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Shuttle sensation Nettasinghe reachesMarianas Open pre quarters

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Sri Lanka’s badminton sensation Viren Nettasinghe reached the pre quarter-final stage of Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024, currently underway in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.

The top seed player of the six-day competition conducted by Northern Marianas Badminton Association, recorded straight wins on his way to reach the top 16 after defeating Japan’s Keisuje Fujiwara in the Round of 32 after handing a straight defeat to Hsin Tse Tu of Chinese Taipei to advance further as the firm favourite to clinch the Men’s Singles title of the tournament.

Yesterday, in the third round, Nettasinghe had little opposition from Fujiwara as he cruised to an easy 21-7 win in the first set. But the Japanese shuttler showed some improvement in the second setter before Nettasinghe nailed the game 2-0 with a set score of 22-20.

Earlier, in the second round, Nettasinghe played gallantly to totally outplay Chinese Taipei’s Tse Hu 2-0, after recording set wins of 21-7 and 21-6. The first Sri Lankan athlete to directly qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024, received a bye in the first round after earning the top seed position of the tournament. He will now meet Malaysia’s Justin Hoh, the fifth seed player of the tournament, in the quarter-final.

The tournament will end on Saturday, as Nettasinghe is expected claim the Men’s Singles title of the competition, one of the two international tournaments the Sri Lankan shuttle sensation features in the Paris Olympics.

The quarter-finals of Men’s Singles of the Northern Marianas Open will take place on July 5, followed by the semi-finals next day, culminating in the gold medal matches on July 7.

Nettasinghe, Sri Lanka’s top ranked shuttler, is currently placed 75th in the world. Following the Northern Marianas Open, he will compete in the Saipan International Open Badminton Tournament 2024 from July 9-13.

The two BWF Grade 3 International Challenge Tournaments, both offering a prize pool of $15,000 each, are expected to attract top talent from around the world. Sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Oceania, both tournaments are hosted by the Northern Marianas Badminton Association.

Cricket

Harbhajan Singh Criticizes Jayawardene and Malinga for Over-Involvement in MI Dugout During IPL Qualifier

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In a surprising turn of events during IPL 2025 Qualifier 2, cricket legend and former Mumbai Indians player Harbhajan Singh has voiced concern over what he termed “excessive involvement” by Mahela Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga during Mumbai Indians’ defeat against Punjab Kings.

Speaking on his YouTube channel after MI’s seven-wicket loss at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Harbhajan took issue with the coaching staff’s frequent instructions from the dugout — especially during tense moments when MI bowlers were under pressure.

Too many signals, too much talking — even with someone like Jasprit Bumrah, who knows exactly what he’s doing,” Harbhajan remarked. “At times, you need a calm and collected environment, especially during high-pressure games. Coaches should guide, not command every move from the sidelines.

Punjab Kings chased down a formidable target of 204, with captain Shreyas Iyer anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 87 to secure a place in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Despite Mumbai posting a solid total, their bowlers failed to contain the opposition — a point that Harbhajan feels may have been worsened by the atmosphere in the MI dugout.

Jayawardene, MI’s Head of Global Performance, and Malinga, the bowling coach, were both seen actively engaging with players during the game, a move Harbhajan believes may have unintentionally undermined the confidence of seasoned campaigners like Bumrah.

I’ve been part of that setup. The coaching staff means well, but showing visible desperation can impact player morale,

Harbhajan added.

With this loss, Mumbai Indians miss out on a shot at their sixth IPL title, while discussions surrounding the balance between guidance and over-coaching during matches are sure to continue

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Football

Fouzul Hameed Calls for Urgent Reforms in Sri Lankan Football: “Enough is Enough”

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In a powerful and emotional statement, Fouzul Hameed — veteran football advocate, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the AC Milan Academy in Colombo — has delivered a scathing critique of Sri Lanka’s football administration, calling for immediate reforms to rescue the sport from what he describes as “chronic mismanagement and total collapse.

In a candid interview with Serendib News 🔗 Source, Hameed, who also captained Zahira College’s football team during his school days, expressed frustration over the decline of Sri Lankan football — both at grassroots and national levels.

“This is not personal—it’s a wake-up call. Especially at the school level, if we build a proper system, we might finally see decent results,”

Hameed emphasized.

No Future in Football” – A Harsh Reality

Hameed admitted that he now encourages players to focus on their education instead of football due to the lack of career prospects in the sport. He lamented that football has become an elite pastime hijacked by individuals with no understanding or passion for the game.

There’s no future in it right now—no careers, no livelihood,” he said. “Talent doesn’t matter anymore. Football is now controlled by politics and greed.

School Football in Crisis

His strongest words were reserved for the school football system, which he described as being in complete disarray.

Our school system is a disaster. There’s no coaching, no nurturing of talent, and no proper calendar. Finals are played under harsh conditions, without basic facilities like medical support or crowd control.

Comparing football to the glamor of school rugby and cricket, Hameed pointed out how football is marginalized despite having deep roots and mass appeal.

Look at the attention rugby and cricket get. Meanwhile, school football finals happen in near silence. It’s disrespectful.

A Broken Federation

Hameed criticized the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) for its failure in leadership and planning.

The wrong people are running the game. They have no playing background, no vision, no strategy — they’re in it for the titles and benefits.

Highlighting Zahira College’s legacy of producing nearly 100 national players, he said that even his alma mater may withdraw from tournaments due to poor planning and conditions.

Give us one tournament and a proper venue — we’ll show you how it’s done.

Call to Clean House

Calling on the Ministry of Sports and the President of Sri Lanka, Hameed demanded a complete overhaul of the football governing body.

Football can unite this country, but it needs leaders with values and professionalism. We need people who genuinely care about the sport.

He referenced Sri Lanka’s recent humiliating 8-0 loss to India and the issue of national players wearing fake jerseys due to budgetary issues, calling it “a national disgrace.”

Final Word

This is not just a game — it’s identity, dignity, and hope. But it’s being destroyed by incompetence. Enough is enough.

Fouzul Hameed’s passionate appeal reflects a broader concern shared by players, fans, and former athletes alike — that Sri Lankan football is long overdue for reform, and that real change must begin with honest leadership and grassroots investment

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Football

FFSL’s Suspension of Six Leagues Sparks Outrage Amid Governance Failures

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Colombo – The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has suspended six regional football leagues, citing administrative and financial irregularities. However, this decision has triggered widespread criticism and raised serious questions about the federation’s own accountability and governance standards.

The suspended leagues are Embilipitiya, Hambantota, Jaffna, Kalkuda, Madhu Manthai West, and Point Pedro, with the FFSL alleging that they failed to submit annual reports, maintain financial accounts, or conduct football activities for over three years.

While FFSL claims these actions were taken to uphold its constitution, critics argue that FFSL itself has consistently failed to meet national governance standards, particularly those outlined in Sri Lanka’s Sports Act.

FFSL’s Own Compliance Under Fire

According to Section 32 of the Sports Act, national sports bodies like FFSL are legally required to submit their audited financial reports for the previous year on or before May 31st each year. However, the FFSL has reportedly failed to comply with this for multiple consecutive years — from 2022 to 2024 — placing it in clear violation of national law.

This failure gives the Ministry of Sports the legal authority to suspend FFSL’s registration, raising the possibility of a broader administrative intervention if reforms are not undertaken.

Lack of Support for Grassroots Development

Furthermore, FFSL’s lack of consistent funding and tournament organization for regional leagues has hampered football development:

  • 2021: LKR 250,000 per league
  • 2022: LKR 100,000
  • 2023 & 2024: No funding
  • 2025: Limited support to select leagues for a yet-to-be-played Y19 Youth League

Despite this, FFSL is now penalizing regional leagues for being inactive — an inactivity that many argue is the direct result of the federation’s own inaction and neglect.

Legal and Ethical Concerns

The suspension of Jaffna Football League, which is currently under judicial review, has also raised eyebrows. With a court case pending, legal experts question how FFSL can justify suspending a league under such circumstances without violating due process.

Hypocrisy in Action?

Despite citing “no financial reports” as a reason for suspension, FFSL has not published its own audited reports for three straight years. Observers call this an act of institutional hypocrisy, and many stakeholders are calling for the federation to hold itself to the same standards it demands of others.

If Sri Lanka is to progress in regional and international football, governance reform must begin at the top — starting with FFSL’s transparency, accountability, and genuine grassroots development efforts.

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