|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 1 April 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Lanka enter SAF soccer semis Bernard Perera reporting from Pakistan Rawalpindi, Wednesday - Sri Lanka entered the semi final of the 9th SAF Games soccer championship with fine one goal to nil win over Bhutan yesterday at the Rawalpindi Army stadium. They were the only unbeaten team in Group 'B', and had a total of six points, while the other two teams had no wins but a draw saw them in a tie. The organisers had to toss a coin to decide the qualifiers for the semi final from this group and the toss went in favour of Bhutan. Sri Lanka soccerites took nearly 10 minutes to settle down and went on the attack from there onwards. Thirteen minutes in to the game Lankan skipper Chathura Maduranga put his side in front banging a goal. The strikers of the Lankan team then tried everything to add more to their tally but failed to reap good results due to poor finishing touches.they missed two easy chances of scoring in this half. At half time Sri Lanka led 1-0. Soon after the return Bhutanese changed the pattern of play with the intention of finding the equaliser. The Lankans sensing this put on more pressure on their rivals attacking all the time. This tactic of Lankans gave no room for the opponents to get closer to the scoring area. The last ten minutes was the most miserable for Lankans when they missed two easy opportunities of finding the net and increasing the lead. In group 'A' a keen tussle exists as Pakistan lost their game to India on Tuesday one goal to nil. India which drew their first game with Bangladesh are heading the group with four points, while the hosts Pakistan has collected only three points from two games and have to win the next match against Bangladesh today if are to enter the semis. Rowing: Sri Lankan rowers added two more silver medals to Lankans medal tally yesterday. Udesh Surani and Kavinda Mevan and Francis Richard de Zoysa was placed behind Pakistani rowers Pirzada Zahid and Zia Hashim in the Double Skulls Light Weight class at the Rawal Lake in Islamabad. Meanwhile Isuru Gayan Perera and Francis Richard de Zoysa too came up with a another good performance in the 2000m double skulls to win the second silver for Sri Lanka in rowing. Table Tennis: The women's table tennis players from Sri Lanka went down to India Three matches to nil yesterday at the Liquat Stadium in Islamabad. Lankan men paddlers however managed to stay in the tourney when they trounced Afghan Paddlers three matches to nil at the same venue. Swimming: Sri Lanka's ace swimmer Condrad Francis participating in the 50M Breast Stroke won another silver medal yesterday at the Pakistan Sports Complex Swimming pool in Islamabad. The Lankan was beaten by India's Puneet Rana who clocked 31.0 secs, while Condrad's time was 31.35 secs. Eranga Dinesh Fernando who swam in the 200M Butterfly event was placed 4th with a time of 2.29.61secs. India's Rehan Poncha clocking 2.07.10 secs. took the gold while the silver and bronze medals went to Pakistan swimmers. Sri Lankan swimmers again failed in the 4x400 Free style relay when they clocked 8.47.05 secs. Far behind the winners Pakistanis who had a time of 8.22.43 secs. Badminton: Lankan women shuttlers won the silver medal losing to India three games to nil. The Indian girls were really in command from the beginning and kept pressure on the Lankan women. Volleyball: Lankan spikers went a step forward yesterday beating Nepal in straight sets. Sri Lanka scored at will to take the first set 25-19, and in the second set Nepalese fought hard to score 21 points against Lanka's 25. Lankans never gave the opportunity to Nepal spikers to come to terms and went on to win the set at 25 19. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
