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05 Greatest Trophies Across Different Sports

Published

5 years ago

October 13, 2020

Editor

FIFA World Cup Trophy

Awarded For: Winning Football World Cup
Made of: 18-carat gold
Introduced in: 1974 FIFA World Cup
Designer: Stabilimento Artistico Bertoni (Italy)

The trophy is given to the World Cup-winning team every four years, the “FIFA World Cup Trophy” is made of gold and it replaced the first world cup trophy called “Jules Rimet Trophy” after the 1970 world cup. It was first introduced in the 1974 world cup and made of pure 18-carat gold and weighs around 6.1 kilograms. Its design feature two human bodies holding earth”.

2. The Ashes (Cricket)

Awarded for: Winner of annual 5 test match series between England-Australia
Made of: terracotta and contains a burnt bail
Introduced in: 1883-84 test series between England-Australia

Early history accounts vary but its widely considered that after 1882 test series win by Australia in England. British newspaper “Sporting times” published an article about “death of cricket in England and Ashes set to be taken to Australia” referring to Australia win against England. A year later when England travel to Australia for the test series, English captain vowed to take back the Ashes.

3. Wimbledon (Men’s singles Tennis)

Awarded For: Men’s singles winner
Made of: Silver Gilt, Height 18 inches
Introduced in: first presented by All England Club in 1887, it replaced the Field Cup used in previous 6 years.

First ever Wimbledon Championship took place in 1877 and a trophy called “Field Cup” was awarded to the winner of men’s singles event. But William Renshaw won three titles in a row twice hence keeping the “field cup (1877-83) and Champions Cup (1984-86). That prompted All England Club to present a new trophy to the winner which was made of silver gilt and it was decided that players cannot keep the trophy no matter how many times they win the event.

4. Webb Ellis Cup (Rugby)

Awarded For: Winning Rugby Union World Cup
Made of: Gilded silver, weights around 4.5 kg
Introduced in: 1987 Rugby World Cup
Designer: Carrington & Co. of London designed the original trophy back in 1906

The Webb Ellis Cup was introduced in the first Rugby Union World Cup and awarded to the winner. The trophy used was actually a historic silverware made back in 1906 by Carrington and Co of London. When Rugby World Cup 1987 was announced, secretary of International Rugby Federation set off on finding an appropriate trophy for the world cup and he visited “Garrard & Co” Jewelers in London where this trophy was shown to him. He liked the design and presented it to Rugby countries participating in the first every world cup.

5.Stanley Cup (NHL)

Awarded For: Winning playoffs in National Hockey League (NHL)
Made of: Silver and nickel alloy, weighs at around 15.5 kilograms
Introduced in: 1893 for the best amateur ice hockey team in canada
Designer: Named after Lord Stanley, who brought a simple rose-bowl which was made in Sheffield England and used it as a trophy awarded to Canada’s best amateur hockey team every year.

Stanley Cup has a rich history and it is named after its very first owner Lord Stanley who was the governor of Canada in last 1880’s to early 1990’s. He was ICE Hockey enthusiast. Lord Stanley alongside his family played a key role in Ice Hockey development in Canada starting an yearly amateur “Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup”.

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Strengthening Ties Through Sport: China Donates Five Dragon Boats to Sri Lanka

Published

2 hours ago

June 1, 2025

Editor

The People’s Republic of China has donated five dragon boats worth LKR 5 million to Sri Lanka, marking a significant step in promoting water sports across the island.

The donation was made during the China-Sri Lanka Friendship Dragon Boat Championship, organized by NACKSL – the National Association of Canoeing and Kayaking Sri Lanka, held on May 31 at the Diyawanna Rowing Center. The championship saw the participation of 25 teams from various regions of the country.

The event was graced by:

Minister of Youth and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamagedara
Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara
Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong

Trophies and certificates were awarded to the winning athletes, and the official handover of the dragon boats was completed at the same event.

A Symbol of Friendship and Cultural Exchange

Minister Gamagedara emphasized that the China-Sri Lanka Dragon Boat Championship, and the donation of dragon boats, symbolize the strong cultural, sporting, and diplomatic ties between the two nations. He extended his gratitude to the Chinese Embassy and stated that this generous gift would be instrumental in expanding and developing water sports across Sri Lanka.

“From North to South and East to West, we are committed to promoting water sports across the country,” said the Minister.

He further noted that this donation would help create pathways for Sri Lankan youth in canoeing, kayaking, and dragon boat racing, while also boosting sports tourism.

Celebrating Unity and National Inclusion

Special appreciation was extended to student participants from schools in Jaffna, highlighting the championship’s role in fostering national unity and showcasing the talent and commitment of young athletes from all regions.

The Deputy Minister also expressed hope that more youth with exceptional talent in water sports would be provided with sports scholarships in the future.

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Cricket

Kusal Mendis Falls Short in High-Stakes IPL Eliminator Clash

Published

21 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Editor

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis failed to rise to the occasion during a crucial IPL 2025 Eliminator as Gujarat Titans fell short in their chase against Mumbai Indians at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in New Chandigarh.

Chasing a steep target of 229, Gujarat Titans needed early momentum. While opener Sai Sudharsan led the charge with a composed 80 off 49 deliveries, Kusal Mendis—expected to play a key supporting role—could not live up to expectations on this competitive stage.

Mendis, who had the platform to make an impact, started aggressively with two sixes in his 10-ball 20 but threw away his wicket in an uncharacteristic manner—getting out hit wicket to Mitchell Santner. In a high-pressure match where composure was vital, Mendis’s dismissal was a major setback for GT, stalling their momentum during a promising phase of the innings.

This was an opportunity for Mendis to demonstrate consistency and reliability at the highest level of franchise cricket, especially with the eyes of selectors and fans fixed on performances under pressure. However, the lack of game awareness and a reckless approach led to a soft exit at a crucial moment.

GT eventually managed 208/6, falling short by 20 runs. With Mendis’s early exit, the middle order was left exposed to the mounting run rate, and despite brief resistance from Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia, the chase fizzled out.

While Mendis has shown flashes of brilliance in previous matches, this performance serves as a reminder of the demands of knockout-stage cricket. With playoffs being the toughest test of mental and technical strength, Sri Lanka’s white-ball star must tighten his game to deliver when it matters most.

News

Awareness Media Briefing on New Sports Regulations

Published

2 days ago

May 30, 2025

Editor

A special media briefing on the new regulations under the Sports Act was held on May 30, 2025, at the Department of Government Information, with the aim of raising public awareness on the upcoming changes to Sri Lanka’s sports governance framework.

The event featured key officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, including:

Sunil Kumara Gamagedara – Minister of Youth and Sports
Sugath Thilakaratne – Deputy Minister of Sports
Aruna Bandara – Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports
Shemal Fernando – Director General of Sports
Priyantha Ekanayake – Chairman, National Sports Council

These leaders addressed the media on the impact, scope, and enforcement of the new regulations, highlighting their importance in ensuring transparency, accountability, and modernization in Sri Lanka’s sports sector.