Rugger and cricket teams ready

Dinesh Weerawansa Reporting From China

Sri Lanka’s seven-a-side rugby team and Tewnty20 cricket team had their first workouts as they prepared to compete at the 16th Asian Games here next week. The rugby team, captained by Radhika Hettachchchi had a full work out. But the Lankan cricket team had only some light workouts as they plan to have a full practice session tomorrow. Jehan Mubarak’s Sri Lanka team has got a bye to play directly in Wednesday’s quarter finals of the Asian Games Twenty20 cricket tournament.

Pakistan’s first gold

The women’s Twenty20 tournament was concluded today giving Pakistan its first gold medal of the Games. Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh by ten wickets in the final. Having bowled out Bangladesh for 92 in 20 overs, Pakistan reached the target in 15.4 overs to take the gold. Japan beat China by seven wickets in the third place play-off to win the bronze medal.

Beach volleyball, cricket and athletic remains Sri Lanka’s brightest medal prospects after its golfers lost their early advantage on day eight of the 16th Asian Games continued here today.

Sri Lanka ‘1’ combination of Geethika Gunawardena and W.W. Sujeewa registered an exciting two sets to one win in their women’s beach volleyball tournament match over South Korea’s Lee and Wak at the BWC here today. The Lankan lasses won the first set in style 21-15 before narrowly losing the second. But Gunawardena and Sujeewa came back strongly in the decisive set to take the game in Sri Lanka’s favor 2-1.

However, Sri Lanka ‘1’ men’s pair of Mahesh Perera and Wasantha Ratnapala went down fighting to Indonesia’s Dian and Candra 1-2 in their pool ‘H’ game played today.

Despite winning the second set to make the tie one-all, Perera and Ratnapala lacked consistency in losing the crucial third set and with it the game 18-21, 21-18, 13-15.

Sri Lanka ‘2’ team comprising Pubudu Ekanayake and Asanka Pradeep Kumara, has already entered the pre-quarter finals of the men’s beach volleyball competition.

Golf medal doubtful

Sri Lanka’s medal hopes in golf was confined only to the first day’s tee off after which Mithun Perera was placed second and Sri Lanka team third. However, their descending form in yesterday’s round two was extended to the round three as well.

After the penultimate round of the competition at the Dragon Lake Golf Club today, the overall captain of the Sri Lanka contingent was placed 14th with a total of 221. His team mates were also making a poor progress with Vijitha Bandara and Tissa Chandradasa jointly at 32nd (233 each) and Thangaraja Nadaraja at 46th with 239. Heading the list of 76 competitors after round three was South Korean Meen Whee Kim with an excellent 204.

His fine form mainly contributed South Korea to take the top spot in the team championship with 624 points while Sri Lanka has gone down to the eleventh place out of 19 countries in the team championship.

Leena Sandamali and Niroshan Lakmali, Sri Lanka 2 combination in women’s beach volleyball, lost to Japan’s Urata and Takemi nil-two 6-21, 15-21 in their flood-lit game the BWC last night.

Sri Lanka’s hopes in men’s singles tennis event too were shattered when Harshana Godamanna and Thangaraja Dineshkanthan lost their respective second round matches in similar fashion – in straight sets. Sri Lanka Davis Cup player Godamanna was beaten by China’s Di Wu 6-2, 6-2 in a game lasted for only 64 minutes. Wu was in top form and never allowed Godamanna to show any resistance, serving three aces. Dineshkanthan too suffered a similar defeat at the hands of Japanese Tatsuma Ito 2-6, 2-6 in 45 minutes.

Archers fail

Both archers fielded by Sri Lanka in women’s individual qualification round - Dilhara Salgado and Shashikala Kumarasinghe were off target. Salgado had a score of only 478 to finish 43rd while Kularasinghe (390) was placed 51st out of 52 competitors who were seen in action. Finishing on top of the list after the qualification round was North Korean Un Sil Kwon with an impressive score of 565.

Sri Lanka’s Sanjeev de Silva could secure only the last place in his rowing event – lightweight men’s singles sculls final race B, with a time of 7:43.42. V. Yakovlev won the race in 7:16.48. At a time when Sri Lanka has been struggling, India set an example as South Asian sporting giant to win their second gold. Bajrang Lal Takhar of India came first in men’s single sculls rowing in 7:04.78. Mohsen Shadinaghadeh of Iran won the gold medal in lightweight men’s single sculls returning a time of 7:55.62

Hosts China continued their dominance, extending their commanding lead over second-placed South Korea in the latest medals standing. China won the gold medal in men’s eight rowing with a time of 5:37.44. China also won the gold medal in lightweight Women’s Quadruple Sculls Rowing with a time of 6:35.64. China went on to win the gold medal in women’s trap team event.

Piyumi Dehara Ketapearachchi (30.000) and Elisha Mayanka Gomes (31.250) were also placed ninth and the last in women’s synchronized swimming duet technical routine aggregating only 61.250 points. In contrast, China’s pair of Wenwen Jiang (48.000) and Tingting Jiang (48.375) had an impressive performance to total 96.375 and finished first.

Leena Sandamali and Niroshan Lakmali, Sri Lanka 2 combination in women’s beach volleyball, lost to Japan’s Urata and Takemi nil-two 6-21, 15-21 in their flood-lit game the BWC last night.

As usual, there is hardly any notable performance from Sri Lanka’s sailors who continued their habit of occupying last places. Sureni Gunaratne (women’s dinghy optimist) and Krishan Janaka (open laser radial) were placed last in their ninth races while Avishka de Alwis (men’s dinghy optimist 9) finished tenth out of 11 competitors.

Lankans in action

Nipun Seneviratne, Lakmal Ranasinghe and Indrajith Perera will compete in men’s individual qualification round of the archery competition to be worked off at Aoti Archery Range on Saturday. Their performance would also be counted to determine Sri Lanka’s place in the team championship of the same. Sri Lanka golfers, Mithun Perera, Tissa Chandradasa, Vijitha Bandara and Thangaraja Nadaraja, will tee off in the fourth and final round - individual and team event at the Dragon Lake Golf Club.

Once again, struggling Sri Lanka sailors - Lakshan Gunawardena (men’s mistral), Sureni Gunaratne (women’s dinghy optimist), Krishan Janaka (open laser) and Avishka de Alwis (men’s dinghy optimist) are down to compete in round 11 and 12 of their respective events on Saturday.

The only other Sri Lankan competitor to be seen in action at the ninth day of the 16th Asian Games here on Saturday will be boxer Chaminda Tennakoon who will take on North Korean Song Guk Sung in the qualifying round of the men’s 46-49kg category at Foshan Gymnasium.

GUANGZHOU, Friday