Thursday 3rd February, 2011 13 SLAF to host first ever handball tournament Sri Lanka Air Force has from SL Army, SL Navy, SL come forward to host the Air Force and the Western country’s first ever All-Island Province who currently play handball tournament on competitive handball. SLAF February 24 and 25 as part of is extending an invitation to its 60th anniversary celebra- aspiring handball teams from tions. all corners of the island to be It will be an event of a part of this pioneering excitement and team spirit as sporting experience. the matches will be worked Inquiries could be made by off during both day and night calling Wing Commander at the Rifle Green grounds, Weerasekara on 0718171974. BY STEVE DOUGLAS Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "It was Colombo 02. The event is the Winners will be awarded LONDON (AP) - A brace from Wayne Rooney more a victory of a team with a fantastic spirit brain child of Group Captain with trophies, medals and in a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa kept and a never-say-die attitude. I'm very happy Janaka Nanayakkara, certificates of commendation Manchester United five points clear at the top of because this is maybe the aspect of the team the Premier League, but Arsenal and Chelsea that has been questioned the most." Chairman Sri Lanka Air at the tournament. stayed in touch with the unbeaten leaders with Torres was unable to play for Chelsea Force handball. The main Sri Lanka Air Force’s 60th come-from-behind victories on Tuesday. as he wasn't registered in time following objective of the event is to anniversary celebrations will Rooney scored with virtually the first and his British-record 50 million pounds pick handball players to the commence on 2 March. last kicks of the first half at Old Trafford to ($81 million) move to the London club national pool as well as to Officials of Sri Lanka Air help United to a convincing win that equalled from Liverpool on Monday. the club's record of 29 straight league matches But the defending champions develop the sport. Force handball hope to make without defeat. didn't struggle for goals without the The tournament will see the tournament an annual Second-place Arsenal came from behind to Spain striker at the Stadium of the participation of teams event. (MP) beat Everton 2-1 at home thanks to goals by Light, with Frank Lampard's penal- Andrey Arshavin and Laurent Koscielny. ty and Salomon Kalou's tidy finish Chelsea produced an attacking masterclass overturning a fourth-minute lead in the absence of new record signing Fernando given to Sunderland by Phil Torres to beat Sunderland 4-2 away, moving one Bardsley. Sri Lanka Under-19 point adrift of third-place Manchester City, Kieran Richardson's free kick which will have played a game more after it vis- in the 26th brought the home side its Birmingham on Wednesday. level but second-half goals by to make changes for Wigan remained in the relegation zone John Terry and Nicolas Anelka after being held 2-2 by West Bromwich Albion in saw Chelsea home. Tuesday's other game. Chelsea manager Carlo fourth Youth ODI It was only Rooney's third and fourth Ancelotti said his side's return to With the five match won, the focus of the Sri league goals in a disappointing season for the form could have come too late to Youth ODI series already Lanka Under-19 team England striker, who has struggled to reproduce retain the title. won 3-0, Sri Lanka Under- seems to be shifting the form of last season. "If Manchester United continue 19s are likely to give towards grooming future "Goals always help strikers," United manag- their run, it's difficult to close the gap," opportunities to future World Cup players. er Alex Ferguson said of Rooney. "He's always said Ancelotti, after Chelsea's third win had a great appetite to play ... and he's got his in a row. Youth World Cup hopefuls Naveed said that Trinity rewards eventually." Substitute Marc-Antoine Fortune when they meet England College opening batsman Rooney latched onto United goalkeeper scored West Brom's equaliser against Under-19 in the fourth Niroshan Dickwella also Edwin van der Sar's long clearance to control Wigan in the 79th minute, preventing the Youth ODI at NCC Ground might get an opportunity beautifully and struck a 20-yard shot into the visitors climbing out of the bottom today. to play in today’s match. net to open the scoring after just 48 seconds. three. His second came just before halftime, slot- Peter Odemwingie put West Brom The team coach Naveed Dickwella too is eligible to ting home from eight metres after Nani had ahead but Charles N'Zogbia's deflected Nawas said that play in the next year crossed the ball across the penalty area. free kick made it 1-1 and Ben Watson's Maliyadeva College pace- World Cup. England striker Darren Bent pulled a goal hopeful cross into the box found the cor- man Dilshan Danushka Sri Lanka Under-19 is back for Villa in the 58th, his second since join- ner to give Wigan the and Trinity College spin- likely to rest Shehan ing the midtable club from Sunderland this lead. ner Akila Jayasundara are Jayasuriya to make way month, but Serbia centre back Nemanja Vidic regained United's two-goal cushion with a pow- likely to make their Youth for Dickwella who would erful volley five minutes later. ODI debuts today. Both join Ramith Rambukwella French centre back Koscielny completed players are at the right to open batting. Arsenal's comeback at Emirates Stadium, head- age to take part in the Navas said that pace- ing in the winner in the 76th minute to keep the next year’s Youth World men Sanitha de Mel and Gunners firmly in the title race. Arshavin had equalised in the 70th, eight Cup. Lahiru Jayaratne would minutes after coming on as a substitute for During the last three be rested for today’s Tomas Rosicky, to cancel out a contentious matches, Sri Lanka fielded match to make way for opener scored by Everton striker Louis Saha. a mixed team consisting Danushka and St. Joseph’s Replays showed Saha was offside when he of both World Cup hope- paceman Chathuranga ran onto a pass from Seamus Coleman that fuls and experienced play- Kumara who played only came off Koscielny before reaching the France striker. ers who will be over aged in the first Youth Test in for the next World Cup. Galle. (RF) "We were not sharp until Everton scored," Wayne Rooney With the series already SLBBFF felicitates England names Tindall as WBB champ Prasanna captain, Wood as flanker LONDON (AP) - England named prove Warren Gatland wrong after the BY MADURA NANDANA center Mike Tindall as captain and outspoken Wales coach last week ques- 2009 (gold) and 2010 (silver) and Asian selected uncapped Tom Wood as tioned the Northampton forward’s tem- Championships in 2010 (silver). flanker on Wednesday for the Six perament and composure. Sri Lanka Body Building and Fitness Elated Prasanna speaking to Nations opener against Wales in Wood was fast-tracked into the Federation (SLBBFF) took no opportuni- The Island said that he was extremely Cardiff on starting XV despite ty to deny Prasanna Peiris, World Body happy about the recognition he received Friday. not even making Building (WBB) Champion in 2009 and both from President and the SLBBFF. Tindall got Six Nations Rugby Johnson’s original Silver medalist in 2010, his due recogni- He also added that he would use this the nod over No. 33-man group for tion as he was felicitated at the National money for the betterment of the country 8 Nick Easter to lead the team out at the Six Nations. Institute of Sports Science, Torrington, as he had already planned to open a fit- Millennium Stadium in the absence of In a reshuffled squad named follow- recently. ness centre to encourage young men to regular captain Lewis Moody, who was ing Moody’s injury, Wood was promot- President Mahinda Rajapaksa too take to body building. out with a knee injury. ed from the second-string Saxons and gave Prasanna, his due, when the SLBBFF used this felicitation cere- Wood, a good lineout operator who his prowess at the lineout looks to have renowned builder was rewarded with Rs. mony organized for Prasanna to distrib- has been in impressive form for made the difference in Johnson’s mind 4 million and a luxury vehicle permit at ute certificates to coaches who success- English side Northampton this season, given the absence of Croft and Lawes. Temple Trees, last Tuesday, for his world fully passed the grade one certificate took the place of Tom Croft (shoulder) Joe Worsley will be the backup class medal winning performances at the level for fitness trainers conducted by in the back row as one of three injury- flanker for Haskell and Wood, with World Body Building Championships in SLBBFF. enforced changes made by manager Leeds’ Hendre Fourie having struggled Martin Johnson. with a calf problem this week. James Haskell replaced Moody at England: Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, openside flanker and lock Louis Mike Tindall (captain), Shontayne Deacon was recalled in place of Hape, Mark Cueto, Toby Flood, Ben Courtney Lawes (knee). Youngs; Andrew Sheridan, Dylan England’s backline will be at full Hartley, Dan Cole, Louis Deacon, Tom strength in the Welsh capital, with Palmer, Tom Wood, James Haskell, Toby Flood again preferred to Jonny Nick Easter. Replacements: Steve Wilkinson at flyhalf. Thompson, David Wilson, Simon Shaw, Dylan Hartley beat Steve Thompson Joe Worsley, Danny Care, Jonny to the hooker jersey and will be keen to Wilkinson, Matt Banahan. New regulations challenge F1 drivers at 1st test VALENCIA, Spain (AP) - centration will also be tested as steering Formula One drivers were busy grap- wheels feature more buttons due to the pling with new technical innovations wing and the return of the KERS power like an adjustable rear wing and new boost system. steering wheel at the season’s first test Seven-time world champion Michael session. Schumacher calls 2011’s regulations the Prasanna Peiris receives a memento in recognition of his world class feat in 2009 Nico Rosberg of Mercedes says driv- most “substantial” changes he’s seen. and 2010, from Sports Director General, P. Hatharasinghe. Also in the picture are ers will need some adjusting to the wing, F1 banned the double diffuser and Brigadier Priyantha Samaratunga, Coordinating Secretary of the Sports Minister, which aims to increase straight-line last season’s F-duct, which has led to President SLBBFF Kapila Kumara, Secretary SLBBFF Chandana Aluthge and speed and encourage overtaking. more “innovative” designs, including Sajith Madugalle, Managing Director Harcourts. Fernando Alonso says drivers’ con- Renault’s radical exhaust system.