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).
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