Sporting Success in 2016

2016 has been a big year for the sportsmen and women from the FoG Sports Academy, whether they were cricketers, triathletes, netball players, TT players or swimmers.

The year began with young Table Tennis player Sanduni Prabuddhika who participated in the South Asian Hope Week and Challenge Competition in Karachi, Pakistan where she outshone all the competition to place 2nd in the Under 12 age category thereby qualifying to participate at the 2016 Asian Games taking place in China. 

While on the topic of Asian Games, FoG triathlete Lakruwan Wijesiri who has previously participated in a number of international triathlons and has received specialized training in Singapore with the kind sponsorship of Mr. Mohan Chandramohan (USA) was selected as a member of the national triathlon relay team to attend the 2016 South Asian Games in India, representing his country. A brand new specialized bike was also purchased for him by Mr. Chandramohan in lieu of this special occasion and we are delighted to announce that the team won a bronze medal at the Games, bringing great honor to Sri Lanka.

The FoG Sports Academy Table Tennis Team participated in the Western Province All Island Open Ranking Table Tennis Championship earlier this year where young Divya Chandraguptha won the Sri Lankan U10 Girls' Championship.

Divya Chandraguptha learnt to play table tennis at the FoG Sports Academy and was a part of the FoG Table Tennis team participating in the Western Province All Island Open Ranking Table Tennis Championship which was held at St. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia in early April.

Because of her outstanding talent, Divya was entered in both the Under 10 and Under 12 categories. While she only made it to the U12 Quarter Finals, Divya was able to secure the U10 Girls' Championship. Showing such outstanding talent at such a young age, playing against girls from elite schools who have received advanced training is a great achievement for both Divya and FoG, and we look forward to seeing how well she will perform in the years to come.  

Her teammate Sanduni Prabuddhika was the Second Runner Up at the U12 Competition. Sanduni also went on to participate in the Province Open Ranking Table Tennis Championship along with teammate Ramiru Rashmina where Sanduni showed off her extraordinary talent, becoming the Under 12, Under 15 and Under 18 Singles Champion and Ramiru became the Under 12 Singles Runner Up and Under 15 Singles Quarter Finalist.

In June, FoG Academy netball player Achini Madhushika represented the Galle District Team at the Junior National Netball Tournament where her outstanding performance was recognized when Achini was named the best player of the tournament.

Swimmers from the FoG Sports Academy delivered an outstanding performance at the XLII National Games- Southern Province Swimming Competition (Open) this year where Lakruwan Wijesiri and Ishan Mendis both placed 1st at the 50m Butterfly and 50m Backstroke events, respectively. Lakruwan has now been selected for the Southern Province Medley Relay Team whilst Ishan has been chosen for the Southern Province Free Style Relay Team.

2016 proved to be an incredible year for one swimmer in particular; Yasindu Kavishani who trains daily at the FoG Bryan Adams Foundation Swimming Pool Complex. Representing her school Ambalangoda Dharmashoka College at the 43rd Sri Lanka Schools Aquatic Sports Championship she placed first at the Girls’ U19 50m Butterfly event.

Continuing her winning streak she was also named the Under 19 Champion at the R.M.P. De Silva Memorial Inter-School Age Group Swimming Championship held in Ambalangoda after winning a total of seven gold medals at the 50 metres freestyle, backstroke, breast stroke & butterfly events, 100m free style and breast stroke events and 200m individual Medley event.

In cricket, the Seenigama Ladies defeated the Palink Ladies at the Ladies Division 2 Cricket Tournament Finals thereby being promoted to play in the Division 1 tournament from next year, which is a great accomplishment for the Foundation of Goodness, realizing a long held ambition.

FoG’s Rishanth Tuder was selected for the Sri Lanka Minor Districts Combined Youth Team tour to Malaysia. Tuder was the wicket keeper for the Jaffna Combined Schools Team at the 2012 Murali Harmony Cup where he was picked out for his outstanding talent along with Team captain Edwardedin Ratnam. Tuder went on to play club cricket with Tamil Union, which was Murali's own club team, and later was selected for the newly established U23 North/ East Combined Club Team in addition to being one of the first Northern players to be a member of the Southern Cricket Seenigama Team.

Tuder was selected to represent the nation as part of the Sri Lanka Minor Districts Combined Youth Team on a 9 day tour to Malaysia, and although the Sri Lankans lost to the Malaysians, Tuder was able to amass 4 catches, 4 stumpings and 1 run out during his 4 days of play. 

FoG Sports Academy chess players participated in the Buddhi International Open Rating Chess Championship - 2016 organized on behalf of the World Chess Federation and Chess Federation of Sri Lanka where Thisal Piyamantha placed as the Boys U11 Equal Champion and Sayumi Piyumanthi placed Equal Second in the U9 Girls category.

Later in the year, chess player Sasith Piyamantha who is also the Vice-Captain of the National U14 Chess Team was a part of the Sri Lankan Under 14 team who placed 3rd at the Asian Nations Chess Championship in China. Sasith is the youngest Sri Lankan Fide Master, a title bestowed upon him by the World Chess Federation when he became the champion at the 10th Asian School Chess Championship - Taiwan in 2014. He also placed 5th at the World School Chess Championship - 2014 held in Brazil.

22nd December 2016