The 42nd Mercantile Badminton Association (MBA) Novices Badminton Championship successfully concluded on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on a week of competitive action held at the MBA courts.

Around 400 players representing nearly 50 companies took part in this year’s tournament, which was conducted in two categories, Feather and Nylon, giving opportunities for players of different levels to compete across several age groups in singles, doubles and mixed doubles events.

In the Feather category, Ceyline, Interglobe, DPMC, People’s Leasing, HNB and KBSL won titles in different classes. Shivangi Sigera of Interglobe emerged as one of the standout players, winning the Women’s Singles Feather title and also partnering Vishmi Athukorala to win the Women’s Doubles Feather event. Gavin Moragoda of KBSL also had an impressive tournament, winning the Men’s Singles Feather title and the Men’s Doubles Feather title with Pramud Weerasuriya. Hayleys players reached multiple finals and secured podium finishes in several events, showing strong depth in the Feather competition, which was played at a higher competitive level.

In the Nylon category, Seylan Bank dominated the tournament with victories in several events, including Mixed Doubles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Women’s Singles, making them the most successful team in this division. Kavindu Gayantha played a key role in Seylan Bank’s success, winning the Mixed Doubles and Men’s Doubles titles and finishing runner-up in the Men’s Singles. DFCC, DPMC, LOLC, Enterprise Analytics, SDB, CDB, NTB and Hayleys also produced title winners.

The annual novices championship is one of the key events in the Mercantile Badminton Association calendar and continues to attract a high number of new players, highlighting the growing interest in badminton among the mercantile sector. Sponsored by Lining and Hundred

The Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation has ushered in a new era for the sport by appointing Greek coach Petroglou Petros as Head Coach of the National Volleyball Team. His arrival signals a strategic push to elevate Sri Lanka’s standing on the international stage and to modernize the country’s approach to training and player development.

Petros, a Level 3 international coach with a wealth of experience across Europe, the Gulf region, and South Asia, touched down in Colombo yesterday. He was welcomed at Bandaranaike International Airport by Federation Vice President Commander Mahesh Kariyawasam, underscoring the importance placed on his appointment.

Known for introducing structured development systems and modern training techniques, Petros has worked extensively with both junior and senior squads. Officials believe his expertise will not only strengthen the national team’s competitiveness but also create a clear pathway for emerging talent to progress into the senior ranks.

The Federation views this appointment as a turning point, aiming to blend international coaching standards with Sri Lanka’s homegrown talent. With Petros at the helm, expectations are high that the national team will embrace a more disciplined, scientific, and globally aligned approach to the game.

Sri Lanka Cricket has announced a sweeping revamp of its High Performance Centre coaching framework, aiming to strengthen player development after the national team’s disappointing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign.

The restructuring follows recommendations from the Executive Committee and marks a significant shift in the way coaching resources are deployed. Just days after Sanath Jayasuriya stepped down as Head Coach, former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten was appointed on a two-year contract beginning mid-April. Kirsten is expected to bring in his own specialists in spin, fast bowling, and fielding, leading to several reassignments within the HPC and domestic structures.

Julian Wood, hired last October as a power-hitting specialist, now serves as HPC Power Hitting Coach across all squads, including women’s cricket. Rene Ferdinands, a biomechanics expert and former national spin bowling coach, has transitioned to HPC Spin Bowling Coach with a focus on scientific aspects of bowling. Meanwhile, Jehan Mubarak, Thilina Kandamby, and Ravindra Pushpakumara have been moved into the domestic coaching structure of the National Super League, Major Clubs, and Division I schools. One of the most debated decisions is the reassignment of Avishka Gunawardena from Sri Lanka ‘A’ Head Coach to the U-19 team. Gunawardena, known for discipline and modern techniques, had overseen consistent performances with the ‘A’ team. His replacement, Ashan Priyanjan, is a recently retired cricketer with limited coaching experience, raising questions about the rationale behind the appointment.

The new framework places Gary Kirsten at the helm of the national team, with support staff to be appointed. Ashan Priyanjan takes charge of the ‘A’ team as Head Coach and Batting Coach, assisted by Chamara Silva, Anusha Samaranayake, Rumesh Ratnayake, Sachith Pathirana, Manoj Abeywickrama, and Upul Chandana. The Emerging Team will have coaches appointed on assignment basis, with Saman Jayantha, Dammika Sudarshana, Darshana Gamage, and Piyal Wijetunga handling batting, fast bowling, and spin, while fielding is managed by HPC pool coaches.

The U-19 team is now led by Avishka Gunawardena, supported by Omesh Wijesiriwardena and Dilruwn Perera, with fielding again overseen by HPC specialists. Julian Wood and Rene Ferdinands continue as HPC Power Hitting and Spin Bowling Coaches respectively, while Mubarak, Kandamby, and Pushpakumara contribute to domestic structures.

On the women’s side, Jamie Siddons remains Head Coach of the national team, assisted by Sumithra Warnakulasuriya, Dumida Perera, Chamila Gamage, Sajeewa Weerakoon, and Kaman Mapatuna. The Women’s ‘A’ team is led by Sampath Perera, with Gayan Wijekoon, Vimukthi Deshapriya, and Sajeewa Weerakoon in supporting roles. The Women’s U-19 team is headed by Mahesh Weerasinghe, with Ruvin Peiris, Chamila Gamage, Sajeewa Weerakoon, and Anton Costa completing the staff. This comprehensive restructuring signals SLC’s intent to build a stronger pipeline of talent, blending international expertise with domestic development, as the country looks ahead to future international competitions.