Wayamba soldier Ruwan Perera, undisputed national pole vault champion, rose to greater heights at the athletics nationals yesterday, though restrained after a colleague broke a shoulder when falling onto an undersized mattress.
The 23-year-old Ruwan who has held the record for the past four years leapt over his previous best of 4.45 metres in his third attempt. It was the sixteenth time he had broken his own national record. The enthusiastic soldier said he could have vaulted still higher but for the fear that the undersized mattress might cause some injury to him too.
Pradeep Nishantha (Javelin Throw), Jayamini Illeperuma (800 metres), Sujeeva Nilmini Jayasena (5,000 metres), Chaminda Vidanage (long jump) also established new records on the first day of the nationals at the Sugathadasa Stadium where the cream of local athletes from all over the country had gathered for this premier championship.
Josephian schoolboy Noel Stave came out with flying colours when he won the shot put event with a throw of 12.86 metres.
22 metres, Padma Nandani Wijesundra ( Track Master), Inoka Srimali Fernando (Kalutara).
Susanthika Jayasingha (Kegalle) Time 12.1 sec. Dilhani Rupasinghe (Army), Zaman Zadeen (Track Master).
Indika Chaminda Vithanage (Track Master), D.K. Sujith Rohita (Master), R.P. Nishantha (Army).
Sujeewa Nilmini Jayasena (Ace) Time 17:23.1 sec. (New Sri Lanka Record), W.M. Irin (Kegalle) 18:26.9 sec. W.A.D.M. Chandrakanthi (unattached).
* Previous Record: Sujeewa Nilmini Jayasena, Time 17:51.6.
R.T.C. Pushpakumara (Army), Time 53.2 Sec. M. Sunimal (Army), A.R. Ratnayake (Army).
Susanthika Jayasingha (Kegalla), Time 24.1 sec. Tamara Samadeepika (Army), Mangalika Silva (Army).
R.M. Tissa Ratnayaka (Army), Time 1:51.0 sec. K.A.L.P. Wickramarachchi (Army), R.A.L.M. Ratnayake (Army).
W.A.V. Welpahala (Army), Time 64.4 Sec. A.G. Dhammika Kumari (Track Master), Chandrika Priyadarshanee (Matara).
A.B. Pradeep Nishantha (Sri Lak) distance 69.50 metres (New Sri Lanka Record), B.R. Jayaratna Height 66.80 metres, Taraka Jayatissa - 59.02.
* Previous Record: B.R. Jayaratna 65.68 metres.
Jayamini Ileperuma (Ace) Time 2:09.3 Sec. (New Sri Lanka Meet Record, H.M. Thambaralatha (unattached) 2:15.5 Sec. Swarnamali Edirisinghe (Matara) 2:17.1 sec.
* Previous Record: Jayamini Ileperuma Time 2:09.93 sec.
Ruwan Pradeep Perera (Army) Height 4.50 metres (New Sri Lanka Meet Record, H .A. Somaratna (Army) Height 4.04 metres, M.J.B.R. Fernando (Air Force) 3.94 metres.
* Previous Record: Ruwan Pradeep Perera Helight 4.45 metres.
Noel Stave (St. JosephÕs College, Colombo) Distance 12.86 metres K.I.A. Jayawardana (Army), G.H.U.T. Fonseka (Army).
Rikshi Thusari Ariyaratna (Army) Height 12.
India is ranked eighth and Sri Lanka second among the nine nations rated in the latest computerised rankings for One-Day International Cricket. This is the lowest position India has been in, since The Cricketer International began computerising one-day rankings on the basis of a weighed index of team performances.
While South Africa, with 79 points, has the pride of first place in the rankings, the World Cup champions, Sri Lanka, lies second, but 18 points away.
Australia, Pakistan and England are placed third, fourth and fifth in that order. Going into last winterÕs series against New Zealand at home, India was ranked the one-day International team.
Its performances at home and in Asia in the previous season, particularly its 4-1 win over the West Indies at home, saw its climb to the very top.
The narrow 3-2 win over the low rated New Zealand saw India lose the top spot to South Africa which whipped England at home before the World Cup. Since then, India has been sliding down and is currently ahead of only Zimbabwe.
Australia continued to be the top ranked test side and is a clear 12 points ahead of the West Indies which has 60 points.
Pakistan's win over England saw it move up to 58 points leaving South Africa behind on 55 points, India on 50 is fifth.
The following are the rankings put out by The Cricketer International UK.
Australia (72), West Indies (60), Pakistan (58), South Africa (55), India (50), England (42), Sri Lanka (37), New Zealand and Zimbabwe 21 each.
South Africa (79), Sri Lanka (61), Australia (57), Pakistan (49), England (46), New Zealand (45), West Indies (44), India(40), Zimbabwe (24).
Nandasena Perera and Tissa Chandradasa the two caddies from Sri Lanka will compete in the World Cup Golf finals in Cape Town, South Africa from November 24.
They will tee-off alongside with the best in the world Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Sevy Ballesteros, Erny Els and Nick Price for the prize money of around US dollars 1,500,000.
Perera and Chandradasa took on the best from thirty six countries in Montego Bay, Jamaica and finished in sixth position with the best team score.
The two Lankans won their qualifiers ahead of golfers from established countries, Puerto Rico, hosts Jamaica, Chile, Portugal, Belgium, Iceland and Bahamas.
China and Sri Lanka were the only Asian countries to qualify, leaving Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and Singapore trailing behind.
Perera and Chandradasa qualifying for the World Cup is a remarkable achievement said the President of the Sri Lanka Golf Union, Neil Chanmugam.
Perera with a score 2 under par for the three rounds finished 10th in the individual standings, while Chandradasa, despite two out of bound shots on the first two days, was only 5 over par.
Chanmugam also said that it was their consistency and the ability to adapt to the incredibly fast greens on the breezes runaway bay links course, that brought the success.
Rugby "Asiad" - the Asian Rugby Football Tournament 1996 will be staged in Taiwan from November 2 to 9.
The teams which will be participating in this tournament are: Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Republic of China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
It will be remembered that this tourney was held in Sri Lanka first in 1974 and next in 1990 and the Sri Lankan sides excelled. In the 1974 tournament held at Longden Place, Sri Lanka did well to end up Runners-up to the powerful Japanese team. In the 1990 Tourney held at the Sugathadasa Stadium Sri Lanka did well to down all teams except Japan and South Korea and ended up as one of best teams.
This year the Sri Lankan team will be led by flanker Priyantha Ekanayake, who had led the national side at several Asiads and is the most experienced player today. His team includes Norman Silva of Police, Shantha Fernando of CR&FC, Shantha Rohana of CR&FC, Dharmapala of Army, Viraj Fernando of CR&FC, Asoka Jayasena of Kandy S.C., Thusahara Jayalath of Havelocks, Sonder Niranjan of CH&FC, Nazeem Mohamed of CH&FC, Alfred Hensman of CR&FC, Harris Omar of Kandy S.C., Sudath Sampath of Kandy S.C., Champika Nishantha of CR&FC, Asanga Rodrigo of CR&FC, Harindra Perera of Havelocks, Jude Dimitri of CH&FC, Pathirage Upul of OTSC, Mallimarachchi of Havelocks, Sumith Premanath of CR&FC, Naufer Rahim of CR&FC, and Nalaka Weerakkody of CR&FC.
The Selection Committee which selected the above team include Lionel Almedia, Chairman, Ajith Abeyaratne, Anton Benedict, Michael Jayasekara, Rohan Abeyakoon, Nalin de Silva and Ana Saranapala, the National Coach.
The officials who will accompany the national side to Taiwan are: Ibrahim Hamid, Chef de Mission, Dr. Maiya Gunasekara, Manager, Ana Saranapala, National Coach, Roshan Deen, Referee, Y.C. Chang and Lal de Silva to attend the A.R.F.U. Council meeting as delegates and Anton Benedict. A senior referee in Sri Lanka has been invited by the A.R..F.U. to assess the performance of the referees at this international tournament.
The Sri Lankan contingent will take wing for Taiwan on October 31 to participate in the Asian Rugby Football tournament 1996.
A chanceless half-century by young Chrishantha Bandara helped the President's XI of the Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped (SLFVH) to score a facile four wicket win over the PresidentÕs XI of the Sri Lanka Council for the Blind in their inaugural 30-over cricket match played at the SSC ground on 13th October. Thus, the Federation annexed the handsome Ceylon Hardware Merchants Association Challenge trophy.
Batting first the SLCB lost early wickets due to some penetrative bowling by Kumudulal Samarasinghe and Chrishantha Bandara. However, a fighting 53 by Chandana Kumara with nine boundaries enabled them to score to 80 all out in 14.2 overs. Kumudulal Samarasinghe with 2 for 5 and Chrishantha Bandara with 2 for 9 bowled best.
In reply, the SLFVH President's XI cruised to 83 for six in only 10 overs. Chrishantha Bandara delighted the large crowd with a glittering 50 studded with 11 boundaries sprayed around the grounds. Chandana Kumara once again shone with the ball with 2 for 17.
Mr. Anura Polonnowita, former Sri Lankan cricketer was the Chief Guest and handed over the challenge trophy to the winners and the Best All-rounders. Ms. Lal Wickrematunge, Mr. Arunalantham, President of the Hardware Merchants Association, Mr. Rajaratnam, of the CHMA, Mr. Navaratne Banda, President and Mr. Alex Jayawardene, also handed over the awards.
Best Allrounder (Blind) - Kumudulal Samarasinghe Best Allrounder (Partially sighted) - Chrishantha Bandara Best Batsman (Blind) - Susantha Premaratne Best Batsman (Partially sighted) - Christhantha Bandara Best Bowler (Blind) - Kumudulal Samarasinghe Best Bowler (Partially sighted) - Chandana Kumara
In addition to the radio/cassettes and radios awarded to the winners, all players were given valuable talking watches by the Ceylon Hardware Merchants' Association.
Ghefari Dulapandan and child star Natasha Kodituwakku will long be remembered in the swimming nationals, though the whole meet itself dived far below expectations.
Ghefari, who has fared in local and international meets won seven events while 14- year old Natasha, swimming from the age of five, won four events in one of the greatest moments of her life.
Other than that the swimming nationals concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday produced little excitement and less by way of records.
Royal College Union and Visakha Vidyalaya emerged champions in this lacklustre nationals.
In the diving Olympic Games participant Janaka Biyanwila grabbed the menÕs championship in all three events while Harini Jayasekera of Visakha took the womenÕs title.
Ghefari Dulapandan (RCU) 58.73
Theekshana Ratnasekara (MUE) 1:09.61
400 m free style men: Sean Lee (SJC) 4:38.31
Natasha Kodituwakku (SBC) 3:04.20
Shehani Alles (LC) 5:21.38
Ghefari Dulapandan (RCU) 5:25.65
Theekshana Ratnasekara (MUE) 31.135
Ghefari Dulapandan (RCU) 25.92
Rasansi Lankaga (VV) 1:21.41
Conrad Francis (SJC) 1:14:31
Ghefari Dulapandan (RCU) 2:17.35
Tivanka De Alwis (RIC) 2:26:33
St. Bridgets Convent 4:55.80
The team
Upeka Samarawickrama, Natasha Kodituwakku, Tehani Samarasekera, Durga Ranatunga
Sri Lanka Army 'A' 4:06:35 team R. M. P. Chandrika, H. Upul Shantha, N. H. Janaka, K. V. C. Priyadarshana.
Royal College Union - 149 pts.
St. Joseph's College - 104 pts.
Sri Lanka Army - 66 pts.
Visakha Vidyalaya - 120 pts.
St. Bridgets Convent - 95 pts.
Ladies - 3 pts.
Janaka Biyanwila (RCU) (all events)
Harini Jayasekera (VV) (all events)
Men: Royal College Union 30 pts.
Women: Visakha Vidyalaya 49 pts.
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