News
Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski wins FIFA award as best men’s player
Robert Lewandowski won the biggest individual prize of his career Thursday, showing that a forward not named Messi or Ronaldo can be voted the world’s best soccer player.
The Poland captain was named the FIFA Best Men’s Player for 2020 after his 55-goal season lifted Bayern Munich to a sweep of international and domestic trophies.
Lewandowski topped a three-player shortlist that included Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Voting was by a global jury of national team captains and coaches, plus selected journalists and fans. Lewandowski received 52 voting points, with Ronaldo second on 38 Messi third with 35.
Though FIFA hosted the virtual ceremony in Zurich, its president Gianni Infantino went to Munich to present the trophy in person.
“It’s an incredible feeling” said Lewandowski, who at age 32 made the shortlist for the first time.
Lewandowski joined Luka Modric, the Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder who won in 2018, as the only players in the past 13 years to deny both Messi and Ronaldo the victory.
“Today I am among them,” Lewandowski said in comments translated from German. “It means I’ve always done the right things in my life.”
Lucy Bronze was voted the best women’s player to give England its first individual victory at the FIFA awards. A Champions League winner with Lyon, she has since joined Manchester City.
Bronze got 52 points from the women’s voting jury. Pernille Harder, who helped Wolfsburg to the Champions League final, finished second with 40 points and Bronze’s former Lyon teammate Wendi Renard scored 35 points.
Lewandowski is also the first men’s winner from a club outside Spain since Ronaldo won the 2008 award as a Manchester United player.
A Bayern player had not won since FIFA created a world player award in 1991.
The club twice saw its stars relegated to third place by Messi and Ronaldo: Franck Ribéry in Bayern’s Champions League winning year of 2013, and Manuel Neuer one year later after Germany won the World Cup.
Jurgen Klopp, who coached Lewandowski at their former club Borussia Dortmund, denied Bayern a sweep of the FIFA men’s awards by being voted the best coach for a second straight year.
Klopp guided Liverpool to become champion of England for the first time in 30 years, and finished tied in votes with Hansi Flick, who took over at Bayern mid-season. Klopp won in the tiebreaker of most votes from national-team coaches. Marcelo Bielsa of English second-tier champion Leeds was third.
Sarina Wiegman, who led the Netherlands to the 2019 World Cup final, was voted the best coach in women’s soccer ahead of Lyon’s Jean-Luc Vasseur and Emma Hayes of Chelsea. Wiegma will take over the England team next year.
Son Heung-min’s end-to-end dribble to score for Tottenham against Burnley won the Puskas Award for best goal.
Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford was honored for his campaign to fight child poverty. FIFA made a donation of $100,000 toward his charitable work.
Cricket
Chamudi Praboda to Lead Sri Lanka U19 Women on India Tour
The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Panel has named a 15-member Sri Lanka Under-19 Women’s squad for the upcoming tour of India, where the young cricketers will compete in both T20 and One Day formats.
Chamudi Praboda has been appointed captain of the side, while Sanjana Kavindi will serve as vice-captain and wicketkeeper. The tour is expected to provide valuable international exposure and competitive experience for the emerging players.
Sri Lanka will play three T20 matches in Chennai on June 22, 24 and 27, followed by three One Day matches in Pondicherry on June 30 and July 3 and 6.
The series will offer Sri Lanka’s young talents an important opportunity to test their skills against strong opposition and gain experience in challenging Indian conditions as they continue their development at international level.
The squad comprises Chamudi Praboda (Captain), Sanjana Kavindi (WK, Vice-Captain), Nethmi Upeksha, Manudi Nanayakkara, Limansa Thilakarathna, Umayangana Peiris, Danodya Sewmini, Nethagi Isuranjali, Pramudi Methsara, Yesali Jithara, Vimoksha Balasooriya, Sanuki Pathirage, Chamodi Herath, Aseni Thalagune and Daria Dissanayaka.
Athletics
Rumesh Tharanga Reaches Historic World No. 3 Ranking
Sri Lankan javelin star Rumesh Tharanga has achieved a remarkable milestone by climbing to World No. 3 in the latest global rankings, bringing pride and recognition to Sri Lankan athletics on the international stage.
Tharanga now holds 1,324 ranking points, placing him among the world’s elite javelin throwers. His rise to third place marks the highest-ever ranking achieved by a Sri Lankan male athlete in world athletics history, highlighting his dedication, hard work, and consistent performances over recent years.
The achievement is even more significant as Tharanga has become Asia’s highest-ranked javelin athlete, surpassing India’s celebrated thrower Neeraj Chopra. This accomplishment reflects the growing strength of Sri Lankan athletics and demonstrates the country’s ability to compete with the best athletes in the world.
Sports officials and fans across the island have welcomed the news with great enthusiasm.
Many view Tharanga’s success as an inspiration for young athletes who aspire to represent Sri Lanka on the global stage. His journey from a promising talent to one of the world’s top-ranked competitors showcases the rewards of perseverance and commitment to excellence.
His achievement stands as a proud moment for Sri Lanka and a significant chapter in the country’s sporting history.
News
Dinara and Aahil Reach Finals at SSC ITF J30 Week 2
Sri Lanka’s Dinara de Silva and Aahil Kaleel advanced to the girls’ and boys’ singles finals respectively at the ITF J30 Week 2 Junior Tennis Tournament being held at the SSC Courts from 2 to 8 June.
Dinara secured a dominant semifinal victory over the Maldives’ Karin Saizan, while Aahil battled through a tough three-set encounter against India’s Vivaan Mirdha to keep Sri Lankan hopes alive in the boys’ competition.

In the girls’ singles semifinals, Dinara produced an impressive display to defeat Karin Saizan 4-1, 4-0. Fellow Sri Lankan Yuhansa Peiris also booked her place in the final after overcoming India’s Aahida Singh 5-4, 4-0. Their victories set up an all-Sri Lankan championship clash.
The boys’ singles semifinals featured a thrilling contest between Aahil and Vivaan Mirdha. After winning the first set 4-2 and dropping the second 2-4, Aahil held his nerve to claim the match tie-break 10-7. In the other semifinal, India’s Shiok Chauhan defeated compatriot Punith Manchira 5-3, 4-2 to reach the final.

The girls’ final will see Dinara face Yuhansa, while Aahil will take on Chauhan in the boys’ title match.
Dinara enters the final in outstanding form, having won the Week 1 singles title. She also teamed up with Yuhansa to capture the Week 1 girls’ doubles championship. The tournament is particularly significant for Dinara as it marks her final ITF Junior tournament appearance on Sri Lankan soil before embarking on the next stage of her international tennis journey.
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