14 Friday 30th July, 2010 - Late City Edition Woods to seek eighth victory at Mithun bags Amateur WGC-Bridgestone Invitational

BY GENE CHERRY ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods, winless in his first seven Golf championship PGA Tour starts this year, will defend his title at next week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, the world number one said on Wednesday. Woods will return to the Aug. 5-8 tournament at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, an elite event he won for the third time for a record seventh time last year after a final round five- under-par 65 to win by four strokes. BY ROSHEN STEELMAN ist Jakiruzzaman told The Island that “It’s one of the best courses we play all year,” Woods Mithun Perera had the home advan- said in a statement posted on his website on Wednesday. Sri Lankan Asian Games medal tage. (http:/web.tigerwoods.com). “Everything is right in front of prospect Mithun Perera had a wonder- “I know Mithun is good player you.” ful outing at the 123rd Sri Lanka here in Sri Lanka. He had the home Woods, coming off a tie for 23rd at the British Open earli- Amateur Golf Championship when he advantage and he used it really well” er this month, will then launch his bid for a 15th major title finished it with an overall tally of 12 told Jakiruzzaman who has visited at Whistling Straits the following week. under par 272 to win the overall indi- the island for the first time. vidual championship, at the RCGC Apart from Perera, other Sri yesterday. This was Perera’s third Lankan golfers were struggling dur- Dementieva and Stosur Amateur Championship title having ing the entire four day championship won it in 2006 and 2008. which cost the team Championship South Asian Games Bronze medal- for Sri Lanka. Bangladesh managed to advance to quarters ist Jakiruzzaman representing win the overall team Championship. STANFORD, California (AP) - break points. Bangladesh was Perera’s most consis- Meanwhile in the women’s catego- Elena Dementieva, in her come- Date Krumm reached a back tournament from injury, career-best No. 3 four years tent challenger, but was struggling in ry Shanika Fernando did well to win was forced to fight hard to see off before Dementieva turned pro in the fourth and final round yesterday the overall women’s individual catego- Japanese veteran Kimiko Date 1999, and returned to the tour as he accumulated an overall points ry. Krumm in the opening round of last year after a 12-year absence. tally of four over par 288 to finish as The championship was oraginsed the Bank of the West Classic on “She played fast and hit the runners-up. Perera, who got off to a by the Sri Lanka Golf Union and got Wednesday. ball flat,” Dementieva said. shaky start in the first two rounds, under way last Monday with the par- Dementieva missed “She’s just a great athlete.” recovered well, ending the champi- ticipation of players from Malaysia, Wimbledon with a left calf “It’s amazing how she played injury - her first grand slam and what great shape she is in.” onship as the only golfer to see it off Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. absence in more than 10 years - In another second-round under par. The event is the second oldest ama- and was below her best against match, Australia’s Samantha Mithun speaking about his victory teur national championship in the the 39-year-old Date Krumm Stosur celebrated her highest added that his next aim is the Gold world, next to the British Open before winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. singles’ ranking ever with a 6-1, medal in the Asian Games which is Championship and this year, Etisalat “It’s never easy to play with- 7-5 victory over U.S. qualifier scheduled to get under way late this came forward to sponsor this histori- out competition for two weeks Christina McHale year. “Hopefully I will be able to honor cal sporting event. Duminda and it took me a while to get into The match was Stosur’s first the game,” second-seeded since reaching No. 5 in the world. my country” said Perera Ratnayake, CEO Etisalat, speaking Dementieva said. “Sometimes “The high ranking feels Perera is the son of the legendary during the closing ceremony told the it’s good to go three sets and to good,” Stosur said. “It was a goal golfer Nandasena Perera who won a company intends to sponsor the face those difficult moments for me to get to No. 10. Once I got Silver medal in the 1990 Asian Games. Amateur Golf Championship annual- while finding a way to win.” to that point, all of a sudden I South Asian Games Bronze medal- ly. Dementieva won 12 of the moved up to No. 5. To have final 17 games to avoid becoming another big jump like that so Mithun Perera seen in action during the 123rd Amateur Golf Championship which the first seeded player to fall in soon is really pleasing. concluded at Royal Colombo Golf Club in Colombo, yesterday . the tournament. The two players “It’s not like I have changed (Pic by Sujatha Jayaratne) were a combined 13 of 28 on anything dramatically overnight.

England recovers to 190-4 vs. Pakistan Sri Lanka – England 2nd Youth Test 12 soccer teams contest Dialog NOTTINGHAM, England ous throughout his 26-ball (AP) - England recovered after innings of eight, nicked an Peiris takes six Champions League a double strike from Pakistan away swinger to Imran Twelve football teams in the Island early in the afternoon session Farhat at first slip. After Nipun Karunanayake (90) and will be seen in action when the Dialog to reach 190-4 at tea on day one Trott was on 13 in the Bhanuka Rajapaksha (47) top scored for Sri Champions League, the country’s of the first test on Thursday. 20th over when he was Lanka Under-19 to post 317 runs, skipper Premier Football Championship, will kick Mohammad Aamer (3-25) given out lbw to Danish Chathura Peiris took six wickets to restrict off on July 31 (Saturday) at City Football and Mohammad Asif (1-41) Kaneria, but with the England Under-19 to 299 for nine wickets at Grounds, Slave Island. removed Kevin Pietersen and umpire decision review lunch on the third day of the Youth Test The Opening match will feature Java Jonathan Trott in the first six system being used for the between the two countries at North Marine Lane Sports Club who’ll take on SL Air overs after lunch to leave first time in England, Trott Road Ground, Scarborough yesterday. Force Sports Club at 3.30p.m. This will be the 5th edition of the England in trouble on 118-4. instantly asked for it to be England were 223 for six wickets when they Tournament and arrangements have been However, Eoin Morgan and reviewed. commenced the third day, but Peiris made made to play 132 matches on a home and Paul Collingwood counterat- Television replays things difficult for the hosts picking up the away basis. tacked with an unbroken stand proved Trott had got his wickets of Paul Best and Adam Ball with in the Last year the tournament was won by of 72 for the fifth . bat to the ball and umpire space of ten runs to place England at 261 for Renown Sports Club which beat Sri Lanka Morgan was 44 at Asoka de Silva’s decision eight wickets. Saranga Rajaguru later clean Air Force Sports Club in the final. the interval, from 76 balls and was overturned. bowled Adam Rouse. England were 18 runs This year, Kalutara Park SC and Java including nine fours. Pakistan’s Salman Butt, left, asks for a TV review after Three overs later behind the visitors’ total with just one wicket Lane SC have been promoted to play in Collingwood scored a more Mohammad Asif appeals for the wicket the of England’s Kevin Akmal partially atoned for remaining when they took lunch. Champions League and Negombo Youth sedate 27 off of 61 deliveries. Pietersen during the first day of the first Test match at his earlier error, when he SC and Old Bens SC have been demoted to the “Unique” Premier League Division I Earlier England captain the Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, caught Strauss off Aamer, Scores: tournament, based on last year’s per- Andrew Strauss made 45 from Thursday July 29, 2010. Asif had appealed for an LBW decision but Pietersen survived a Sri Lanka Under-19 317 all out in 98.3 overs which was turned down after the TV review. (AP) formances. 75 balls with six fours. testing spell with Trott to (Nipun Karunanayake 90, BHanuka Rajapaksha Participating Teams England chose to bat first see England through to 47, Denuwan Rajakaruna 35, Akshu Fernando 39, Blue Star Sports Club (Kalutara),SL Army Sports after winning the toss, despite over- a from Aamer, only for lunch without further loss. Chahtura Peiris 22, Charith Jayampathi 31, Club, Don Bosco Sports Club (Negombo),New cast conditions that aided wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal to Saranga Rajaguru 22; Paul Best 5/53) Young’s Sports Club (Wennappuwa),Java Lane Brief scorers Pakistan’s opening bowlers. drop the simplest of catches. England Under-19 299 for 9 at lunch in 101 Sports Club (Colombo),SL Air Force Sports Club, England first innings 190 for loss of four The host moved tentatively to However, Aamer got the wicket overs (Joe Root 24, Luke Wells 54, Ateeq Javid Saunders Sports Club (Colombo),Renown Sports wickets (A. Strauss 45, E. Morgan 44 n.o., 22-0 in the fifth over when captain his bowling merited in the ninth 33, Jack Manuel 57, Paul Best 37; Chathura Peiris Club (Colombo),Jupiter’s Sports Club (Negombo),SL P. Collingwood 27 n.o; M. Aamer 3 wickets Strauss, on 15, got an inside edge to over, when Cook, who looked nerv- 6/79) Police Sports Club, Kalutara Park Sports Club, for 25 runs, M. Asif 1 wicket for 41 runs) Ratnam Sports Club (Colombo) (MP) Bowl and Shield rugby Bolt, Gay and Powell to race in Stockholm Diamond League

sain Bolt and sprint rivals Tyson “I think it was the only [100m] race while Bolt was added to the bill after honour to have him. This will increase finals today Gay and Asafa Powell are to meet he has lost in his [professional] life so negotiations stretching over several interest in the meeting for the future As things hot up for Sunday’s Ufor the first time in 2010 in the he probably wants to come back for weeks. and (talk of the race) will linger on for rugby final between Kandy SC and 100m at the Stockholm Diamond revenge,” said meeting director Rajne “He [Bolt] had missed a couple of years.” Navy SC, Colombo will come alive with League on 6 August. Soderberg. races [with injury] and did not want to Bowl and Shield finals of the Caltex It will be the first time triple Powell and Gay were already sched- (BBC) run more 200 metres, so it is a great Clifford Cup Knockout tournament Olympic champion Bolt, fellow uled to participate at the meeting, this evening. Jamaican Powell and American Gay According to the SLRFU, Rajarata have met since the 2009 World Buffalos will scrum down with Army Championships in Berlin. Caverly in the Shield final while Galle At the Worlds, Bolt took gold in a RFC will play Army Homagama in the time of 9.58 seconds with Gay second Bowl finals. Both matches will be and Powell finishing third. played at the Ceylonese Rugby & The trio also will meet in the Football Club grounds. Diamond League final at Brussels on 27 The Bowl final will be officiated by August. Gamini Indrasena while the Shield The 2009 world final was one of the final will be refereed by Asela most remarkable sprint races of all Muthumala. The Shield final will be time, with Gay running 9.71 to claim held at 3.30pm followed by the Bowl silver and Powell taking bronze with final which is scheduled for 4.30pm. 9.84. (RN) But all three have not raced togeth- er since - although Bolt beat Powell in the Paris Diamond League event on 16 July, running 9.84 seconds. Joe-Pete rugby match on Saturday And Gay also beat Powell in the 100m at the British Grand Prix in The annual rugby encounter Gateshead. Stockholm was the venue when between St. Peter’s College and St. Powell recorded his only professional Joseph’s College, played for the Fr. Basil victory in nine races against compatri- Asafa Weeratunga Shield, will be played on Tyson ot Bolt at the 2008 meet before the Gay Powell July 31 (Saturday) at St. Peter’s College Beijing Olympics. Usain Bolt Bambalapitiya. (RN)