Four teams from South Asia at Nationals

NETBALL: The Netball Federation of Sri Lanka has finalised arrangements to hold the National Senior Championships from January 27 to 29 at the Henry Pedris Stadium. The special feature at the nationals will be the participation of national teams from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Maldives.

Ms. Padma Goonewardena, Tournament Secretary, Netball Federation of Sri Lanka said that it will add more colour to the nationals as all four foreign teams have confirmed their participation.

The champions in the respective districts, altogether 36 local teams are in the fray. The respective district/associations will have to nominate the champion club by January 15 to the NFSL, Tournament Director.

Ms. Goonewardena, said that the national teams from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and the Maldives will be drawn into four groups and the preliminary round matches will be played on a league basis. But matches from quarter-finals will be played on a "criss-cross" basis to find the winner and runner-up. The four foreign teams will be drawn on lots.

The national championships will also serve as a trial to pick netballers to the National Development pool. The NFSL selection committee will pick 30 best players and they will be under national level coaches. Sri Lanka netballers will participate in two major tournaments, Asian Netball Championships in Malaysia and the World Netball Championships in Thailand. The NFSL are making a long term plan to train our players in preparation of these two very important events.

It should also be noted that if Sri Lanka netballers are to compete at the World Championships the team however has to reach first, second or third place in the Asian Championships.

It is reliably understood that Ms. Yasa Ramachandra who has coached the Sri Lanka netball teams on number of times will be the Chairperson of the National Netball Development Pool.