beat ond successive year. The lucrative SSC Championship Darshana Senarathna 21/12, 14/03, Women’s Open Singles - Final Niluka prevailed in the Men’s provided Rs. 30,000 cash prize for W/O Chandrika De Silva beat XXXIV National Sports Open, Men’s Doubles and the Open winners in the Open categories. Achini Ratnasiri 21/10, 21/14 Mixed Doubles to bag a great triple. Veteran’s Over 40 Men’s Festival Niluka defeated his brother Diluka Results: Doubles - Final Men’s Open Singles - Final by straight sets in the Men’s Open Boy’s U-18 Singles - Final Kamal/Darshana beat Niluka Karunaratna beat final and in the Men’s Doubles both Udara Nayanajith beat Niroshan/Bongso 22/20, Diluka Karunaratna 24/22, 21/19 Central bag hockey golds Fonterra signs by Reemus Fernando Reminiscing Sri Lanka’s C. L. Sumanaratne and C. D. Wijesuriya emerged the Best Players in agreement with the Men’s and Women’s Categories at Asia Cup win in 2004 the Hockey Championship of the SSC to encourage National Sports Festival as Central by Shehan powered by Sanath Province bagged the two gold medals in Vishvanath Jayasuriya, who was the finals conducted at the Astro Turf, sports Sri Lanka has been returning to the side after , on Sunday. struggling to regain its injury. Jayasuriya made a Central Province beat winning touch in one- whirlwind 130 in 132 balls Sabaragamuwa 2-1 in the Men’s final day since the with the help of 14 bound- and their women’s team beat Western Province in their final. World Cup last year and aries and a six. When In third place play off, Uva beat the Asia Cup tourna- Jayasuriya was batting, North Western Province 3-2 to win the ment in Pakistan gives Sri Lanka were sitting bronze medal in the Men’s category. them a good platform to pretty at 254 for seven Incidentally, Uva also were the return to winning ways. with 17 runs needed off 17 bronze medal winners in the women’s The fact that they are balls, but the veteran category as they beat Southern the defending champi- skied part-timer Virender Province in their third place play off. ons counts for little, but Sehwag and was caught in recent years the Sri and bowled opening up Lankans have done well Table Tennis India’s chances. India in Pakistan. Southern Province dominate won by five runs as Sri School Girl Ishara Madhurangi was Nimal Dias Jayasinha, Honorary Furthermore, the Lanka snatched defeat named the Best player in the women’s General Secretary of SSC, (left) biggest mistake Sri category but her team Southern exchanges the agreement with E. A. Lanka’s strongest rivals from the jaws of victory. Province slipped to second place in the Perusingha, Sales Director Fonterra India and Pakistan could That win also enabled while W. T. Ellawala, President of India to qualify for the Table Tennis Championships held at do is to underestimate Mount Lavinia, over the weekend. SSC looks on. finals ahead of Pakistan. the defending champi- However, Southern Province Sri Lanka met India in Fonterra Brands Lanka entered ons, who are not short of emerged champions in the men’s cate- experience and match the grand final at R. into a historic agreement with gory with their star player Chalitha winners. The fact that Premadasa Stadium and Rangana winning the Best Player Singhalese Sports Club last they are in the weaker set the visitors a target of award in the process. Monday when they signed a gener- group, thanks to their 229 with Marvan While Western Province won second ous sponsorship package as a spon- title win last time, does Atapattu and Kumar place, Central Province were placed help them to warm up Sangakkara making half- sor to encourage sports and third in the Men’s category. before the bigger games centuries. North Western won the Women’s enhance participation in a wide against India and India had a reputation championship while Southern and range of games. Pakistan, who are in Western provinces were placed first The Asia Cup was one of the trophies that Marvan Atapattu managed to for being chokers in the The agreement was signed by E. Group ‘B’ final and choke they did and second runners-up. When Sri Lanka won win as Sri Lanka captain before he was forced out of the job due to a A. Perusingha, Sales Director on yet again chasing a soft. the tournament in 2004, recurring back injury. behalf of Fonterra while Nimal India had a strong batting Wrestling under the captaincy of Sri Lanka started the Premadasa, Pakistan went line up that consisted of Priyankara best wrestler Dias Jayasinha, Honorary General Marvan Atapattu, the team competition in style, winning onto post a challenging 300 Tendulkar, Sehwag, Ganguly, E. M. K. Priyakara of Western was going through poor run Secretary signed on behalf of SSC. their first game against UAE for nine in 50 overs with Dravid, Laxman, Yuvraj and Province emerged the Best Wrestler at of form although the the Wrestling Championship of the The sponsorship package offered by a massive 116 runs and Shoaib Malik making 143 in Kaif and a couple of big hit- sequence was not as bad as National Sports Festival which was attractive benefits for all SSC then beating India by 12 runs 127 balls with 18 fours and a ters in Irfan Pathan and the present one. in a close affair in Dambulla. six. In reply, India were conducted at the Torrington Indoor sports activities including swim- Sri Lanka had been com- Harbhajan Singh, but the bat- Stadium over the week end. After the first round restricted to 241 for eight in ting didn’t come off and with ming, badminton, tennis, squash, prehensively beaten by games, minnows Hong Kong 50 overs. Priyankara’s performances in the the exception of Tendulkar, 40-43 Kg category earned him the title Australia in the series that and UAE were eliminated The India-Sri Lanka re- the Master Sports Festival and the who made a half-century, and he along with four other wrestlers was played prior to the Asia and the teams returned to match in the second round, annual dinner dance. In addition, only Laxman (12) and Dravid helped the cause of Western Province Cup at home and while the Colombo. Sri Lanka played like the first round game was (16) managed double figures when they won their weight category the players will have opportunity confidence was at a low, the Pakistan at the R. Premadasa an absolute thriller. India had as Sri Lanka won by 25 runs. titles. to refresh themselves with nutri- expectations weren’t much. Stadium and were on top made 271 with Virender The hosts were drawn up Atapattu was named Man C. S. D. Asanga, D. L. M. tious Newdale products and liquid right from the start and beat Sehwag, captain Sourav against India and UAE in of the Match while Rajapaksha, H. A. M. Milan and R. I. them by seven wickets. Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh Liyanage won gold in the 43-46 Kg, 46-48 milk during the events and sports Group ‘B’ who played their Jayasuriya walked away with In the much anticipated making half-centuries. Kg, 50-55 Kg and 60-66 Kg categories activities. matches in Dambulla. the Man of the Series award. India-Pakistan clash at R. Sri Lanka’s reply was respectively.