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| Sunday, 4 May 2003 |
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World Netball C'ships in Jamaica : Sri Lanka must win both qualifying games to play in group stage by LESLIE FERNANDO Sri Lanka netballers have been drawn to play two games in the qualifying round against Kayman Island and Samoa at the 11th World Netball Championships to be staged from July 10 to 20 in Jamaica. Sri Lanka must win both games to gain a berth to the championship section. In the championship grade, the teams have been drawn into two groups Group 'A' - Australia, Jamaica, South Africa, Trinidad and Ireland. Group 'B' - New Zealand, England, Fiji, Thailand and Cook Islands. Tamara Dharmakeerthi Herath, the President of the Interim Committee of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka said that if Sri Lanka win both games, they will automatically go into in the Group 'A' to play on a round-robin basis. Sri Lanka failing to register wins in the two games, mean that the Lankans will go into group 'C' to play in the ranking position (consolation event). The matches will be played on a knockout basis. Four teams from qualifying group comprising - Sri Lanka, Barbados, St. Lucia's, Kayman Island, Samoa, Antigua, Scotland Hong Kong, Canada, Greneda, Northern Island, Nuie, Wales, St. Vincent, USA and Bermuda will move up to the two groups according to their performances in the qualifying round games. The Sports Ministry approved the twelve-member team for the World Championships after the final trial held on April 26 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. The selection committee consisting of Ms. Kumudini Gomes, Ms. Muthulakshmi Hegoda, Ms. Priyanka Peiris, Ms. Kasturi Wilson and Ms. Kushmi Senaratne had a close eye on the girls at the final trials. Those selected are: Somith de Alwis, Gayathri Lankathilaka, Rathna Victoria, Arunika Karavitage, Damayanthi Jayathilaka, Shasika Samarasinghe, Geeshanthi Jayakoddy, P. B. N. Prasadi, Shani Nissansala, Anjana Thulari, Sanduni Bollegala, Shanika Aponso. Former Sri Lanka star netballer Yasa Ramachandra has been appointed as the national netball coach by the Sports Minister. Yasa has held this post on an earlier occasion too. There were a lot of speculation over the appointment of national netball coach. Earlier 17 coaches were interviewed by the Sports Ministry and ten names went upto the Sports Minister but it took a long period of time to appoint the national coach. However, on Wednesday, the Sports Minister appointed Yasa Ramachandra. The netballers will go into a residential camp from next week and daily training will be held at the Torrington Square grounds, starting from Monday. |
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