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05 Greatest Trophies Across Different Sports

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  1. 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”.

Football

Sri Lanka U20 Women’s Football Hits Rock Bottom at SAFF Championship Amid Continued National-Level Crisis

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The Sri Lanka U20 Women’s Team endured a disappointing campaign at the SAFF U20 Women’s Championship 2025, suffering two heavy defeats with one group match left to play. In their opening encounter, Sri Lanka was thrashed 9 -1 by Bangladesh, followed by a 5-0 loss against Bhutan, indicating a deeper crisis in the country’s women’s football structure.

These back-to-back losses highlight the grim state of the women’s football program, especially when placed alongside the senior team’s exit from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers earlier this year without a single win. This trend reflects not just a lack of preparation, but an institutional failure to establish a developmental pipeline or strategic plan.

What’s even more concerning is the absence of visible recovery mechanisms from the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL). Instead of addressing systemic issues—such as lack of coaching standards, insufficient grassroots investment, and poor player welfare—key decision-makers appear more focused on the upcoming FFSL elections. Behind-the-scenes politics continue to stall any meaningful progress in women’s football development.

Despite the promising young talent in Sri Lanka, the gap in fitness, tactical training, and match readiness compared to regional rivals is growing wider. Without immediate technical reforms and leadership that prioritizes performance over politics, the future of women’s football in the country remains uncertain.

With one more match against a strong Nepal side, the prospects of a comeback look bleak, unless there is a radical shift in how the game is managed from the ground up.

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South Asian Karate Championship 2025: India and Sri Lanka Shine as Karate Celebrates 50 Years in Sri Lanka

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Colombo, July 5–6, 2025 – The 9th South Asian Karate Championship and the 1st South Asian Youth Karate Championship successfully concluded at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, marking a landmark moment in Sri Lanka’s martial arts history as the nation celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Karate Federation.

This prestigious two-day event was jointly organized by the South Asian Karate Federation and the Sri Lanka Karate Federation, which is registered under the Ministry of Sports as one of the seven official sports federations in the country.

Day 1 (July 5) – Youth Championship Dominated by India and Sri Lanka

The opening day featured intense youth-level competition with over 700 athletes from seven South Asian nationsSri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives – competing in age categories below 14.

🥇 Youth Medal Standings (U-14 Category):

  • India – 22 Medals (1st Place)
  • Nepal – 20 Medals (2nd Place)
  • Sri Lanka – 10 Medals (3rd Place)

📺 Watch Day 1 Highlights:

Final Day (July 6) – Sri Lanka Takes Youth Title, India Clinches Senior Crown

The second day of the tournament featured both senior and youth finals. In a historic achievement, Sri Lanka emerged champions in the Youth Division, while India secured the Senior Team Championship, continuing their regional dominance.

Final Team Standings:

  • Senior Category:
    • 🥇 India (Champions)
    • 🥈 Nepal (Runners-up)
    • 🥉 Sri Lanka (Third Place)
  • Youth Category:
    • 🥇 Sri Lanka (Champions)
    • 🥈 India (Runners-up)
    • 🥉 Nepal (Third Place)

Watch Final Day Highlights:

Special Guests & Recognition

The event was graced by His Excellency Akio Isomata, the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, who attended as the Chief Guest, acknowledging Sri Lanka’s long-standing contribution to the growth of karate in South Asia.

Also present was Bharat Sharma, President of the South Asian Karate Federation, who praised the standard of competition and Sri Lanka’s organizing excellence.

Karate in Sri Lanka – 50 Years of Legacy

This championship coincided with the 50th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Karate Federation, which has played a vital role in shaping karate talent nationally and internationally. With continued support from the Ministry of Sports, karate remains one of Sri Lanka’s fastest-growing combat sports.

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Football

Sri Lanka Women Finish Qualifiers with 0 Goals, 20 Conceded – Who Will Take Responsibility?

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Colombo, July 3 – Sri Lanka Women’s National Football Team wrapped up their AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers campaign with a third straight defeat — a 2-0 loss to Laos — confirming their position at the bottom of Group F, with 0 wins, 0 goals scored, and 18 conceded in just three games.

But beyond the scorelines lies a far more serious issue: a complete collapse of women’s football development in Sri Lanka. And this time, the blame does not lie on one individual — but on a system that has failed the sport, from top to bottom.

Match-by-Match Recap

Match 1: Sri Lanka 0 – 10 Uzbekistan

  • Possession: 30%
  • Shots on Target: 0
  • xG: 0.0 vs Uzbekistan’s 3.60
  • A game that exposed a lack of preparation, structure, and fitness from the very start.

Match 2: Sri Lanka 0 – 8 Nepal

  • Possession: 50%
  • Defensive errors gifted goals, including a hat-trick by Sabitra Bhandari.
  • xG: Nepal 3.76 vs Sri Lanka 0.60
  • Tactical breakdown: Midfield collapsed under pressure, backline failed to close space.

Match 3: Sri Lanka 0 – 2 Laos

  • Possession: 50%
  • Shots on Target: 5
  • xG: 2.56 (Laos) vs 1.08 (Sri Lanka)
  • A more balanced performance, but defensive lapses in the 73rd and 90+2 minutes led to defeat. Sri Lanka couldn’t convert chances despite their best game statistically.

Final Group Standings – Group F

TeamMPGFGAGDPoints
🇳🇵 Nepal2170+176
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan2170+176
🇱🇦 Laos2216-140
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka3020-200

Tactical Issues Across All Matches

  • No clear formation or transition play.
  • Lack of defensive coordination — players failed to track runners, especially on the flanks.
  • No attacking identity — only 1.08 xG across three games.
  • In-game management absent — few substitutions or tactical shifts despite being outplayed.

While public criticism often targets the President of the Football Federation, this decline in women’s football runs deeper:

Who Is Accountable? Not Just the President

Women’s Football Committee:

  • Failed to organize any domestic tournament in recent years.
  • Selected the squad via open trials, with no league performance data to back selections.
  • No consistent training camps or fitness programs.

Executive Committee:

  • Remains silent on the recurring failures.
  • No inquiries, reviews, or structural reforms have followed Sri Lanka’s repeated humiliations — including the U20 Women’s SAFF defeat earlier this year.

Technical & Development Staff:

  • No tactical framework or youth development.
  • No modern coaching methods or international exposure for players.

The Bigger Problem: Silence and Stagnation

Sri Lanka is not just losing matches — it’s losing direction. The current state of women’s football is not the result of one bad campaign. It’s the product of years of neglect, political appointments, and a failure to treat women’s football with equal priority.

Even now, there is no explanation from the Executive Committee on how the women’s team was prepared or what plans exist for recovery.

Time for a Reset, Not Excuses

If Sri Lanka is serious about competing in international football, the following must be addressed:

  • ✅ A national women’s league
  • ✅ Provincial and school-level competitions
  • ✅ Professional coaching staff and structured fitness programs
  • ✅ Regular international friendlies and camps
  • ✅ Transparent selection processes based on performance, not politics

🔚 Conclusion

Sri Lanka’s 2026 AFC campaign should not just be remembered for the scorelines — but as a call for change. It is time for every stakeholder — from the Women’s Committee to the Executive — to reflect, respond, and rebuild.

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