Sri Lanka enter both finals

Sri Lanka spikers will clash with the defending champions, India in the men's final of the Volleyball Competition of the 10th South Asian Games at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium today commencing at 3.00 p.m. The men's final will be proceeded with the women's final between Sri Lanka and India at 1.00 p.m.

The men's third place match at 8.30 a.m. will be between Pakistan and Bangladesh. The women's third place game will be at 10.30 a.m. - Nepal and Maldives.

The notable texture in the Volleyball discipline is Sri Lanka qualified to play in both men's and women's final while Indian spikers both men and women also reached final.

This is the first time Sri Lanka men's volleyball team entered the final in the South Asian Games editions since 1984.

Sri Lanka men's players proved their class to qualify for the final beating Bangladesh by 3 sets to 1 in the second semifinals.

Sri Lanka was a team which depended more on its understanding and rhythm. All the Sri Lanka players were turned up to show sharp reflexes and used short boost with remarkable artistry.

Bangladesh pulled of the first set 27-25 in 30 minutes. But Sri Lanka took the second set 25/21 (27 mts), third 25/14 (32 mts) and the fourth 25/10 (22 mts) to achieve great success. Sri Lanka spikers in A. S. M. Silva, K. M. Eranda, M. S. K. D. W. Premasiri and S. A. D. S. P. Dissanayake were the main assets in superior court craft.

Bangladesh spikers put up a good show in the first set. But in the other three sets they were outclassed.

In the first semi finals defending champions India scored a Smashing Straight Sets (3/0) victory to outplay Pakistan.

It was plain sailing for Indian spikers. India pulled off the first set 25-21 in 27 minutes. They held the upper hand leading 18-14. Indians took the second set comfortably 25-16 in 25 minutes to make 2-nil. The third set also went to India with the identical score 25-16 in just 19 minutes.

Indian spikers especially tall Yeju Subbarao, Tom Joseph, M. N. Vikram and K. J. Kapildev put up a strong block did the boosting job with superior strike power.

India took only 71 minutes to complete the match.

On the other hand Pakistan only put up a good show only in the first set.

They never showed strong defence and to spike above the block in the second and third sets.