Sri Lanka’s medal tally 29

Three gold, 11 silver and 15 bronze:

Leslie FERNANDO reporting from Dhaka, Bangladesh

Sri Lanka managed only a bronze on day seven of the 11th South Asian Games held in Dhaka.

With the two bronze medals Sri Lanka total medal tally increased to 29. Upto seventh day of the Games Sri Lanka has won three gold, 11 silver and 15 bronze.

Today our swimmers, paddlers, boxers, wushunians and wrestlers who arrived will come out in the individual events in the five disciplines.

Sri Lanka volleyballers who won a silver in the Colombo Games 2006 had to be satisfied winning the bronze in the volleyball tournament of 11th SAG defeating Maldives 3-0 in the match to decide the third place, played at Soharwardy Indoor Stadium, Mirpur today.

Our spikers showed superiority to outclass the Maldives. Sri Lankan put up a strong block and did the boosting job and with efficient strike power won all three sets. The first set 25-16 in 20 minutes second set 25-16 also in 20 minutes and third 25-18 in 24 minutes.

Golf - a bronze

Our golfers were responsible for the second bronze medal on day seven of SAG played at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

In the golf team event Mithun Perera, Prabagaran Kandasamy, A. Chandradasa and Vijita Bandara Ranaisthna 447 stroke 12 stroke lesser than India 435 strokes silver while Bangladesh won the gold 422 stroke.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the league round (Group ‘B’) of the Twenty20 Under-21 cricket match played at the Shahid Kanruzzaman Stadium, Rajshahi. Sri Lanka were dismissed for a low total of 99 off 18.3 overs with skipper Ashan Priyanjana top scoring with 28 and Lahiru Thirimanna hit a quick 20. Both Pakistani pacemen Mirza Janil 2 for 12 and M. Rameer 3 for 22 shared the bowling honours. Pakistan in reply hit the required runs 100 for the loss of 4 wickets off 18.5 overs. Ali Azad 38 and Adil Amir 32 shared a valuable 78 runs for the third wicket for Pakistan’s victory. Thisara Perera, Naveen Kavikara and Imesh Udayanga claimed a wicket each.

Sri Lanka: 99 in 18.3 overs (Angelo Perera 19, A. Priyanjana 28, L. Thirimanna 20, S. Pathirana 10, M. Jamil 2 for 12, M. Rameer 3 for 22).

Pakistan: 100 for 4 in 18.5 overs (A. Azad 38, A. Amin 32, T. Perera 1 for 28, N. Kavikara 1 for 27, I. Udayanga 1 for 36).

Today Sri Lanka play Maldives last match in the group.

Team missing

Match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was cancelled today due to absence of Sri Lanka team.

By the rule of Olympic (IOC) if any team is absent in the match the opponent will win the match by 3-0 goals. It means the opponent team will set three points in that match.

So in the absence of Sri Lanka, Pakistan win the match 3-0 goal at Sahid Mustapa Kanal Stadium, Dhaka and set three points by walkover. Sri Lankan women footballers performance were pathetic as they lost to India 1-8 and 0-8 to Nepal.

Squash

Sri Lanka were beaten by India 3-0 in a team round robin match in the squash discipline played at the Dhaka Club Squash Courts.

Naveen Samarasinghe went down fighting 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 13-11 to Indian player Gauran Nandrajos. In the other two single Binura Jayasuriya 5-11, 3-11, 2-11 and Gihan Suwaris 8-11, 2-11, 3-11 were out classed by the other two Indian players Vikas Gangra and Ravi Dixit respectively.

Golf

Bangladesh were leading with 11 stroke in the Golf competition played at Kurwitola Golf Club. In the first round Bangladesh 211 stroke followed by Sri Lanka second 222 stroke and India in third place 223 stroke.