|
|
 |
  |
| Sunday, 19 September 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Nine nations battle for Asian Women's title by Leslie Fernando Sri Lanka is amongst eight other countries - China, Thailand, Chinese Thaipei, Korea, Japan, India, Australia and Maldives vying for honours at the 12th Asian Women's Junior Volleyball Championships to be held from today September 19 to 26 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. The tourney is conducted by the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation with the support of Asian Volleyball Federation and the Ministry of Sports. Sri Lanka is the first South Asian Country to host the championship with nine nations participating. This is the first time in the 88-year-old history of Sri Lanka volleyball since 1916 that an international championships is to be held in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka won the bid to host the championship at the Asian Volleyball Confederation Conference held in Vietnam 2002. The first tourney was held in South Korea (Seoul) in 1980 and it has gained a lot of prominence to date. China has won the championship 6 times, Japan on four occasions and Korea once. At the last championships held in 2002 in Vietnam, China emerged champions and Thailand finished runner-up. Sri Lanka did not take part. The teams will play in two groups 'A': Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Maldives, South Korea and Australia. 'B': China, Thailand, India and Japan. Today two preliminary round matches will be played in the morning session - at 9.00 a.m. South Korea vs Australia 11.00 a.m. China vs Thailand. The opening ceremony will be at 3.00 p.m. under the patronage of the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. Immediately after the opening ceremony at 4.00 p.m. Sri Lanka will take on Maldives. Sri Lanka's coach Ajith Pushpakumara said that the team is in good shape after undergoing training at a residential camp for the last three weeks. The team should reach the qualifying round if the Lankan players could perform well against Korea and Australia, as the winner and runner-up in each group will play in the final round. The match schedule September 20 - 9.00 a.m. Chinese Taipei vs Australia, 11.00 a.m. Japan vs India, 3.00 p.m. Korea vs Maldives. September 21 9.00 a.m. India vs Thailand, 11.00 a.m.: Australia vs Maldives, 3.00 p.m.: Chinese Taipei vs Sri Lanka. September 22: 9.00 a.m. Thailand vs Japan, 11.00 a.m. China vs India, 3.00 p.m. Chinese Taipei vs Maldives 5.00 p.m. Korea vs Sri Lanka. September 23: 9.00 a.m. China vs Japan, 11.00 a.m. Korea vs Chinese Taipei, 3.00 p.m. Australia vs Sri Lanka. September 24: 9.00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. final round matches. September 25: 9.00 a.m., 11.00 a.m., 3.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. final round matches. September 26: 2.00 p.m. Match to decide third, fourth places 4.00 p.m. Final. The closing ceremony coupled with the awards ceremony will be held on September 26 at 6.00 p.m. with Jizhong Wei, the President of the Asian Volleyball Confederation as chief guest. Sri Lanka team: Nayani Wathsala (Captain, Senanayake College, Madampe), Gayani Shiromini, Nadeeka Udeni, Prabodha Madhushani, Lakshitha Madhushani (Dhammissara Vidyalaya, Nattandiya), Dinesha Prasadani, Champika Priyangani, Samanthi Nilmini (Senanayake Vidyalaya), Wathasla Dhananjani (Kadingamuwa MV), Ishantha Vijayalath, Nissansala Mihirani, Prasadi Dulanjalee, Nadita Kumudini, Chathurani Peiris, Pragathi Chamarika, Iresh Udayangani (Henagama Madima College), M. H. D. H. Dissanayake (Kuliyapitiya Madima Vidyalaya), Geewani Wijesinghe (Saranan College, Kuliyapitiya). Ajith Pushpakumara (Coach), Athula Silva (Assistant Coach), Karunaratne Wickremasinghe (Manager). |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
