Sri Lanka capable of winning netball title

BANGALORE, JULY 22 - Sri Lankan coach Thilaka Jinadasa said that her team has the talent and the potential to win the fifth Asian netball title which gets underway at the Sri Kantheerwa indoor stadium in Bangalore on Monday.

The former Sri Lankan athlete and vice captain of the Sri Lanka netball team in 1997 said that the team is more determined to make an impact and regain the title which they lost two years ago. Sri Lanka of course have dominated the Asian netball championships in the past and have emerged victorious on three occasions.

Sri Lanka suffered a major setback when they lost to Malaysia in the final in the previous occasion where the tournament was held in Colombo. Thilaka Jinadasa said that this time they are out to avenge that defeat and prove their supremacy in the Asian region. Jinadasa said that the tournament draw is also very much in favour of them and could make a smooth entry into the final which is scheduled for next Sunday.

Sri Lanka will make their first appearance in the tournament with a match against the neighbours India on Tuesday. The Sri Lankan netball team which is co sponsored by Eva is drawn in group 'B' along with Singapore, India and Hong Kong while Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives and Pakistan will battle it out in group 'B'.

Sri Lanka's second game will be against Hong Kong on Thursday and their final league match will be against Singapore on the following day. The champions and the runners up in both groups will play on a criss-cross basis to select the semifinalists on Saturday.

The Sri Lanka netball team: Malisa Shereen Nugera (captain), Iresha Keralagodage (vice captain), Gishanthi Jayakody, Priscilla Tamara Kech, W. A. Sujani, Thilini Shashipraba Batagoda, Akila Nilmini Jayawardena, Sheruni Christina Peiris, W. D. Shanika Dilani, K. B. Semini Alwis, Nishadini Devendra Wijendra, Kosala Madushani Herath, Thilaka Jinadasa (coach), Deepthi Alwis (assistant coach), Rio Ramlan (manager).