Friday 4th June, 2010

Davis Cup (Round-2) Trials Dineshkanthan Former TT champ upsets upsets Rajapakse the applecart for Sri Lanka in opener BY RAVI NAGAHAWATTE tioned in USA and playing competi- contested these tournaments unat- the fourth division and it was only at tive table tennis. His performances tached. the eleventh hour that the islanders ri Lanka received a rude shock have been recognized by the Chandana Perera, Secretary Table knew that they had received a promo- when they learnt the reason for International Table Tennis Tennis Association of Sri Lanka tion to division three. Stheir promotion at the World Federation (ITTF) and hence the pro- (TTASL), told The Island that he TTASL secretary Perera however Table Tennis Championships, held motion for Sri Lanka, according to would write to the ITTF and inform denied these claims and said that Sri recently in Moscow, Russia. Priyantha. them that Sri Lanka doesn’t allow Lanka knew about the promotion Sri Lanka table tennis coach and “These wins by Piyadasa and the individuals to represent the country. well ahead and he even kept delegate Lalith Priyantha was both points he has gained have affected “Our rules are clear. We don’t allow Priyantha informed about it. surprised and annoyed when he our world rating as a nation. This individuals to represent Sri Lanka “My personal view is that Sri learned in Russia that the reason for had an adverse effect on us because unless they obtain the written Lanka benefitted by contesting the the promotion was due to the good we were denied of the opportunity to approval of the TTASL. What third division because we faced performances at table tennis by a Sri contest the fourth division where the Piyadasa did was wrong, but we will tougher opposition and that helped us Lankan player, now living in the USA. competition isn’t that tough. Playing deal with the ITTF on this matter and where gaining experience was con- The Sri Lankan player identified in the third division after the promo- not with Piayadasa,” said Chandana. cerned. What could we have gained as Thilina Piyadasa, a former nation- tion meant we had to compete in a According to coach Priyantha, Sri by playing in division four and beat- al champion, is reported to be sta- tougher category,” said Priyantha. Lanka had prepared the players for ing mediocre players?,” queried He said that Piyadasa should have the World Championships to contest Perera.

SLSRFA picked Inter Provincial Under-119 Tournament Royal-Isipathana Thangarajah game for Dineshkanthan anti-doping test Four in four BY RAVI NAGAHAWATTE BY REVATA S. SILVA Sri Lanka conducted its first ever session of anti-doping tests on school- Sri Lanka’s current junior (Under-18) boy rugby players last week. boys singles title holder Thangarajah Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football for Sachithra Dineshkanthan of St. Peter’s College, Association (SLSRFA) secretary Colombo, upset 10-time Davis Cup cam- Denzil Darling said that urine samples paigner Rajeev Rajapakse, 30, on the first of players were taken for testing at the Jayasuriya guides yesterday. day of the trials of the Davis Cup Asia- inter-school league rugby tournament Western Province South After rain and wet ground Oceania Zone Group-II (Round 2) at the Sri match between Royal and Isipathana, conditions reduced the match Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) clay played at Havelock Park on May 29. to a 24 overs a side affair, Shehan Jayasuriya ham- courts in Colombo on Wednesday (June 2). “One player from each team was selected for the test after drawing lots. South Outer team, who were mered a blistering 85 runs in Dineshkanthan who represented Sri The samples were sent to India for put to bat were 113 for five just 53 balls for Western Lanka in the Davis Cup for the first time testing and we should know the , going to the last two Province South to record a in this year’s Group-II Round 1 last March results within the next 12 days,” said overs. But Ananda College seven run victory over against New Zealand, beat Rajapakse 6-4, Darling. The tests had been conducted spinner managed to rattle Central according to 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday. by Dr Seevali Jayawickreme and Daya their tail as he had four bats- Duckworth-Lewis method in The two trial matches that were to be Athukorale in keeping with the regu- men, namely Sanjaya their Under-19 Inter played on Thursday, between Rajapakse lations of the World Anti Doping Body Chathuranga, Vimukthi Provincial match played at and Guyanga Weerasekera and Rukmal (WADA). Kaushal, Yasasri de Alwis Moratuwa yesterday. Cooray and Amresh Jayawickrema, were Darling said that there had been a and Kasun Madushan bowled Jayasuriya hit seven not held due to wet court conditions. lot of cooperation from the members in successive deliveries to fours and four sixes in his Those matches were rescheduled for next of the two teams, their coaches and restrict them to 125 runs. knock. Tuesday (8), according to Rohan de Silva, even parents when the tests were con- Chasing the target, St. The match was played as one of the National tennis selectors on ducted. Benedict’s batsman Rukshan a 22 overs a side match after Thursday. According to Darling, the SLSRFA Weerasinghe scored an rain delayed the start of the A four-member Sri Lanka team will plans to continue doing the anti-dop- unbeaten 58 runs supported match. meet Hong Kong – China from July 9-11 in ing tests on players throughout the by Raninda Suriyakumara Scores: Colombo to fight to retain their place in season. He said that testing will be and Chathuranga Kumara to Central 165 all out in 22 the Asia-Oceania Zone Group-II for next done during the knockout tournament steer the side to victory with overs (Heshan year. Sri Lanka is playing in the presti- too. three overs to spare. Wanniarachchi 39, Sandun gious Zonal Group-II for the first time “The initial plan this year is to tar- Weerakkody 25, Saranga after a decade. get the teams contesting the Group A Scores: Rajaguru 21, Akila The top four out of the five players par- in the division 1 tournament, but WP South Outer 125 all Jayasundara 23; Lahiru ticipating in the ongoing trials will meet there are requests to conduct the tests Sachithra Perera (centre) who picked up four wickets in out in 24 overs (Isira Kumara Jayaratne 2/27, Sanitha de Amrith Rupasinghe, former Sri Lanka in the lower division tournaments as four balls eagerly follows the successful run chase of 18, Charith Ruchiranga 50, Mel 3/30, Shehan Jayasuriya National champion and one time Davis well,” he said. Western Province North team with his teammates at Sanjaya Chathuranga 12; 2/34, Maduka Cup rep —who has performed well for Darling said that the tests in future Kotahena yesterday. Sachithra Perera 4/13, Dinal Liyanapathiranage 2/28) Bates College, Maine, USA, recently— in might be conducted by drawing lots and selecting a player each from both Dhambarage 3/25) Western Province trials’ 2nd Round hoping to enter the final sides, picking all members of the two BY REEMUS FERNANDO restrict Western Province WP North 126 for 4 in 20.2 South 157 for 8 in 20 overs four-man Sri Lanka team for the forthcom- teams or by signaling out only the out- South Outer team to 125 runs overs (Rukshan Weerasinghe (Shehan Jayasuriya 85, ing Hong Kong - China tie. Rupasinghe is standing players from both sides. Right arm leg-spinner and record a six victo- 58n.o, Raninda Deshan Dias 14, Sanitha de scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka next He said that players were given one Sachithra Perera picked up ry in the Inter Provincial Suriyakumara 22, Mel 13, Maduka week after completing his studies in USA. hour after a game to present them- four wickets in four balls for Under-19 Tournament Chathuranga Kumara 31; Liyanapathiranage 16; Country’s only ATP player at present, selves for the test. Western Province North to match played at Kotahena Akila Dananjaya 3/22) Kavinda Jayasuriya 2/32) Harshana Godamanna, will have an auto- matic entry into the Lankan side this year too. He will play in two ITF Futures tour- naments in Indonesia before next month’s Wimal Weerawansa appointed President Zimbabwe wins to complete Davis Cup tie. This year’s Sri Lanka coach for the of Taekwondo Association Davis Cup Round-2, Enrico Piperno of double over India India, is to arrive in Colombo next week to Wimal Weerawansa, , Zimbabwe (AP) - Rarely has a Zimbabwean pair of Minister of Housing & start training for the Lankan squad. Sri Construction Industry Zimbabwe completed a remarkable batsmen from the current crop Lanka’s Non-playing for next and the leader of the double over India Thursday by eas- looked so good against an interna- July’s tie will be Aasiri Iddamalgoda. political party Jathika ing to a comfortable seven-wicket tional attack, with Taylor and Sri Lanka lost to New Zealand 2-3 in Nidahas Peramuna, has win in a tri-nation series match. Masakadza putting on 128 for the Group-II Round 1 last March. Hong Kong - been appointed President of the Sri Lanka After limiting India to 194-9 from first wicket as they chased a paltry China lost to Pakistan 1-3 to set up a meet- Taekwondo Association, 50 overs in an impressive bowling target. ing with Sri Lanka in Colombo in July. a communiqué from the showing at the Harare Sports Club, The aggressive Taylor was strong In an eight-nation Group-II, New Association said on the host was then inspired by open- on the backfoot, plundering six fours Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand and Indonesia Thursday (June 3). Wimal Weerawansa, Minister of Housing & Construction Industry, ers (74) and and one six from 90 balls. Makakadza will be vying for a place in Group-I next The appointment has who was appointed head of the SL Taekwondo Association, with Hamilton Masakadza (66) to reach faced 86 balls and smashed four fours year while Sri Lanka, Hong Kong - China, been made at the min- the officials of the Association at his ministry recently. istry auditorium by the 197-3 with 11.4 overs remaining. and two towering sixes off spinner Pacific Oceania (region) and Malaysia will has pledged he would Punchihewa, Ranjith Executive Committee of “I thought all the bowlers bowled Amit Mishra in the 31st over. be fighting to retain their places in Group- the Taekwondo help spread the sport to Muramudali, Secretary really well,” said Zimbabwe captain II after losing in their respective Round 1 Association. The SL the far off districts in the Thushan Wijesinghe, Scores: . “And when we Taekwondo Association island as it is restricted Assi. Secretary Bandhula India: 194-9 (Ravindra Jadeja 51, ties last March. batted, we knew it was just a matter which was formed in 1979 to a few urban schools Karunatilake and Dinesh Karthik 33; Greg Lamb 3-45). has never appointed a now. Treasurer Susantha of getting good partnerships, and Today’s Trials Schedule: Zimbabwe: 197-3 (Brendan politician as its head The District Jeewa too have taken Hami and BT batted really well.” 10 a.m. - G. Weerasekera vs T. Dineshkanthan Taylor 74, Hamilton Masakadza 66; before. Executives of the part in the above meet- India lost by six wickets to 10 a.m. - A. Jayawickrema vs R. Rajapakse. Minister Weerawansa Association, Chaminda ing. Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last Friday. Jadeja 2-27).

Friday 4th June, 2010