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After five consecutive losses, Sri Lanka is back to winning ways at Netball World Cup

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The Asian Champions, Sri Lanka finally earned their first win at the ongoing Netball World Cup when they edge a strong Barbados outfit on Thursday in Cape Town, South Africa.

Coming into the match Sri Lanka was desperately looking for a win after 5 consecutive defeats while their opponents who have already secured their spot in the 13th/14th playoff looked to continue their domination in the tournament.

However coming into the match, Barbodas lasses were seen not playing with the same intensity they showed in their last outings but managed to put up a good fight to end the first break on 15-15.

Into the second quarter, Sri Lanka changed gears and played switched to aggressive mode as they started the second quarter with scoring 5 back-to-back goals to put pressure on the opponents.

Sri Lanka’s dominance in the second quarter forced Barbados’s coach to introduce their experience Sasha Corbin at wing attack and the move of her sister, Kadeen, who previously won Commonwealth Games gold with England, from goal, shooter to goal attack for Barbados.

But their tactics didn’t favour them as they remained four goals behind at halftime.

Into the second half, Barbados finally found their rhythm and scored a few back-to-back goals to narrow the deficit and surged ahead to win the third quarter by 22 goals to 12.

Heading into the all-important fourth and final quarter, Sri Lanka showed they never give up attitude and out on an improved performance in the dying moments to stage a comeback and claim a memorable 60-56 win.

The win also re-wrote history as Sri Lanka’s first time in 20 years that the Sri Lankans have beaten anyone other than Singapore at the Netball World Cup.

Despite the only victory, overall Sri Lanka had a poor outing in this year’s championship which they lost all their previous (5) matches including the game against their Asian counterparts Singapore.

Interestingly this year’s Netball world cup will mark the tallest netballer in the world and Sri Lanka’s netball backbone, Tharjini Sivalingam’s last appearance on an international stage where she is set to retire from the game following the world cup which is yet to announce officially.

*Sri Lanka’s performance so far in the tournament *

JAMAICA 105-25 SRI LANKA

Jamaica got their tournament off to a storming start, notching up a formidable 105-point total in their opening Group C match against Sri Lanka.

SOUTH AFRICA 87-32 SRI LANKA

Ruthless host South Africa romp to a commanding win over Sri Lanka to make it two-in-two at the Netball World in their second game of Pool C encounter.

WALES 68-52 SRI LANKA

Into the third game though Asian Champions Sri Lanka put on an improved performance but ended in the losing side against Wales.

SINGAPORE 55-52 SRI LANKA

A disciplined Singapore side defeated their Asian rivals Sri Lanka 52-55 to make matters worse for the Lankans.

ZIMBABWE 71-36 SRI LANKA

Zimbabwe had no problem in sweeping past Sri Lanka in a Group E match.

Football

I League 2025: New Star SC Breaks Silence on Mohamed Sahi Transfer Dispute

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Club Claims Legal Ownership of Player and Denies Any Tie with Crystal Palace FC Gampola

Colombo – June 16, 2025:

New Star Sports Club has issued an official clarification to Sri Lankan Sports TV in response to recent allegations raised over the eligibility of player Mohamed Sahi, who appeared for them in the ongoing I League 2025.

The controversy began when Crystal Palace FC Gampola claimed the player had been part of their club and was not officially released to play for another side. However, New Star SC has now provided a detailed counter-statement, presenting what they claim is a legitimate and documented timeline of events.

Timeline of the Transfer (According to New Star SC)

  • January 15, 2025: Mohamed Sahi was officially released by his previous club Eravur YSS.
  • January 16, 2025: He signed a one-year contract with New Star SC for the 2025/26 season for a fee of Rs. 85,000. annum.
  • Following this, New Star SC completed the player’s registration for the I League 2025, adhering to the official player registration guidelines and transfer protocols.

Official Documents and Tournament Committee Approval

New Star SC further stated that all relevant documentation regarding Sahi’s release, contract, and registration was submitted to the I League Tournament Committee, and the player’s inclusion in the squad was formally approved before the tournament began.

The club emphasized that:

All documents were verified by the tournament organizers, and the player was approved to participate under New Star SC. There was no contractual or regulatory tie between Mohamed Sahi and Crystal Palace FC Gampola.

On Crystal Palace FC Allegations

Responding directly to the claims by Crystal Palace FC, New Star SC clarified that:

  • Mohamed Sahi had only appeared in friendly and 7-a-side games for Crystal Palace, with no official registration or contract in place.
  • Therefore, any claims of ownership or breach of agreement by Crystal Palace are factually incorrect and unsupported by documentation.

Regulatory Backing

As per the I League 2025 Competition Regulations (Sections 15–17), a player is deemed eligible if:

1. They are officially released by their previous club;

2. They are duly contracted and registered within the tournament’s registration window;

3. Their documentation is verified and approved by the Tournament Committee .

If these requirements were met — as New Star SC claims — then the player was legitimately registered.

What’s Next?

While this clarification from New Star SC provides a strong rebuttal to the allegations, it remains to be seen whether the I League Tournament Committee will issue a public statement or ruling to close the matter.

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Football

I League 2025 Controversy: Player Transfer Dispute Raises Serious Questions

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New Star SC under scrutiny over fielding an ineligible player, Mohamed Sahi, without Crystal Palace FC Gampola’s release

A player registration controversy has emerged during the I League 2025 involving New Star Sports Club and Crystal Palace FC Gampola, potentially violating multiple tournament regulations.

According to reliable reports, Mohamed Sahi, who was formerly registered with Eravur YSS, joined Crystal Palace FC Gampola in February 2025 — a move publicly announced on the club’s official Facebook page.

However, during the ongoing I League tournament, the same player was found listed in the New Star SC squad, raising alarm over a potential unauthorised transfer.

Officials from Crystal Palace FC have confirmed that the club did not release Sahi for any transfer, nor were they informed about his participation with New Star SC in the I League 2025. This suggests a clear breach of both the club-player agreement and the player registration regulations outlined by the I League organizers.

The I League 2025 regulations — particularly under Section 15: Eligibility of Players and Section 16: Registration — strictly prohibit participation without proper registration and release. Clubs are required to register players within the designated transfer window and ensure full compliance with contracts and club agreements. Failure to adhere to these requirements can lead to sanctions, including disqualification and suspensions, as stipulated in the Disciplinary and Ethics Code

This is not the first time New Star SC has faced disciplinary action. In 2020, the club was suspended from the FFSL President’s Cup semi-final after a protest by Blue Eagles SC over fielding an overage U19 marquee player under alleged forged documents — a scandal that led to the resignation of a New Star official who also served on the FFSL Competition Committee.

Growing Concerns Amid Reforms

As Sri Lanka Football Federation (FFSL) and national team authorities work to rebuild the sport’s integrity and international standing, such cases of administrative malpractice threaten to undo recent progress. With the national team performing admirably and the FFSL pushing for reforms, these incidents are a stain on the domestic football system.

This incident serves as a critical reminder that transparent and ethical conduct is non-negotiable if Sri Lankan football is to move forward. The I League Disciplinary Committee is expected to take swift action to investigate and enforce appropriate sanctions if rules have been breached.

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South Korea Edge Sri Lanka in Thrilling Opener of Asian Rugby World Cup Qualifier

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In a closely contested opener of the Asian Rugby Championship – Emirates Edition, which serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, South Korea narrowly defeated Sri Lanka with a final score of 38-34 at the Racecourse International Stadium in Colombo yesterday (June 13).

This tournament is crucial in determining Asia’s second qualifier for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, with Japan having already secured their place through the world rankings. The event features four top-tier Asian rugby nations: Sri Lanka, South Korea, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.

Despite the loss, Sri Lanka delivered an impressive performance, going head-to-head with a strong South Korean side. Lasindu Karunaratne of Sri Lanka was named Player of the Match for his outstanding contribution on the field.

Sri Lanka is scheduled to face United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong in the remaining two matches of the series. The tournament, organized by Asia Rugby, features the continent’s top four teams selected based on performance and aims to determine the final Asian representative for the global stage.

The opening match drew notable attendance, including Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage, who witnessed the action live.

Stay tuned to Sri Lankan Sports TV for full coverage of the qualifiers and exclusive content from the ground.

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