Sri Lanka at 7th Asia Cup hockey in Chennai

HOCKEY: Sri Lanka will participate in the 7th Asia men's hockey tournament to be held from August 31 to September 9 in Chennai, India. There are ten other countries that will participate making it a total of 11. The other countries are: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, China, Japan.

The teams have been put into two groups: Pool 'A': Pakistan, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore.

Pool 'B': Korea, India, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand.

In 2004, Sri Lanka's hockey players put up a fine performance for the first time, when they won an international tournament - the four-nation tournament in Singapore. Earlier, Sri Lanka did well to become runners-up in the Asia Cup tournament in Hong Kong in 2002 and thereby won the Silver Medal. Then last year, Sri Lanka won the Bronze Medal at the 10th South Asian Games in Sri Lanka.

Players and officials: P. Vishvanathan (Chef-de-Mission), Dayal Deegahawathura (Manager), Jagath Balasuriya (Asst. Manager), A. N. Perera (Director Coaching/Head Coach), Mr. L. Ittepana (Coach), Mr. S. M. M. Mulafer (Coach), Dr. C. R. T. Mathuwelage (Team Doctor), T. M. P. P. Abeyrathna (Captain), W. M. A. M. S. B. Wickramasinghe, T. M. S. D. Abeyratna, T. M. A. B. Karunarathna, P. N. Cramer, K. S. S. Peris, Pradeep Priyantha, C. L. Sumanarathna, N. A. Hewage, Diluka Weerasuriya, H. S. Hettiarachchi, E. R. P. Jayasuriya, M. M. Gazalli, P. G. Jayaratna, D. R. M. I. K. Jayasundara, M. G. S. P. K. Dharmarathna, D. T. Panditaratna, Nimanka Fernando.