Friday 19th September, 2008 11 10th South Asian Judo Championship Bronze worth a paddy field!

by Reemus Fernando Kathmandu. She won a bronze medal is also working,” he said. their journey.“Athletes had to find Vidyalaya. he father of one of the medal in the Women’s 52KG event. Although he had mortgaged his money on their own. ‘Sirasa’ helped Medal winners winners at the 10th South Asian Kaushalya’s father, works as a day only property, Karunaratne’s father is one judoka (K. G. Seneviratne of the R.D.K.P.C. Gunasekara Men’s 90Kg TJudo Championship, which was labourer in a rubber estate. happy that his daughter had managed Sri Lanka Army) and the Sports Silver (Sri Lanka Police) held from September 9-13 in “We are very poor. It is with great to win a medal for the country after Ministry helped two, while many H.M.C.T. Abeysekara Women’s Kathmandu, revealed that he had to difficulty that we found money for her failing in her first attempt the last other judokas had to find money on 78Kg Silver (Kegalu Vidyalaya) mortgage his paddy field to find journey.I mortgaged my paddy field to time. their own,” said Zoysa. H.M. Kaushalya Karunaratne money to send his daughter for the give her the money,” said Kaushalya’s “It is a great relief. I knew that she Sri Lanka won two silver medals Women’s 52Kg Bronze (Kegalu regional event in an interview with father, who is also suffering from dia- could do this. Now I don’t mind even if and four bronze medals at the South Vidyalaya) ‘The Island’ on Wednesday. betics. the paddy field is forfeited as she has Asian Judo Championship. R.D.C. Gunasekara Women’s 70Kg Kaushalya Karunaratne, a student “I cannot do any hard work. But realized one of her dreams,” he said. While three medal winners were Bronze (Sri Lanka Army) of Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya, was one occasionally, I work in a nearby rub- The president of the Sri Lanka from the Sri Lanka Army, one medal A. Atapattu Men’s 55Kg Bronze of the six judokas who won medals at ber estate. The money I earn from that Judo Association, Kithsiri de Zoysa winner was from the Sri Lanka Police. (Sri Lanka Army) the 10th South Asian Judo is not enough to meet the expenses of revealed that many had to face diffi- The other two medals were won by K.G. Seneviratne Men’s 73Kg Championship which was held in my daughter. Because of that, my wife culties as they were sans a sponsor for school children from Kegalu Balika Bronze (Sri Lanka Army) Hatton National Bank PLC - Mercantile CCC School of celebrates 10th Anniversary The CCC School of Cricket is one of the leading cricket of junior cricket in the country.Today, celebrates its 10th Anniversary coaching schools in the island. many students of the academy perform with the traditional Six-a-Side It was founded by veteran well in school tournaments and many other badminton champions 2008 tournament which will be coach Nelson Mendis in 1998, competitions organised by the Sri Lanka played between the four hous- on the invitation of Thilanga Schools Cricket Association and Sri Lanka 21/17. es, namely, Bradman, Sobers, Sumathipala and Shammi Cricket. Many young players from the Dinuka with Nadeesha Tendulkar and Jayasuriya. Silva, two reputed cricket per- school have gained representative honours Gayanthi of HNB beat Chandrika The two-day celebrations sonalities and officials of the in the U-15, U-17 and U-19 National teams. A De Silva and Diluka will be held on September 20 Colombo Cricket Club. few of them are bound to wear the Sri Karunarathne of Seylan Bank and 21, at the CCC Grounds, During a short span of 10 Lankan cap in the near future. 22/24, 21/19, 21/12 to grab the Maitland Crescent, from 8.30 years, the CCC School of During the current year, the CCC jun- a.m. onwards, on both days. Cricket has contributed iors performed well to annex both the U-11 Mixed Doubles title. The CCC School of Cricket immensely to the development and U-13 All India Pepsi Cup In addition, Dinuka Championships, held in Bangalore, in May. Karunarathne of HNB was the For the third consecutive year, the CCC runner-up in the Men’s Singles School of Cricket won this prestigious tour- event. Dinuka was defeated by his Police Inter-Div. Sports Meet nament. own brother Diluka At the recently concluded MCA U-13 Karunarathne of Seylan Bank tournament, CCC cricketers won the group title, but unfortunately, were beaten by the after a tough match. STF on top SSC Cricket Academy in the final. The 60th Police Inter Police Field Force Nadeesha Gayanthi lost to (However, the Maitland Crescent boys had Division Athletics Meet was Headquarters team, which National champion Chandrika De the better of the Maitland Place juniors in held on the 13 and 14 scored only 89 points. Silva in the Women’s Singles the preliminary round, where they record- September, at the Police Field SI Udaya Kumara of the ed an easy six victory). event after a very close three set- Force Headquarters Sports STF won the Men’s Putt Shot The Annual Six-a-Side Inter-House tour- ter by 11/21, 23/21, 21/11. Grounds. event and SI Hapuarachchi nament will be categorized into the age Nadeesha and Ravihari De Silva The Inspector General of won the Men’s Javelin event. groups of U-10, U-11, U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15 Police, Jayantha The Nolis Shield for the (HNB) also lost to Chandrika and and U-18. Wickramaratne was the chief Most Outstanding Athlete Pamisha Dishanthi (Seylan Bank) Last year, Bradman House won the guest and gave away the was jointly awarded to PC in the Women’s Doubles event in Overall Championship. prizes to the winners. 2923 L .G. Dharshana of the Hatton National Bank won the Officials of Sri Lanka straight sets, 21/19, 21/17. The chief guest at the awards presenta- The Police Special Task STF and PC 42364 N. S. tion will be former Sri Lanka Test and ODI Overall Championship for the 4th Badminton Association Interim Hashan Anuradha (Men’s Force team emerged Overall Jayatilleke of the Police cricketer Brendon Kuruppu and the guest consecutive year at the Committee and National Singles), Madusha Dissanayeke Men’s champions at the 60th Training School. of honour will be double international, Mercantile Individual Open Selecting Committee for (Women’s Singles), Ravihari De Police Inter Division Meet It should be specially men- Uvais Karnain of cricket and hockey fame. Badminton Championship 2008, Badminton were also present at Silva (Women’s Singles), and was awarded the tioned that the athletes of the held at S. Thomas’ College, the awards ceremony. Madusha Dissanayeke and Dowbiggin Challenge Cup. Special Task Force, whilst Mount Lavinia from 20 to 24 The Overall champions, Nadeeka Nilmini (Women’s performing operational duties in the East, participated at August. More than 300 players Hatton National Bank, clinched Doubles), Lakshan Silva and Medals won at the this meet and displayed their represented 36 mercantile firms the coveted title beating Seylan Nadeeka Nilmini (Mixed meet by the STF: talents. in this tournament. bank by three points in a very Doubles) reached the semi-finals Gold Medals - 8 Their winning efforts The awards ceremony was close contest. while Lakshan Silva (Mens Silver Medals - 8 were greatly appreciated by held on 24 August. Marketing HNB also won the Men’s and Singles), Hashan Anuradha and Bronze Medals - 4 IGP Jayantha Wickremaratne. Manager, CIC Paints (Pvt) Ltd., Mixed Doubles titles. Nalin Weerakoone (Men’s Total - 20 The Commandant of the Sahan Rajapaksha was the chief Dinuka Karunarathne and Doubles), Nadeeka Nilmini Special Task Force, K. M. L. The victorious STF team Sarathchandra, DIG, Ananda guest and the Lakshan Silva of HNB won the (Womens Singles), Hashan scored a total of 191 points. Gunatilleke, SSP, R. W. M. C. Chairman/Managing Director, Men’s Doubles event beating Anuradha and Ravihari De Silva What is of special signifi- Ranawana, SSP, and Patrick Mike Cooke Group of Companies, Clarence Homer (Jason’s Sports) (Mixed Doubles) reaching quar- cance is that the margin of Edema, SSP and several sen- Mike Cooke, was the guest of and Upendra Jayawardana (The ter finals added more points to victory was 102 points more ior officers were present at honour at the final ceremony. Finance) in straight sets of 21/18, HNB. that the runners-up, the the occasion. Another feather in the cap for Air Force rugby

Text and pic by M. Farook Lantra first blood through an intercepted by A. B. Nissanka, to make it 15-12. Air Force Rugby Club, pass by A. H. Soyza, who ran nearly For the victorious Air Force Diyatalawa, just a week after win- 60 meters to score under the post. team, skipper Ruwan ning the historical Uva Centenary The conversion was by E. M. Wickramasinghe, Lasantha Cup, emerged champions at the Uva Abeykoon. Air Force soon reduced Bandara, Sanjaya Fernando, P. S. Province Rugby Championship 2008. the lead with a penalty conversion Pathirana and I. K. Wijewansa The Air Force Diyatalawa team by Sanjaya Fernando. excelled. For the Military Academy, beat the Sri Lanka Military Just before lemons, Air Force Major Bathiya Jayaweera, S. R. Academy, Diyatalawa, the reigning scored under the post through a Batawela, A. B. Nissanka, G. R. champions of this tournament for push over try by I. K. Wijewansa Munasingha and A. H. Soyza played the past three years. and the conversion was made good well. The final was played at the pic- by Sanjaya Fernando. The score The chief guest at the finals, turesque Polo grounds Diyatalawa, read 10-7 in favour of Air Force at Brigadier Kumudu Perera, in front of a capacity crowd on a the change over. Commandant, Sri Lanka Military cool and breezy evening. Soon after resumption of play, Academy, distributed the awards to The Air Force team, coached by Air Force increased the lead the winners at the invitation of Wing Commander Sanjaya through an unconverted try off a Nelantha Silva, President, Uva Fernando, marshalled the team to move by Ruwan Wickramasingha to Province Rugby Union. victory after a closely contested run lead 15-7. In the 50th minute, the The game was controlled by and pass game. Military Academy fought back and Nimal Fernando. The Military Academy drew succeeded with an unconverted try

Bangladesh ‘rebels’ cop 10-year ban cricket chiefs held an emergency meeting on Council rules, he added. Baisya. many players on a regular basis. said on Wednesday that 13 play- Wednesday and decided to ban At least seven of the 13 play- Players aligned with the ICL - We’ll replace these guys with ers who opted to compete in the the players for joining the unap- ers informed the BCB they were bankrolled by India’s largest list- young players but my biggest unauthorised Indian proved league for 10 years, BCB retiring from Bangladesh crick- ed media company Zee Telefilms concern is that the ICL will league will be banned for 10 spokesman Rabeed Imam has et, citing personal reasons. - are banned from playing offi- come knocking again next year,” years, cricket365.com reported on said. The 13 players announced for cial domestic and international Siddons was quoted as having Wednesday. “We don’t have full reports of the Warriors include for- cricket. told AFP via telephone from The who have joined the ICL. But mer and The meeting was held a day Australia. (ICL) on Tuesday unveiled its today, the board has decided that senior team-mates Shahriar after the board announced it Bangladesh captain new Dhaka Warriors team in whoever has joined the unap- Nafees, Dhiman Ghosh, would not accept the players’ told the New Delhi, which comprises 11 proved league would be automat- Mohammad Rafique and Alok retirements. leading Bengali language news- Bangladesh internationals ically banned for 10 years,” he Kapali. Earlier Wednesday, paper Prothom Alo, in an inter- reportedly earning US200,000 was quoted as having said. The others are Aftab Ahmed, Bangladesh’s Australia-born view published Tuesday that he dollars each over a three-year The report adds that the , Manjural Islam, coach Jamie Siddons, who joined was offered a US700,000-dollar period. board was also considering legal Mabud Chowdhury, Mahbubul the cricket minnows a year ago, contract to play in the ICL, According to the report the action against the 13 for breach- Karim, Mohammad Sharif, denied the sport was in crisis. which he declined. (BCB) ing International Cricket Mosharraf Hossain and Tapash “We can’t afford to lose that (Russ)