BERLIN (AP) — Marathon world record holder Sabastian Sawe says he is injured and will miss the Berlin Marathon, which was set to mark his return to competition after smashing the two-hour barrier.
Sawe said he had been targeting “something special” next month in Berlin. He won the event last year and it is one of the fastest marathon courses in the world, the site of numerous records.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you I am forced to withdraw from the BMW Berlin Marathon due to an injury," Sawe said in a statement issued by organizers. He didn't specify what sort of injury he had.
“I had been looking forward to achieving something special on the streets of Berlin and crossing the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate.”
He added: “I want to thank everyone who continues to support me and I wish all the runners taking part a great race.”
The 31-year-old Kenyan won the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes, 30 seconds in April, becoming the first runner to achieve a feat long considered unattainable.
He said at the time that he underwent a rigorous drug-testing regime to “show the world that we can run clean and also run fast” after a spate of recent doping cases among top Kenyan runners.
The women's field for the Berlin Marathon on Sept. 27 includes Tigst Assefa, the Ethiopian runner who broke the world record there in 2023. The record is currently held by Kenyan Ruth Chepng'etich, who is currently serving a doping ban.
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FILE - Sabastian Sawe of Kenya reacts after he crossed the line to win the men's race at the London Marathon, on April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sonal Dinusha led a rearguard revival with the lower order once again in the second cricket test against India, scoring a half-century and helping Sri Lanka build a lead of 116 runs at lunch on the last day.
Sri Lanka resumed its second innings Thursday with a narrow lead, four wickets in hand and needing to bat for time in the hopes of salvaging a draw. Dinusha and No. 8 Keshara Nuwantha added 100 runs during the first session to increase their partnership to 111 runs off 242 deliveries. At lunch, Dinusha was not out on 55 and Nuwantha was unbeaten on 46.
They had spent close to three hours at the pitch together, a crucial factor given the time lost to rain and more rain predicted on Day 5.
Dinusha posted 103 in the first innings, batting mostly with the tailenders, but it wasn't enough for Sri Lanka to avoid the follow on. He also had innings of 100 and 84 in the first test match in Galle, where India won by 165 runs.
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar had figures of 2-98 for India, while Siraj, Krishna, Jain, Jadeja took one each.
India had put itself in a potentially winning position by stumps on Wednesday after restricting Sri Lanka in its second innings after enforcing the follow on. India batted first after winning the toss and scored a massive 503-9 declared, then bowled Sri Lanka out for 290.
On Day 4, Sri Lanka reached 229-6 to lead by only 16 runs when rain brought an early close to play. Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis scored half-centuries.
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ndia's Ravindra Jadeja, left, celebrates after assuming he dismisses Sri Lanka's Keshara Nuwantha, before the third umpire overturns the decision day five of the second cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha celebrates his fifty runs during day five of the second cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha plays a shot during day five of the second cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
