14 Wednesday 9th February, 2011 Schools body-building Sumo questions wrestlers championship on Feb. 12 BY MADURA NANDANA they (SLBBFF) have had informed 85 schools all Sri Lanka Schools Body together and were expect- Building Championship, ing at least 50 to partici- conducted by the Sri Lanka pate in the event this week- in bout-fixing scandal Body Building and Fitness end. Federation (SLBBFF) and When queried whether BY ERIC TELMADGE sponsored by ‘Astron’, will it is advisable to take TOKYO (AP) - Japan’s sumo associ- be held on Feb. 12 at school children to this Ananda College, Colombo. ation began questioning dozens of sport at a very tender age, The final showdown is he said it was permissible top wrestlers Tuesday in a widening scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. to contest after attaining 15 investigation into allegations of bout- the same day. or 16 years of age. fixing that have deeply tarnished the When ‘The Island’ con- The championship will image of the nation’s ancient nation- tacted Ranil Perera, be contested in two sepa- al sport. Treasurer, SLBBFF, he said rate age group categories, that this was the second The Japan Sumo Association said Under-70kg and above. edition of the competition Deputy Minister of it was quizzing all wrestlers in the which commenced last Education, Gamini Vijith sport’s two top divisions to find if year after a lapse of many Vijayamuni will grace the they were involved in fixing the out- years. He emphasised that occasion as chief guest come of matches. It expected to put this was an attempt to pro- mote a sport of this nature while Adviser to Land together an initial report on their Reclamation Board and findings by the end of the week. island-wide to gain recog- nition at school level. Attorney-at-Law, Sports Minister Yoshiaki Takaki He further added that Hariguptha Rohanadeera said he was deeply concerned by the will be the guest of honour. scandal, in which more than a dozen wrestlers or coaches have been impli- cated. Amid a public outcry, the sumo association has decided to cancel its next major tournament - the first time that has happened in 65 years - and forego a number of exhibition or charity events until the matter is resolved. “Sumo is in a crisis,” Takaki said after meeting association officials Tuesday.“We hope for a quick investi- gation into the nature of this inci- dent.” Grand champion Hakuho, second left front row, and other top sumo wrestlers stand at attention on the sumo ring The latest scandal surfaced last as Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hanaregoma, in kimono, delivers the opening speech at the start of a new week, when police informed sumo Mudith Darmapriya, Marketing Manager of ‘Astron’, year tournament at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena on Jan. 9, 2011. Japan’s sumo association said on hands over the sponsorship cheque to Lal Perera, an officials they had found suspicious Sunday Feb. 6, 2011, it will cancel its March tournament due to a match-fixing scandal. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) executive official of the SLBBF and a schools body- text messages on the mobile phones of building development official. Also in the picture are several wrestlers. The phones had sumo is generally seen as a symbol of There were indications that not incriminating text messages. Indika Fernando, Dty. Treasurer, SLBBFF, and been confiscated in an investigation Japanese culture, and not merely a all wrestlers were being cooperative One wrestler said his wife Wasantha Fernando, Executive Member, SLBBFF, and into another scandal that came to sport. Unlike other sports, the sumo with the investigation. stepped on his and broke it, Kyodo an International Referee. light last year involving wrestlers bet- association has special status that Kyodo news service and Japan’s reported. ting on baseball games, allegedly with affords it tax benefits, and its public broadcaster NHK said that Allegations of match-fixing have gangsters acting as go-betweens. wrestlers appear in public clad in tra- some wrestlers had broken or long shadowed sumo, but the associa- The scandal has become a nation- ditional robes and wear their hair in replaced their old phones, possibly to tion has staunchly denied them and al embarrassment for Japan because top-knots. avoid having them checked for none had ever been proven. Lankan lasses in creditable feat in Asian junior tennis Hussey, Hauritz ruled out By Revata S. Silva Three girls representing Sri Lanka in the Asian 14-and- Under ITF organised tennis tournament, held in Myanmar, displayed a creditable performance last month. of World Cup squad The event was held with Suresh Menon, Maung Maung Lay and Wannawit Srirasa officiating as representatives MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Both players underwent surgery in of the ITF. Sri Lanka’s Thisuri Molligoda reached semi-finals in Injured batsman Mike Hussey and spin- bids to be fit for the World Cup, although the first of the two tournaments losing against second ner Nathan Hauritz have been ruled out their chances of recovering in time were seed Ang Geraldine 6-4, 6-4 and ended up as the eventual of Australia’s squad for the cricket World never high. third place holder out of 25 participants. Cup starting later this month in the sub- “Callum has an excellent record in The other two girls, Nethmi Waduge and Kavindya de continent. one-day international cricket and played Silva won the 6th and 13th positions respectively. Upul Cricket Australian well in the limited-overs Priyantha was the Non-playing Captain of the Sri Lanka announced Tuesday that match against England in girls’ team for the Asian 14-and-Under tournament 2011. Hussey had not recov- Sydney recently.We think ered from a torn ham- he’ll play well in subcon- Tiger Woods’ string and Hauritz had tinental conditions,” not recovered after dislo- Hilditch said. “Jason cating his right shoulder toured India with the extravagant new estate in a one-day match Australian test team in against England last 2008 and understands BY LINDA MARX Lichtenstein tells PEOPLE. month. Hussey Hauritz those conditions. We’re “His home is not backed up to Callum Ferguson and certain he’ll be a key the water as are most on Tiger Woods has been trav- spin bowler Jason Krejza have been member of our squad.” eling on the PGA golf tour, but Jupiter Island because of the drafted into the 15-man squad, which is The Australian squad has been his new Jupiter Island, Fla., golf course.” estate – 4 ½ years in the mak- Unlike many Palm Beach due to leave Wednesday for India. plagued by injuries, with skipper Ricky ing – is nearly ready. area homes which are Spanish The three-time defending champion Ponting only just recovering from a bro- “Tiger built this house on Mediterranean in style, Australians will play warmup matches ken finger which has sidelined him all more than four lots and has Woods’s estate, valued at against India and South Africa before its this year. Other potential squad members between $60 and $80 million, is made the surrounding proper- opening World Cup match against Shaun Marsh and spinner Xavier SL’s girls team for the recent Asian 14-&-Under tennis ty into a mini Olympic sleek and European with many Zimbabwe at Ahmedabad on Feb. 21. Doherty weren’t considered due to tournament in Myanmar. From L-R: Nethmi Waduge, Village,” Jeff Lichtenstein, a modern conveniences. real estate agent with He bought the house nearly The national selection panel “has injuries which forced them out of all or Kavindya de Silva, Thisuri Molligoda and Upul Illustrated Properties, who has five years ago for $44.5 million determined that the best strategy to part of the 6-1 ODI series win over Priyantha (Non-playing Capt.). (Pic courtesy SLTA) taken aerial shots of the with the interior space being ensure a successful campaign is for England. Jupiter Island estate, tells 9,729 square feet on 12 acres, Australia to enter the tournament with a Australian team physiotherapist Alex PEOPLE. “It is a property he according to reports. He has spent millions to renovate the fully fit squad,” chief selector Andrew Kountouris said Ponting was recovering developed for his own personal Hilditch said. well. use, which also serves as a interior and exterior. training facility.” Inside the house, there is a Cole voted England’s best The estate has a four-hole large master suite with his and golf course with sand traps, her bathrooms, three addition- al bedroom suites, a massive 100 ft.-long swimming pool, player of 2010 by fans media room, elevator and diving pool, spa, 100 ft. field state-of-the-art kitchen. The Zimbabwe begin World Cup won their official online and track area, tennis and bas- basement has a large wine cel- ketball courts, a pair of boat player-of-the-year vote. lar and multiple game rooms. docks, and a reflecting pond. Cole, who has made 86 A guest house, garage, golf Inside the facility is a 5,700 sq.- preparations with win international appearances, training studio and boat house ft. fitness center. says “it’s been hard for me round out the property, which “Tiger virtually built him- Brendan Taylor scored an unbeaten double figures as Ed Rainsford, Elton stretches from the Atlantic at times, but now I think self his version of a YMCA or Ocean to the Intracoastal half-century to guide Zimbabwe to an Chigumbura and Ray Price all took a I’ve got their apprecia- world class fitness center,” Waterway. impressive six-wicket win over Ireland wicket apiece. tion.” in a 2011 World Cup warm-up match in Taylor then put on 58 for the first The Chelsea left back’s Dubai. wicket with Charles Coventry, who was public image has been Taylor was unbeaten on 84 as bowled by Cusack for 26. Cusack struck tainted by perceptions he Tikolo century too much for Afghanistan Zimbabwe closed on 208 for four having again to have Regis Chakabva caught is greedy plus his failed earlier dismissed Ireland for 204 in 48.1 and bowled for eight before Sean marriage to pop star Steve Tikolo stroked an 48 for three and failed to recover overs. Williams hit a quickfire 24 in 20 balls. Cheryl Cole. He is sure fans haven’t unbeaten century to set up a 49- sufficiently to get the run chase Ireland started strongly with opener He was caught by Paul Stirling off run win for Kenya over been booing him due to back on track. and captain William Porterfield making Andre Botha but an innings of 47 from Afghanistan in a World Cup They were eventually dis- any failings on the pitch, 66 in 80 balls and Ed Joyce 45 in 66 deliv- Craig Ervine helped Taylor put on 102 warm-up match in Dubai. missed in the 43rd over. Kenya, telling FATV that “it was a eries before they collapsed from a for the fourth wicket and extinguish Tikolo was unbeaten on 126 who bet365 make 2000/1 out- more personal thing, so it as Kenya scored 289 for four siders to win the World Cup, strong position of 111 for one. any faint hopes Ireland had of getting hurt me even more, but before bowling Afghanistan out continue their preparations in Greg Lamb dismissed Niall O’Brien back into the game. every time I put on an for 240 in reply. (1), Alex Cusack (8) and Gary Wilson (2) Ervine was dismissed with the Ashley Cole Collins Obuya (49), Tanmay Dubai when they play Ireland England shirt I try my to return three for 30 while leg-spinner scores level, leaving captain Mishra (48), and Morris Ouma on 9th February. hardest.” (33 not out) also made contribu- They then travel to Sri Lanka Graeme Cremer removed Porterfield Chigumbura to hit the winning runs LONDON (AP) - Despite The 30-year-old Cole tions as the Kenyans produced a to play the West Indies and the and Kevin O’Brien (0) to claim two for with Taylor unbeaten at the other end feeling frustration at being was part of the England strong batting display. Netherlands before beginning 21. on 84 from 121 balls, having hit five regularly jeered by his team that went of the 2010 That could not be matched by their campaign against New Andrew White, who made 41, was fours and a six to anchor his side’s own supporters, England World Cup in the second Afghanistan as they slipped to Zealand on 20th February. the only other Ireland player to reach innings superbly. defender Ashley Cole has round.