sport in brief

Western Province chess Oct. 31 to Nov. 2

CHESS: The Western Province Chess Tournament organised by Golden Square International Chess Association will be played from October 31 to November 2 at Ratnavali Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 8. The tournament is an individual tournament and there will be ten categories - under-13, 14, 15, 17, 19 boys and girls.

All players will have to be under their respective age groups as at January 1 this year.

All players who are keen on participating in this tournament should register on or before October 28 at Isipathana College on October 28 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The tournament schedule: 1st round from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on October 31; 2nd round: From 7.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.; on November 1 - 3rd round: From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; also on Saturday Nov. 1 - 4th round: From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; also on Saturday, November 1 - 5th round: From 8 am. to 11 a.m.; on Sunday, November 2nd - 6th round: From 12 noon to 3 p.m.

The prizes to be awarded: 1st prize - gold medal and certificate, 2nd prize - silver medal and certificate, 3rd prize - bronze medal and certificate, 4th to 10 places - consolation prizes.

There will be a special trophy for the school that produces most number of winners.

All players hoping to participate should contact Mrs. Suneetha Wijesuriya on Tel: 071-2726210 or 2572645.

Asia Deaf Cricket Federation office-bearers

CRICKET OFFICIALS: The third annual general meeting of the Asia Deaf Cricket Federation was held at Hotel Melrose Inn, Gulberg, Lahore, Pakistan recently. Sri Lanka's messrs Shivantha Vivekanandan and K.T.T. Sumanadasa were uncontested for the third successive year as Vice-Chairman and Vice-President for the third successive year. Mr. Sumanadasa also figures as a technical committee member.

There are two Mrs. Zaharine Hameen who was elected and Mr. Asela Jayatileke uncontested as Executive Committee members.

Shivantha Vivekanandan was also elected as Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.

The following Office-bearers of the Asia Deaf Cricket Federation are as follows:

Patrons: Messrs Ajit Walelar (India) and Subash Ghai (India).

Chairman: Mr. Namdeo Kadam (India).

Vice Chairman: Messrs: Shivantha Vivekanandan (Sri Lanka), Ishtiaq Ahmed (Pakistan) and S. K. Patne (India).

President: Mr. Athar Mumtaz (Pakistan).

Vice Presidents: Messrs: K. T. T. Sumanadasa (Sri Lanka), Saryu Prasad Sherchan (Nepal), Padam Passi (India), Asim Tufail (Pakistan), Firoze Ahmded (Bangladesh).

General Secretary: Mr. Surinder Magan (India).

Joint Secretary: Mr. M. D. Allaudin (Bangladesh).

Treasurer: Mr. B. B. Khan (India).

Executive Committee Members: Messrs: Asad Ullah Taj (Pakistan), M. D. Salanddin Ahmed (Bangladesh), Hitman Sherchan (Nepal), Asela Jayatileke (Sri Lanka) and Mrs. Zaharine Hameen (Sri Lanka).

Asst. PRO: Zakir Khan (Bangladesh).

PRO Office Interpreter: Parul Passi (India).

Add. Director Cricket (Operator): Mr. Arun Ghorpade (India).

Chief Advisors: Messrs: M. M. Magar Patil (India) and Nailesh Chheda (India).

Cricket Operator (Director): Mr. Wasim F. Faruki (Pakistan).

Disciplinary Committee: Messrs: Shivantha Vivekanandan (Chairman) (Sri Lanka), Aru Ghorpade (India), Mrs. Zaharine Hameen (Sri Lanka), and messrs M. D. Allanddin (Bangladesh), Hitman Sherchan (Nepal) and Ishtiq Ahmed (Pakistan).

Technical Committee: Messrs: Arun Ghorpade (Chairman) (India), M. D. Allauddin (Bangladesh), B. B. Khan (India). K. T. T. Sumanadasa (Sri Lanka) and Asin Tufail (Pakistan).

Swimming Nationals postponed to Nov. 28 to 30

By Leslie FERNANDO

SWIMMING: The National Swimming and Diving Championships along with the National Waterpolo Championships and Synchronised Swimming Competition conducted by the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka

Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) which was scheduled to be held from Tuesday, October 29 to November 1 at the Sugathadasa Stadium Pool has been postponed to November 28, 29 and 30.

According to Rodney Silva, the Administrative Secretary of SLASU, the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium Authorities have informed that overflowing water (due to prevailing bad weather conditions) did not make the stadium facilities ideal to stage the meet.

SLASU will also conduct the championships at Junior Level as well in all four aquatic events on the same dates.

Sri Lanka Youth team off to Korea on November 2

By Shamseer JALEEL

The Sri Lanka Junior ruggerites will take wing to Korea on November 2 to participate in the Junior Rugby Asiad which will take place in Seoul, Korea.

The side will be coached by Sanath Martis and assisted by Ananda Kasturiarachchi. The final coaching session took place in Diyatalawa since the Korean conditions will be similar to the Diyatalawa.

The Lankans will lock horns with Singapore in the opening game on November 4 and two days later will battle it out with the winners of the Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong game.

Sanath Martis speaking to the Sunday Observer said that 30 players each from Central and Western Province were selected. A further 24 were chosen from Galle and Ruhuna area. Later the pool of 84 players were then reduced to 26 after a series of chuckers under the watchful eyes of the national selectors headed by the Brig. Japana Jayawardena. He further said he was very happy with the selection process and told that the skipper of the side was not selected until the final touring party of 24 was announced.

Martis ended by saying he is having previous experience with the Youth National side where he was an assistant coach in 2002 and 2003. Later in 2006 as coach the National Youth side became 6th and improved a year later to third.

The Groups

Division I: Korea, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Taipei and Kazakastan.

Division II: India, Philippines, Guam and Iran.

Rain ruins first day of Bangladesh-NZ Test

CRICKET: DHAKA, Oct 25 - Persistent rain washed out the opening day's play of the second Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand here on Saturday.

Umpires Daryl Harper of Australia and Asoka de Silva of Sri Lanka along with match referee Javagal Srinath of India inspected the wicket before calling off play at 12:30 local time (6:30 GMT). "The situation was assessed and the umpires and match referee felt that no play was possible due to the soggy outfield because of the overnight and morning rain," an official said.

"The play will start half-an-hour early at 9:00 am (15:00 GMT) on Sunday." Persistent rain since morning had forced ground authorities to keep the pitch covered and the toss couldn't be held. (AFP)

Gamini Senadhira's funeral today

Former Benedictine opening batsman Gamini Senadhira passed away on Friday after a brief illness at his residence in Thalahena.

Senadhira opened batting for St.Benedict's College along with Ranjith Fernando for two seasons. In 1961 he played under Sanath Jayawardena and later went on to represent Mutwal SC and Saracens SC in Daily News Trophy.

The veteran sports journalist and the Sports Editor of the Sunday Leader Senadhira has made several trips abroad to cover Sri Lanka cricket encounters.

He was also attached to the Daily Observer as a freelance sports reporter and the Times of Ceylon before moving to the Sunday Leader in which he was the Sports Editor since 1996.

Senadhira's funeral will take place today, (Sunday) at the General Cemetery in Thalahena. (Leslie)