Fifteen teams in Asian Volleyball Championship:

Shehan Bandara leads Sri Lanka

By Ranjan Anandappa

Volleyball... Shehan Lakshitha Bandara of Joseph Vaz College, Wenappuwa, will lead the Sri Lanka Under 18 Boys Volleyball Team at the 10th Asian Boys Volleyball Championship which will commence next Friday (September 5th to 14) at the Sugathadasa Stadium Indoor Volleyball Arena.

Almost all the players are from outstation schools with five players coming from Devi Samara Maha Vidyalaya, Seeduwa and a solitary player from Royal College, Colombo.

The team coach Charles said that he was confident of the performance of the team and his priority was to see the team coming into the first eight teams in the quarter-final and then plan for the ne3xt stage of the championship.

Minister of Foreign Employment and Promotion and Welfare _ Dilan Perera has been the ‘livewire’ behind the success of staging the championship in Sri Lanka for the second time.

In 2008 the tournament was held in Sri Lanka with Lesser number of teams due to the on going war situation in the country at that time.

“Fifteen teams have confirmed their participation in the 2014 Asia Boys Volleyball Tournament and it is heartening to see all top countries taking part in the competition. The tournament will be backed up fully by the Ministry of Sports and we are very grateful for the Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage for coming forward in helping to stage this mega event” said the President of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation Minister Dilan Perera at a ‘logo’ launching ceremony at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel.

Minister Perera further said that volleyball, being the country’s national sport, for the next five years or so, the participating youngsters at this tournament should form the senior team in their respective countries. The important factor in the tournament are the players who not only will get the necessary exposure, but will also get to know players from other countries and develop friendly ties. He also stressed the importance of the Sri Lanka Schools Volleyball Association being a part of the main body, if volleyball in this country is to make steady progress.

The Asian Volleyball Federation had decided to award the 10th Asian Boys Volleyball Championship after the successful run they had while conducting the 7th Asian Boys Volleyball Tournament in 2008 and following the appointment of Minister Dilan Perera to the Administrative Committee of the Asian Volleyball Federation.

The participating 15 teams are: Australia, Bahrain, China, India, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, Qatar, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka.

The first three winning countries will be eligible to take part in the World Cup Youth Volleyball Championship which will be held in 2015 organised by the International Volleyball Federation.

The Sri Lanka team for the 10th Asian Boys Volleyball Tournament:

Shehan Laksitha Bandara (Joseph Vaz, Wennappuwa), Wisvana Chankuma (Madampe Senanayake MV), Chamuditha Lakshan (Royal, Colombo), Mihira Udayangana (Davi Samara MV, Seeduwa), Rehan Madusanka (Davi Samara, Seeduwa), Vinod Maduranga (Joseph Vaz), Isuru Sanjaya (Davi Samara, Seeduwa), Isurfu Sanjula (Wijayabha MV, Hungama), Chamuka Sandaruwan (Davi Samara MV), Lahiru Deshan (Davi Samara MV), Dulanjaya Prakash (Dammisara, Nattandiya).

Charles Tillekeratne (Coach), Chaminda Kumara (Assistnat Coach), Susen Mangala (Assistant Coach II).