Compiled by Ishani Upatharitha
* I’ll make Asia shine through gymnastics - Milka Gehani
Milka Gehani de Silva, who took part in gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics last week, said that she would win a medal for the country at the upcoming Asian and Commonwealth Games. The experience at the Tokyo Olympics had been a turning point in her life, she has revealed. Talking to the media, Milka has thanked Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa, National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) and Crysbro. Being the first Sri Lankan representative at the Olympics in gymnastics, Milka expects to train in Japan until 2024. She has added that she would make the best of this opportunity and work towards bringing glory to Sri Lanka.
Milka currently receives a scholarship of $ 670 (Rs. 133,617) per month to train in Japan and she is also supported by ‘the NOCSL-Crysbro Next Champ’ scholarship programme. She has been training in Japan since 2019 and, on the request of the NOCSL, the duration of her scholarship has been extended. The 18-year-old Milka surpassed India during the initial round at Tokyo 2020 where she took the 28th place. During the four stages, she scored 45.798 points becoming 78th out of 85 participants.
* Army Commander’s League: Super Fashion Northern Warriors enter final
Unbeaten Super Fashion Northern Warriors recorded their fourth consecutive win to enter the final with two more matches to go on Tuesday (3) or day four of the Army Commander’s League T20 Cricket Tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Army at the army grounds at Dombagoda. Northern Warriors beat Event TV Western Warriors by five wickets in the morning session of play. Dimo Southern Warriors beat Batsman-Com Eastern Warriors by 37 runs in the next match.
Results of day four on Tuesday:
Match No. 7 -
Event TV Western Warriors: 131 (19.5) (Kaveesh Kumara 32, Yashodha Mendis 31, Lakshan Gamage 18, Upul Tharanga 11, Thisara Perera 11, Gihan Koralage 10; Seekkuge Prasanna 3/23, Heshan Hettiarachchi 2/26)
Super Fashion Northern Warriors: 134/5 (15.4) (Ashan Randilka 76, Seekkuge Prasanna 28, Shehan Fernando 11; Gihan Koralage 2/26)
Result: Northern Warriors win by five wickets
Match No. 8 -
Batsman-Com Eastern Warriors: 158/5 (20) (Himasha Liyanage 39, Lahiru Madusanka 38 n.o., Pethum Dilshan 33, Sandun Weerakkody 25; Suranga Lakmal 3/27, Suminda Lakshan 2/20, Sachin Thilakarathne 2/24, Dhammika Prasad 2/33)
Dimo Southern Warriors: 121 (18.2) (Suminda Lakshan 23, Asantha Basnayake 21, Dinesh Chandimal 19, Priyantha Rathnayake 15, Samitha Dilshan 10; Rajinda Punchihewa 2/20, Sandun Weerakkody 2/22, Lahiru Madusanka 2/28)
Result: Dimo Southern Warriors win by eight wickets
In the photo is Northern Warriors’ all-rounder Seekkuge Prasanna who scored 28 runs after taking 3/23 in their five-wicket win against Western.
Schedule of Wednesday, 4 August:
Morning - Batsman-Com Eastern Warriors vs. Event TV Western Warriors
Afternoon - Super Fashion Northern Warriors vs. Dimo Southern Warriors
* MCA ‘G’ Division cricket final on Saturday (7)
After a lull of three months in the mercantile cricket circuit, the 10th Stafford Motors-sponsored ‘Honda Trophy’ MCA ‘G’ Division 25-over League Tournament’s final will be held on Saturday (7) between Pyramid Wilmer and Abans Group at the MCA Grounds in Colombo from 10 a.m. The final was originally scheduled for 2 May but was forced to be put on hold due to the Covid-19 third wave.
In the semis, Pyramid Wilmer created a huge upset, eliminating unbeaten and tournament favourites Hayleys Group ‘B’ by two wickets whilst Abans Group comprehensively beat Zillion Systems by 46 runs.
Pyramid Wilmer’s road to the final: League Stage - Lost to Information by nine wickets, beat Ship Xpress by 116 runs, beat CIC Group by five wickets; Knockout Stage - Beat Singer ‘B’ by six wickets, beat Orient Finance by 50 runs, and beat Hayleys ‘B’ by two wickets.
Abans Group’s road to the final: League Stage - Lost to A. Baur & Co. by 11 runs, beat Orient Finance by 25 runs, beat ACL Cables by 44 runs; Knockout Stage - Beat M.D. Gunasena by 124 runs, beat Aitken Spence by 13 runs, and beat Zillion Systems by 46 runs.
The two teams for the final:
Pyramid Wilmer (from):
Lasith Fernando (Captain), Malitha Peiris, Tharuka Jeewantha, Suboda Lakmal, Shanaka Fernando, Nalin Tharanga, Udara Attapattu, Udesh Nishan, Dinuka Jayakody, Umeda Madushan, Supun Sandeepa, Asanka Sameera, Chandana Bandara, Upul Anthony, and Dilupa Sanjaya
Abans Group (from):
W.B. Dhanushka (Captain), Lakshitha de Silva, Isuru Hashan, O. Nimrodha, Dilan Sanjeeva, Dushan Hettiarachchi, N. Dayabaran, D. Rangana, I. Jayaranga, Nalaka Gunawardena, Harshan Dhahanayake, S.H. Tyron, Lahiru Perera, T. Ranaweera, and G. Chathuranga
Referee cum Adjudicator of the final will be Manoj Perera. The photo depicts the Pyramid Wilmer squad for the finals.