Height must be essential for defence too - Coach Thilaka Jinadasa

By Leslie Fernando

NETBALL: The interim-committee of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka has drawn up plans to prepare for the Asian Netball Championships to be staged from May 14 to 21, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The selection committee headed by former Sri Lanka ‘ace’ netballer Jayanthi Somasekeran has selected a 30-member national pool and they have already begun training under the senior national coach Thilaka Jinadasa - former CMS Kotte and Sri Lanka athlete and netballer - a double international, at the Sports Ministry grounds, Torrington Square.

Thilaka Jinadasa, twice Junior National Netball Coach, told the Sunday Observer the best 30 players which include several senior and junior national players started first practicals. First it was the fitness test of the poolists as this is a key factor in any sport.

The poolists have all the basic skills and they will be afforded the opportunity to prove their capabilities. Thilaka, who was a member of the 1997 Asian winning team said that by end of February, the pool will be pruned down to 21 and the final 15 players will be named end of March.

The 15 players then will go into a residential coaching camp. The aim is to make this side a champion outfit. This will be the national team and not my team. Answering a question whether height will be an advantage “Yes” was the prompt answer and she said that it certainly was an advantage for shooters and goal keeper. Sri Lanka does not have any problems with shooters and centre court players.

But the Lankans must build up the goal-keeping area with tall and stronger players.

Thilaka Jinadasa said and added that the netballers were assured of all support and assistance from Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Sports and Public Recreation when he addressed the poolists on day one of the training sessions. Thilaka announced that she has to automatically give up coaching the national champion side Seylan Bank due to her national commitment.

Sri Lanka has won the Asian Netball title twice, first in 1997 and then again in 2001 in Colombo. Hopefully, Sri Lanka will go flat-out to win the title for the third time was Thilaka’s fervent hope.

The holders Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Macau, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka are billed to compete in the Asian Netball Championships hosted by the Malaysian Netball Federation in association with the Asian Netball Federation.