Sunday Times

Sri Lanka national Masters hockey team will start their first ever World Cup bid against host Spain on July 27 in the Masters Hockey World Cup 2018 scheduled to be held in Barcelona from July 27-August 5. 

The team with 18-member former national hockey players represented the country between 1978-2008 will also play against England (July 28), France (July 29), and Italy (July 30) in their round robin matches. 

Australia, Germany, Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, USA, and Oman will be the other countries featured in this year’s World Cup organised by International Masters Hockey Association. 

This will be the first time a Sri Lankan Masters hockey team selected to play in a World Cup and the team is led by 56-year old veteran CH & FC and former Royalist Ashok Peries, who represented the national team from 1987-1996. 

Ananda Silva, a D.S. Senanayake old boy and former Sri Lankan national sticker, who represented the country as a defender for more than a decade in 1980s is appointed as the vice-captain. 

The team comprises of some of the most prolific hockey players this country has produced like former BRC player S.H.M. Kuthubdeen, a defender who has played more than 50 international games for the country including Asia Cup 1982 and led the national team in 1986 against a test series with Russia in Colombo and Sri Lanka’s 1990 vice-captain and Assistant Superintend of Prisons Fazeer Laheer (former CH&FC captain), who will also be the manager of the team. 

Sri Lanka’s forward line will be strengthened by Nadith Kudagama (Sri Lanka 1995-1999, Royal College Hockey Club), a fabulous Sri Lankan dribbler who was selected for the Asian Combined Hockey team in 1997, Saman Vandalan (Sri Lanka 1995-2002, Wennappuwa Sports Club) who also was in the 1997 Asian combined team, Indrawansha Herath (Park SC, Matale), the 1996 national team captain, Mahir Mohideen (Sri Lanka 1983, Former BRC), Lloyd Fredrick (Sri Lanka 1992, Old Benedicts HC), Godwin Solomons (Sri Lanka – 1996-99, CH & FC), and Duncan Devendra (Sri Lanka 1994-1996, CH&FC). 

The defending half positions will be comprised of Anura Bandara (Sri Lanka 2002-2010, Sri Lanka captain, Asia Cup 2008 and Air Force Hockey Club), Manuja Gunawardena (Sri Lanka 1997-99, Royal College Hockey Club), Mario Joseph (Sri Lanka -1996-2001, Old Peterite Hockey Club), Linus Xavier (Sri Lanka 1996-1998, Old Benedicts HC), and Marlon Jacobs (Sri Lanka 1992, Old Benedicts HC).  

Both D.C. Perera (Sri Lanka captain 2002 & CH & FC) and Shihar Aneez (Sri Lanka 1996, Royal College Hockey Club) will be guarding the net. 

The teamwill be playing in Europe for the first time. 

The team is chosen by the selectors of Sri Lanka Masters National Hockey Association (SLMNHA), a body approved by the Sports Ministry,after continuous weekly training sessions for nearly past one year and coached by Hafiz Preena, who represented Sri Lanka from 1973-83. 

Brandix Essentials (Brandix) 'B' and Akbar Bros. (Akbars) advanced to the Final of the ongoing1st fairfirst Insurance Trophy – MCA 'F' Division 25-Over League Tournament 2018. 

In the 1st semifinal played at the MCA, Brandix 'B' cruised to an easy 74-runs win over WNS Global (WNSG), whilst in the 2nd semifinal played at Mattegoda, Akbars romped to a convincing 9-wickets win over Allianz Insurance Lanka (AIL).    

After Shiran Tharanga spearheaded the batting with a well compiled 53 runs for Brandix, their bowlers, Tharaka Silva (3/16) and Shashira Fernando (4/20) bamboozled the WNSG batsmen, to skittle them for 92 runs in 19.4 overs. 

AIL sent into bat by Akbars, had no answer to the varied bowling attack of Waruna Gunawardena, Kusal Atapattu and Thamal Prasanga, and were dismissed for 98 runs in 24.4 overs. 

Akbars shed little sweat to reach their target under 18 overs, with opening batsman, Sudath Sanjeewa, carrying his bat out for a quickfire 46 not out. 

Results:

At MCA: Brandix Essentials 'B' beat WNS Global by 74 runs 
Brandix 'B'- 166/8 (25 overs) (Shiran Tharanga 53, Madushanka Ratnayake 32, Shashika Imesh 22; T. Samaratunga 3/30) 
WNSG- 92 (19.4 overs) (C. Perera 28; Shashira Fernando 4/20, Tharaka Silva 3/16) 

At Mattegoda: Akbar Bros. beat Allianz Insurance Lanka by 9 wickets 
AIL- 98 (24.4 overs) (S. Fernando 20; Waruna Gunawardena 2/13, Kusal Atapattu 2/19, Thamal Prasanga 2/20) 
Akbars- 100/1 (17.3 overs) (Sudath Sanjeewa 46 n.o., R. Yurendren 25)

Continuing their dominance in Athletics, reigning champions Walala A. Rathnayake Central College (WARCC) from the Wattegama Education Zone, won both the Boys and the Girls overall Athletic Championships at the Central Province (CP) Inter Educational Zone (EZ) Track & Field Meet 2018, concluded at Bogambara Stadium, Kandy. 

They clinched the Boys' Championship for the 20th occasion and the Girls' Championship for the 26th consecutive year. 

The 4-day CP Schools Athletic meet organised by the CP Assistant Director (Sports) of Education, Athula Jayawardhana, under the guidance of CP Director of Education, Thilak Ekanayake, saw over 4,000 Athletes (Boys and Girls) representing 15 EZs in the CP taking part. 

Senira Gunarathna of WARCC was adjudged Best Male Athlete for his winning time of 49.9 secs in the Under (U)-20 400m, while Fathima Shafia Yamik of Vihara Maha Devi, Kandy (VMDK), was adjudged Best Female Athlete for her winning time 26.10 secs in the U-20 200m. 

CP Governor P.B. Dissanayake was the Chief Guest and CP Minister of Sports Thilina Bandara Tennakoon was the Guest of Honour. 

Kandy EZ came 1st with 1,093 points, Wattegama EZ came 2nd with 786 points and Hatton EZ came 3rd with 222 points. 

Trinity College Kandy (TCK) won the Boys Relay championship, while WARCC won the Girls Relay championship. 

Age groups champions 

Boys
 
Under-12 
Track: R.G.M.T. Wijethunga, Hombawa MV, 100m in 14.4secs 
Field: M.A.A. Shan, TCK, Long Jump 4.36m [New Meet Record (NMR)] 

Under-14 
Track: S.R.B. Chandrasekara, TCK, 100m in 13.1secs 
Field: R.M.N.D.B. Rathnayake WARCC, Putt Shot 11.68m (NMR) 

Under-16 
Track: L.L Moragoda, TCK, 200m in 23.4secs (NMR) 
Field: M.S.D. Dissanayake, TCK, Putt Shot 14.35m (NMR) 

Under-18 
Track: A.G. Anuruddha Srimal, Berrewatta College Ampitiya, 110m Hurdles in 14.9secs (NMR) 
Field: P. Yamplab, Gateway International Kandy, Triple Jump 13.55m (NMR) 

Under-20 
Track: Senira Gunarathna, WARCC, 400m in 49.9secs 
Field: Tharaka Bandara Samarakoon, St. Thomas College, Matale, Long Jump 6.5m (NMR) 

Girls 

Under-12 
Track: G.K. Kasuni, Ambagamuwa Central Hatton (ACH), 100m in 15.5secs   
Field: N.S. Anjalika , Vidulipura MV (long jump 3.98 m) (NMR) 

Under-14 
Track: M.S. Shaluki Vihanga, Vijaya College Matale, 100m in 13.8secs (NMR) 
Field: P.A.S. Nimsara, ACH, Long Jump 4.75m (NMR) 

Under-16 
Track: H.A.P. Hettiarachchi, VMDK, 400m in 1min 1.17secs 
Field: K.M.P. Sewwandi, Kandy Model School, Long Jump 4.82m 

Under-18 
Track: S.A.K. Thathsarani, ACH, 400m in 1 min 0.34secs 
Field: K.H.A.D. Kaushalya, Wikramabahu NS Gampola, Long Jump 5.14m 

Under-20 
Track: Fathima Shafia Yamik, VMDK, 200m in 26.1secs 
Field: K.G.K.P. Wijerathna, Mahamaya Kandy, Triple Jump 10.03m 

The Preliminary Round matches in the 8th Stafford Motor Co. (Pvt) Ltd., 'Honda Trophy' MCA 'G' Division 25-Over League matches played over the weekend was highlighted by centurion Thilina Suresh [Coats Thread Lanka (Coats)] 118 in 69 balls with 11 sixes and 6 fours vs Durdans Hospitals (Durdans), along with bowlers, Nilukshan Ramachandran [Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT)] 5/25 vs Amana Takaful Insurance (Amana) and Kokila Gomes (Mobitel 'B') 5/30 vs Bimputh Finance (BimFin). 

Coats 252/5 in 23 Overs (RPO 11) hit the daylights out of Durdans, as Thilina Suresh and Ravi Lakshan (45) were engaged in a hurricane 218-runs partnership in 89 balls for the 4th wicket. 
Other notable batting performances came from Samith Ranga [Access Group (Access)] 76 not out vs Millennium IT (MIT) and Krishantha Silva (ACL Cables) 75 vs Baurs. 

Spinner Kokila Gomes’ bowling effort of 5/30 went a begging, as his team Mobitel 'B' lost to BimFin by 62 runs. 

The Tournament will continue this weekend with a card of 20 half-day matches.

Weekend Match Results: 

Asiri Hospitals beat JAT Holdings by 8 wickets 
JAT- 78 (18.1 overs); Asiri- 84/2 (9.5 overs) 

Access beat MIT by 9 wickets 
MIT- 129 (25 overs); Access- 133/1 (17.5 overs) 

SLT beat Amana by 50 runs 
SLT- 146 (25 overs); Amana- 96 (22.2 overs) 

BimFin beat Mobitel 'B' by 62 runs 
BimFin- 190/9 (25 overs), Mobitel 'B'- 128/9 (25 overs) 

Coats beat Durdans by 92 runs 
Coats- 252/5 (28 overs); Durdans- 160/6 (24 overs) 

fairfirst Insurance beat Nor-Lanka by 6 wickets 
Nor-Lanka- 84 (23.4 overs), fairfirst- 88/4 (14.1 overs) 

ACL Cables vs A. Baur & Co. No-Result due to bad light and rain 
ACL- 150/4 (22 overs); Baurs- 19/1 (3 overs) 

Jay-Lanka beat Moody’s Analytics by 3 wickets on D&L 
Moody’s- 104/7 (21 overs); Jay-Lanka- 109/7 (18.1 overs) (Revised target 109 in 21 overs) 

Deutsche Bank AG beat Kelani Cables by 8 runs 
Deutsche Bank- 154/5 (23 overs); Kelani Cables- 146 (22.4 overs) 

CIC beat CEAT Tyres International by 39 runs on D&L 
CIC- 145/9 (23 overs); CEAT- 33/5 (9.1 overs) (Revised target 72 in 9.1 overs) 

Laughs Holdings beat JAT Holdings by 22 runs 
Laughs- 184/8 (25 overs); JAT- 162 (24 overs) 

Coca Cola Beverages beat RR Donnely by 1 wicket 
RRD- 177/7 (25 overs); Coca Cola- 179/9 (24.1 overs) 

MAS Linea Aqua beat Kelani Cables by 11 runs 
MAS- 148/5 (25 overs); Kelani Cables- 137 (23.2 overs) 

Ceyline Holdings beat Ship Xpress by 2 wickets 
Ship Xpress- 107 (22 overs); Ceyline- 110/8 (19.3 overs) 

SriLankan Airlines beat MD Gunasena by 8 wickets 
MDG -81 (25 overs); SriLankan- 85/2 (10.1 overs) 

Expolanka Group 'B' beat ICBT Campus by 10 wickets 
ICBT- 107 (23.5 overs); Expolanka 'B'- 108/0 (11.1 overs) 

HNB Grameen Finance 'B' beat DPMC 'B' by 50 runs on D&L 
HNB Grameen- 161/5 (23 overs); DPMC- 115/9 (23 overs) 

VS Information beat Mobitel 'B' by 5 wickets 
Mobitel 'B'- 100 (24.2 overs); VSI- 101/5 (25 overs)

UTE Engineering 2018, Pin and Pam Fernando Trophy Finals were worked off on Friday at the Royal Colombo Golf Club, continuing the traditional Match-Play feature in the RCGC annual calendar, played since 1979. 

The Pin Fernando Trophy played in the memory of the legendary Match-play champion Pin Fernando who won 19 RCGC Championships and 9 National Amateur Championships, twice winner of the All India Amateur Championship among many other achievements. 

As per the format the qualifying round facilitates the top 16 to proceed to the Match-play stage on an automatic seeding based on the qualifying round scores. 

Mahendra Jayasekera with a net 65 was seeded # 1, whilst Rohan De Silva with a net 66 (count back) was seeded #2. 

2017 Runner-up Tyronne Weerackody seeded #3, with a net 66, whilst Armand Flamer Caldera was seeded #4, being the youngest qualifier for the Pin Fernando Trophy. 

In the Match-play segment Armand Flamer Caldera played excellent Golf through all the matches and reached the Final defeating Suren Waas 6 & 5, Rohan J Perera 7 & 6, and Manjula Chandrasoma 4 & 2. 

In the second half of the draw, Gehan Siribaddana, seeded # 7, played consistent and aggressive Golf to beat Afflli Raheem, Rohan De Silva and Riahn Peiris all in the identical margin of 3 & 2. 

In the Quarter Final clash earlier Riahn Peiris overcame Tyronne Weerackody, only to be over powered by Gehan in the Semi’s. 

The Final of the Pin Fernando Trophy saw a fascinating exhibition of brilliant Golf by the youngest qualifier in the Tournament Armand Flamer Caldera who reeled off six birdies on the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th to take a commanding 4 up lead at the turn. 

Armand continued his birdie spree with two more on the 11th& 12th to go 6 up Dormie playing the 13th Hole. 

There was little Gehan could do to prevent Armand from winning the Pin Fernando Trophy 2018, who dropped only two bogeys in the final round winning 6 & 5. 

The Pam Fernando Trophy 2018, was also very keenly contested with Niloo Jayatilaka top seeded with a net 69, Usha De Silva secured 2nd seeding, whilst the eventual winner Kumari Herath seeded 3rd and Anouk Chitty Seeded 4th. 

In the Match-play stage 5th seeded Dr. Praveena Dunuwila beat Anouk Chitty and Anusha Senadira to reach the Final whilst Kumari Herath defeated Eliane Sterchi and Usha De Silva to meet Praveena in the Final. 

Kumari was well composed in the Final and played an excellent steady game receiving six strokes, to score 5 pars and defeat Praveena Dunuwila a shade comfortably 4 & 3, to be a worthy winner of the Pam Fernando Trophy 2018. 

The interesting Finals was followed by a solemn prize giving ceremony in the presence of Priath Fernando, Former Chairman of United Tractor & Equipment the proud sponsors, UTE Engineering CEO Riyadh Ismail, RCGC Captain Avancka Herath, RCGC Vice Captain W.A.K. Fernando, Ladies Captain Manori Jayakody, UTE Engineering Manager Events Anushya, who also distributed the Prizes. 

Nalin Jayathilaka, GM RCGC, did the honours of conducting the Prize Giving, recalling the history of the Pin Fernando Trophy inaugurated in 1979, in memory of Pin Fernando and the Pam Fernando Trophy remembering Pam who holds the Guinness world record for the oldest to win a National Championship. 

Results
 
Pin Fernando Trophy 2018 
Winner: Armand Flamer Caldera 6 & 5 
Runner-up: Gehan Siribaddana 

Pam Fernando Trophy 2018 
Winner: Kumari Herath 4 & 3 
Runner-up: Dr. Praveena Dunuwila 

Men Division A: 
Winner: Armand Flamer Caldera net 67 
Runner-up: Gehan Siribaddana net 68 

Men Division B:
Winner: Mahendra Jayasekera Net 65 
Runner-up: Rohan De Silva net 66 (b/b9)
 
Men Division C:
Winner: Rohan J. Perera Net 67 
Runner-up: Mevan Gunathilaka Net 70 

Seniors Best Nett:
Winner: A.S. Abdeen Net 69 
Runner-up: Ranjith Thabrew Net71 

Masters Best Nett:
Winner: Erajh Gunaratne Net 69 
Runner-up: Asaka Ishiyama Net 70 

Ladies 0-24 Best Nett:
Winner: Niloo Jayathilaka Net 69 
Runner-up: Usha De Silva Net 69 

Ladies Best Gross: 
Winner: Anouk Chitty 77 
Runner-up: Niloo Jayathilaka 79 

Youngest Qualifier: Armand Flamer Caldera 

Oldest Qualifier: Dayananda Ukwatte

Sri Lanka's Visually Handicapped team scored a memorable 2-1 ODI series win over world champions India, in their inaugural bilateral Cricket series at BRC ground.
 
In this three 40-over match series the Lanka cricketers gave a fine display in all 3 departments of the game. 

The first match was highlighted by a hat-trick by Sri Lanka's deputy skipper Dinesh Mathugama (B2) which mainly helped the Lankans gain a 2-wicket win on the D/L method. 

India batting first scored 260 runs in 31.2 overs. 

Durga Raj, Deepak Malik and Rambir with half-centuries, were the main contributors. 

Mathugama (B2), with 3/34, was the pick of the bowlers. 

In reply, Sri Lanka scored 233/8 when rain interrupted play, to give the hosts a 2-wicket win on D/L method. 

Ajit Silva (B1) led the run chase with a sparkling 68. 

Soggy ground conditions reduced the 2nd ODI to 20 overs each, and the local team registered an easy 7-wickets win. 

Taking first lease of the wicket, India made 195/4. Ajay Reddy and Sunil Ramesh shone with 66 and 59 respectively. 

A fighting, unfinished 4th-wicket partnership by Sahan Kumara (B1) (78 n.o.) and Ajit Kumara (B1) (90 n.o.) helped Sri Lanka pull off a 7-wicket win, with 2.4 overs to spare. 

Indians were never willing to go empty-handed in the series, as they recorded a 68-run win in the final ODI last Tuesday (17).

The Indians rattled a demanding 323/8 in 40 overs. 

Ganesh Mudhkar (86) Sunil Ramesh (54) and Baskar Kaldappa (29 n.o.) led the run fiesta. 

Kosala Herath (B1), skipper Chandana Sooriarachchi (B3) and Dinesh Mathugama (B2) bowled well to keep the Indians in check by capturing 2 wickets each. 

Despite a steady 6th-wicket partnership by Chandana Sooriarachchi (B3) (37) and Sahan Kumara (B1) (84), Sri Lanka fell behind the target by 68 runs. 

Ajay Reddy (2/36) and Rambir (3/40) troubled the late order batsmen with crafty bowling. 

(B1 – Totally blind, B2 – Semi blind, B3 – Better view with a slight defect) 

Individual awards: Man of the Match 1st ODI – Dinesh Mathugama (Sri Lanka), 2nd ODI – Ajit Silva (Sri Lanka), 3rd ODI – Ganesh Mudhkar (India) 

Men of the Series: B1 – Ajit Silva (Sri Lanka), B2 – Ajay Reddy (India), B3 – Durga Reddy (India) 

Sri Lanka Team: Ajit Silva (B1), Priyantha Kumara (B3), Ruwan Wasantha (B2), Chandana Deshapriya (B3), Sahan Kumara (B1), Dinesh Mathugama (B2), Chandana Sooriyarachchi (B3), Chandana Bandara (B2), Ravindra (B1), Ruwan Karunatilleke (B3), Kosala Herath (B1), Nuwantha Sudesh (B1), Samam Thushara (B2), Damith Sandaruwan (B3).

Like Ajantha Mendis, Akila Dananjaya bowls wrist spin with the action of an off-spinner, making it difficult for the batsman to read. 

But unlike Mendis, Dananjaya did not establish his place in the side almost immediately after his debut. 

Dananjaya made his international debut back in 2012, when then national skipper Mahela Jayawardena hand-picked him for the T20 World Cup but after few ODIs and T20s, Dananjaya did not find favour with the selectors. 

But he became an overnight sensation against India with a match haul of 6 for 54 in an ODI game marking his second-coming in style. 

And on Saturday against the world No. 2 ranked team, Dananjaya produced yet another splendid performance with the ball, claiming his maiden five wicket haul to put South Africa under a spin test. 

He is mystery to many batsmen as he bowls googley and the legs spin other than the off-spin and the bowl that got Thenuis de Bruyn caught behind was a perfect example of how subtle variation could unsettle a batsman. 

Dananjaya bowls a straighter one outside the off stumps but de Bruyn expected it turn and ended up edging it to the keeper. 

“I call myself as a mystery bowler. Because, other than the off spin, I use the leg spin and googley as well. Even today, I used the leg spin and the googley,” he said at the post-match press conference. 

Praising his two senior partners, Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera, he says kept it simple keeping a tide line and length. 

“I was not doing anything big other than keeping a tidy line and length. But towards the end, I varied the ball,” he added. 

With Rangana Herath set to retire towards at the end of the England series later this year, young spinner is expected step up and fill the void but he says it’s no easy task. 

“I don’t think we can fill that void very easy,” he says.

“He is a legend. Since Rangana and Dilruwan are there at the moment, I have lot to learn from them. It's very easy for me to play alongside them”. 

Dananjaya who made an unbeaten 43 with the bat said he is putting lots of hard yards to improve his batting during practices.

Chaminda Sampath Hettiarachchi of Gajaba Sports Club bettered a Para World Athletic Record in the T-44 Javelin event at the National Para Athletics Championships at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday (21).
 
The World Record in the T-44 Javelin event is 59.82 mtrs. Chaminda bettered it with a throw of 62.11 mtrs. 

The record holder is Gao Mingjie of China which was set up in 2011 at the New Zealand, Christchurch meet. 

Ironically, Chaminda was not awarded the record because there were no international participants at the meet, stated the Para Olympic Committee. 

He is a retired sergeant from the Sri Lanka Army. 

In 2008 he lost a leg and was amputated below the knee. 

For his performance he was awarded the Open Category Best Athlete’s Award. 

Over 700 athletes took part in the Para Nationals Athletics Championships 2018. 

This is the final trial for the Para Asian Games to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia in October this year. 

Sri Lanka Light Infantry emerged as the Open Men’s Champions. 

The women’s championship was won by Rehab Lanka Sports Club. 

Thirty seven meet records were established at the two day meet.

Colombo Rowing Club (CRC) retained the overall championship beating Madras Boat Club (MBC) comprehensively at the 79th Colombo-Madras Rowing Regatta held on the waters of the Beira Lake in Colombo today (21). 

CRC obtained 38 points against MBC's 12 in the Men's Event as they earned the authority to keep the prestigious Deepam Trophy while the oarswomen of the hosting city, made a clean sweep of 25-0 over the visitors to take hold of the Adyar Trophy. 

CRC claimed six out of the eight races listed out for the day losing only the 'A' Sculls and 'A' Double Sculls to conceded 12 points to MBC. 

The Colombo men won the 'B' Sculls, 'B' Pairs, 'A' Pairs, 'B' Double Scull, 'B' Fours and 'A' Fours to gather 38 points in total. 

The CRC women had an easy outing, winning all four races, the 'A' Sculls, 'A' Pairs, 'A' Double Sculls and the 'A' Fours to claim all 25 points on offer. 

The Colombo-Madras Regatta is one of the oldest boat races in the world next to the Oxford-Cambridge of England and the Harvard-Yale of the USA. 

It is also the oldest inter-club rivalry in the world.