Connect with us

News

Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski wins FIFA award as best men’s player

Published

on

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.

News

Vision Care Colombo Championship Set to Serve Off on 19 June

Published

on

By

The 111 Vision Care Colombo Championship 2026, one of Sri Lanka’s most prestigious and long-standing ‘A’ Grade tennis tournaments, will get underway on 19 June at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) Playing Section courts in Colombo.

Held on six iconic clay courts, this year’s championship is expected to attract a record number of entries from across the country. The tournament will also offer its largest-ever prize pool of Rs. 3 million, underlining its growing status on the local tennis calendar.

Organizers say the increased investment reflects a long-term commitment to nurturing local tennis talent and raising the standard of competition. Last year’s event featured a prize purse of Rs. 2.5 million, with the amount steadily increasing over recent years.

Tournament officials expressed their ambition of developing the championship into a future ‘Colombo Open’ capable of attracting leading players from across South Asia. They emphasized that the event is not only about tennis but also about building a strong sporting identity for Sri Lanka.

The championship will feature Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles events, as well as Mixed Doubles. Junior competitions will be conducted for boys and girls from Under-12 to Under-18 age categories, while senior events will cater to players in the Over-35, Over-45, Over-55 and Over-65 divisions.

Vision Care continues its longstanding support as title sponsor for the 12th consecutive year. Wilson has come on board as the Official Ball Partner.

The sponsorship handover ceremony was attended by Vision Care Managing Director Janaka Fonseka, SLTA Playing Section President Sriya Munasinghe, Captain Prasantha Dissanayake, and other officials representing both the SLTA and Vision Care.

Continue Reading

Cricket

Wyatt-Hodge Century Powers England Women to Crushing Win Over Sri Lanka

Published

on

By

England Women produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat Sri Lanka Women by 87 runs in their opening game of the ICC T20 Cricket world cup 2026 posting a formidable 219 for 1 from their 20 overs.

Opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge starred with a magnificent unbeaten 105 off 62 balls, striking 13 fours and a six at a blistering strike rate of 169.35. She shared a match-defining 135-run opening partnership with Amy Jones, who contributed a fluent 53 from 38 deliveries. England accelerated further in the closing overs through captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, whose unbeaten 46 from just 22 balls helped the hosts finish with an imposing total.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge inspires perfect start at T20 World Cup to underline  England evolution - Yahoo Sports

Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to contain England’s aggressive batting, with Malki Madara claiming the only wicket while conceding 51 runs from her four overs.

Chasing 220, Sri Lanka never recovered from an early collapse. Lauren Bell dismissed Vishmi Gunaratne before Charlie Dean removed captain Chamari Athapaththu, leaving the visitors under pressure. Harshitha Samarawickrama offered brief resistance with a quick-fire 29 off 18 balls, while Nilakshika Silva top-scored with 39 from 33 deliveries.

England’s bowlers maintained control throughout the innings. Freya Kemp delivered the standout performance, taking 4 wickets for 22 runs, including three wickets in the space of four balls to derail Sri Lanka’s middle order.

Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean chipped in with two wickets each as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 132 on the final ball of the innings.

Continue Reading

Cricket

Chamudi Praboda to Lead Sri Lanka U19 Women on India Tour

Published

on

By

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.

Continue Reading

Trending