By Hafiz Marikar in Kandy
Over here in Kandy, perhaps like all other places in the island, all sporting activities have been suspended indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic. Kandy is deserted now due to the lack of any sport.
All school and club sports here have been postponed till next year. The Kandy District Cricket Association (KDCA) abruptly halted its inter-club one-day tournament halfway through, only after completing 40 out of a total of 70 games this season.
For the first time in recent history, no inter-school cricket big matches were played.
LPL Kandy leg is out too
Kandy had been earmarked earlier for the second phase of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). But it was announced last Thursday (5) that the Kandy leg of the T20 cricket league too has been shifted to Hambantota, virtually shattering our only hope.
The Kandy District Hockey Association (KDHA) had finalised its inter-club men’s and women’s tournaments to be played in November and December. But it was announced only last week that one of the biggest sporting events of the year had also been postponed.
No rugby as well
Then the Central Province Rugby Football Union (CPRFU) was getting ready for a tournament; that too is now a nonstarter. Some of the most looked forward to inter-school rugby matches of the colleges, such as Trinity, St. Anthony’s, Dharmaraja, Kingswood, Vidyartha, St. Sylvester’s, Sri Sumangala, and Sri Rahula, are all out of 2020!
After so many years, an invitational billiards and snooker tournament was to be held in December. Now, it has also been postponed or cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition, sports like basketball, table tennis, swimming, chess, and carrom are all halted.
Now every sports lover in Kandy hopes very earnestly that this suspension will come to an end soon and a safe environment will surface for the entire country for “our good old sports” to return.
All school and club sports here have been postponed till next year. The Kandy District Cricket Association (KDCA) abruptly halted its inter-club one-day tournament halfway through, only after completing 40 out of a total of 70 games this season.
For the first time in recent history, no inter-school cricket big matches were played.
LPL Kandy leg is out too
Kandy had been earmarked earlier for the second phase of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). But it was announced last Thursday (5) that the Kandy leg of the T20 cricket league too has been shifted to Hambantota, virtually shattering our only hope.
The Kandy District Hockey Association (KDHA) had finalised its inter-club men’s and women’s tournaments to be played in November and December. But it was announced only last week that one of the biggest sporting events of the year had also been postponed.
No rugby as well
Then the Central Province Rugby Football Union (CPRFU) was getting ready for a tournament; that too is now a nonstarter. Some of the most looked forward to inter-school rugby matches of the colleges, such as Trinity, St. Anthony’s, Dharmaraja, Kingswood, Vidyartha, St. Sylvester’s, Sri Sumangala, and Sri Rahula, are all out of 2020!
After so many years, an invitational billiards and snooker tournament was to be held in December. Now, it has also been postponed or cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition, sports like basketball, table tennis, swimming, chess, and carrom are all halted.
Now every sports lover in Kandy hopes very earnestly that this suspension will come to an end soon and a safe environment will surface for the entire country for “our good old sports” to return.