Cyclist Janaka clinches Gold in 170 km road race

The versatile rider Janaka Hemantha of Sri lanka Air Force performed superbly winning a gold medal in the 170 kilometre road race in the cycling event held from BKSP, Khulna to Gopalgoi Road and back.

For Sri Lanka it was the third gold, weightlifters bagged the other two golds on Sunday.

Altogether 36 riders from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal rode in the race started around 9 a.m. opposite Bangladesh Sports Complex in Khulna.

The riders were in a bunch upto the turn point - Gopalgoi Road. Janaka enjoyed a lead from the rest of the bunch. After the turn back but the India, Pakistani and Afghanistan riders joined Janaka and all three riders rode with terrific speed and they covered the distance with the same timing but Janaka Hemantha won on a photo finish for officials to declare him as the winner. The time taken by riders 4 hours 48.34 seconds.

Hassan Mukaran of Afghanistan finished fourth 4:48:41 seconds. While two other riders from Sri Lanka were placed 5th - C. P. Meemanage 4:49:43 seconds, Sudeera Nilanga 8th - 4:51:51 second.

Two other Sri Lanka riders Dane Nugera and Swaris Premachandra did not finish as both were injured during the race.

Three more medals for Judokas

Three more medals were won by Sri Lanka Judokas to increase the medal tally to five in judo competition for men and at the 11th edition of SAG.

Chandana Jayantha Bandara did well to grab the silver in 66 kg category for men. The other silver was won by Chamila Dilhani Wijerathne in the women’s 52 kg.

Madura Milan added the third medal - a bronze in the men’s 60 kg.

Men’s Kabaddi

The defending champions India stamped their authority with rapid team work to out play Sri Lanka with a facile 48-18 victory at the Kabaddi.

Nepal men’s team defeated Sri Lanka easily by 26-16 forcing them two ‘lonas’ in each half in day three of the event at National Kabadi Stadium.

The score was 15-7 at the end of first half.

With the win in this match between two underdogs Nepal ensured their fourth place, eventually as both third and fourth teams are entitled for the medal. Lankan Kabaddi team is yet to win a match in this discipline.

Weightlifting

Thusitha Srimal Abeykoon won the second bronze medal in weightlifting competition held at National Sports Council Complex, Dhaka.

He won the bronze in the 105 kg category with the final weight of 279 kg.

Thusitha lifted 120 kg in the snatch and in the clean and jerk 159 kg.

M. Rao of India won the gold. 327 total weight while silver went to Sajjad Amin of Pakistan, lifting the same weight as Rao. The judges named Pakistani as the second place winner.

Handball

Sri Lanka suffered their second defeat in the handball tournament beaten by Pakistan by 59 goals to 14 at the Kabbadi Stadium in Dhaka.

The winners led 20-3 at half time.

Hockey

Sri Lanka routed Nepal by 15 goals to 1 in their group last match of the hockey discipline played at Hockey Stadium, Palton.

Sri Lanka who lost to India earlier has to confront Pakistan on February 5. Our stickers are assured of a bronze in this tournament. as India and Pakistan are certain to fight for the gold and silver.

Cricket

Sri Lanka who registered a 64 run victory against Nepal in Twenty20 Cricket opening match scored their second win against Bangladesh by 18 runs played at Shahid Kamruzzanan Stadium in Rajshahi on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka 165 for 6.

Bangladesh 147

Weightlifters win six medals

Sri Lanka Weightlifters fared prominently grabbing medals in all the six events they participated at the 11th South Asian Games weightlifting discipline in Dhaka.

Weightlifter Manjula bags a silver medal

Manjula Wijeratne bagged the fifth Silver Medal in the 105 kg category in the Weightlifting Competition.

He accumulated a total weight of 298 kg lifting 165 kg in the snatch and 133 kg in the jerk and clean.

Altogether, seven medals were won today with cyclist Janaka Hemantha being the proud gold medal winner.

Sri Lanka increased the medal tally with yesterday’s winnings to total of 17 medals. They added seven medals, one gold, three silvers and three bronze in cycling, judo, Kabbadi and weightlifting.

As for the race for medals concerned, India continued to lead the pack by distance followed by Pakistan.

Women’s kabaddi team wins bronze

Our women’s kabbadi team won the first medal - a bronze at the kabbadi tournament held at Kabbadi Stadium in Dhaka.

Sri Lanka beat Nepal by 24 points to 21.

Squash

Sri Lanka men’s squash players moved to the next round with a 3-0 straight set win against Nepal played at Dhaka Club.

Eranga Alwis beat Tilija 11-5, 11-3, 12-10.

Binura beat Sundeep 11-4, 11-2, 11-9 and Naveen Samarasinghe beat Hira 11-5, 11-5, 11-2.

Football

Sri Lanka lost to Afghanistan 2-0 in a group ‘B’ match of Football Tournament played at M.A. Aziz Stadium in Chittagong.

Afghanistan the table leaders with their third straight match led 1-0 at half time.

Despite Sri Lanka losing the last match they confirmed their semi-finals berth defeating Pakistan 1/0 and drawing with India 0/0.