South Asian Games:Sri Lanka women eye Gold

by Leslie Fernando

Sri Lanka women volleyballers are expected to give a repeat performance by winning the Gold at the South Asian Games volleyball tournament to be held from August 23 to 27 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium while men's 'spikers' are also expected to excel with a fire display, said Deputy Minister Dilan Perera, President of the Volleyball Federation of Sri Lanka.

Deputy Minister Dilan Perera said that he is very confident that our 'spikers' will bring honour to the country as the players have been following a very systematic training programme and also fared very prominently in the local tournaments especially at the Central Asian Tournament held in Colombo recently.

"Our women spikers last participated in 1999 SAF Games in Kathmandu and were runners-up to India. But in 1999 SAF Games Lankan girls won the Gold and playing in front of the local volleyball fans this time, they are bound to show their prowess.

The men's volleyball team is also in peak form and should offer stiff opposition to the holders India. In 1995, men's team lifted the title in Chennai, India," added Dilan Perera.

Deputy Minister Perera complimented his team of officials, coaches for their dedication and devotion towards the promotion of volleyball. He praised the Sports Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga, S. Virittamulla, Secretary Sports Ministry, Milton Amerasinghe the Director of Sports for the invaluable support extended towards the volleyballers in preparation for the South Asian Games. The Sports Ministry has provided all facilities, equipment and nutritions to the players. He also thanked Hemasiri Fernando, President, National Olympic Committee for assisting the Vollyballers and the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation in a very big way. "I think the SLVF is well prepared for the South Asian Games and we could expect very good results due to good planning together with promotional work," added the volleyball boss.

Well planned

Susil Ranasinghe Secretary, volleyball Federation of Sri Lanka said that Sri Lanka has been planning for this event over a period of ten months. The players were picked from Provincial, District, Open, Nationals and also from President Cup tournaments. The selections were purely based on performances. Altogether 80 men, women spikers were selected and pruned down to 48, finally the national selectors U. L. Karunaratne, Ajith Anandasiri, Ranthilaka Jayaweera, K. Ariyasinghe and Jayasiri Perera pruned down the squad to 36, with 18 men and 18 women players. Then the final 12 players are also picked to play in the tournament.

The squad commenced training at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium under Sisira Kumara Vanderkoon (men's national coach), S. L. A. Sumith (assistant coach), Lalith Premalal (trainer), Sri Rathnamudali (women's national coach), I. P. Wijeratne (assistant coach), Janaka Indrajith (trainer). Secretory Ranasinghe said that the players have had several motivation programmes to keep their moral high for the games.

The Federation also has arranged international matches and training for both men and women players. The women's team will play a series of matches against Vietnam from July 20 to 31 and also participate in the VTV Cup Tournament there. The matches will be played in Hanoi.

The men's team will also be involved in several practice matches in Vietnam from August 7 to 15.

Ranasinghe said that both men and women players will be able to strengthen their playing skills on this tour.

He added that the Volleyball Federation of Sri Lanka has appointed well experienced administrator and players as manage of the Sri Lanka Volleyball men's and women's teams. Ranjith Premaratne will be the manager of the men's team, while for the first time, the women's team manager will be former Sri Lanka player Swarna Malkanthi.

At the 2004 SAF Games held in Islamabad, Pakistan, India won the men's title but women's tournament was not held.

SLVF has found all what volleyballers like to have. Now, it is the players' turn to deliver the goods, Ranasinghe said. There will be six countries that vie for championship honours. Defending champions India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, in the men's tournament.

Meanwhile India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives will complete in the women's matches.

There is no grouping in both men's and women's tourneys and the matches will be worked off on a league basis and the winner, and runner-up in both men and women will clash in the final to find ultimate champion and runner-up.

The men's final team: Malik Wasanthapriya (Captain), M. S. K. Dimuthu Upasantha, Sameera Pradeep Dissanayake, M. C. Kodagoda, L. C. Ekanayake, Shameed Malith de Silva, K. M. K. Sunil, Melan Jayawardena, Tharaka Abeykoon, Naleen Sampath Abeysinghe, P. G. Moris Chaminda, Lasantha Abeyrathne.

The women's: Nayana Anupama (Captain), Chandima Akarawita, Thakshila Niranjalee, Dinesha Prasadani, Viraji Chamarika, I. M. D. Illangakoon, Irosha Udayangani, Chandima Damayanthi, Isanka Balasooriya, Sugandika Nayomi, Mangalika Wasanthi, Anusha Deepani.