Basketball in full swing in Kandy District

by S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr.

BASKETBALL: Over a hundred matches were played in the annual tournament for clubs and for schools under different age groups for boys and girls at the annual basketball tournament for 2010 organised by the Kandy District Basketball Association which was played at the Gymnasium of the University of Peradeniya and Kingswood College Courts in Kandy.

The tournaments were conducted on a highly successful note with many schools taking part which will give a new fillip to basketball in the district. The Secretary of the Kandy District Basketball Association D.S. Pingamage said that the Association intends conducting coaching programme for schools and clubs to popularise the game not only in Kandy but also in other areas.

The following championship were worked off during the year. Colombo International School, Kandy branch came up with a good display to win both the Girls under 13 championship and the boys under 13 championship which augurs well for the future of the game in this school which is now indulging in many sports.

Girls under 13 - Colombo International School scored a thrilling 8-6 win over Pushpadana Girls College, Kandy, to win the girls under 13 schools championship.

Tharushi Indigahawela of CISK was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of this segment and the scored the most number of points for her side. St. Anthony's Girls College, Kandy finished third.

Boys under 13 - Colombo International School, Kandy Branch once again held sway when they clinched the boys under 13 championship title by defeating the strong St. Anthony's College team 7 - 6 in the finals. Kiran Karaliyadde of CISK was adjudged the Best Player of the Tournament.

Azhar Central College, Akurana, who won the losers finals ended up as the second runner-up.

Under-19 girls - Kandy Girls High School came up with an excellent performance to topple the strong Pushpadana Girls College, Kandy to lift the under-19 championship for girls and they won 19-9. Piumi Pathiratne of Girls High School was adjudged the Best Player of the Tournament.

Hillwood Girls College finished second runner-up.

Under-19 boys -Trinity College emerged champions in the under-19 tournament for boys by overcoming Colombo International School 19 - 15 in the finals. This was Colombo International school's third title bid having won two championship titles earlier in the under-13 segment. Thushara Warapitiya of Trinity College was adjudged the Best Player of the Tournament.

St. Anthony's College, Kandy finished third.

Inter-Club (Men) - In a closely fought out battle University of Peradeniya won the men's inter-club championship by defeating the National Seminary of Theologite, Ampitiya 52 - 47. Arosha Medagoda of University of Peradeniya was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Ending up in the third place was Old Azharians Basketball Club, Akurana.

Inter-Club (Women) - University of Peradeniya putting up a grand display swamped Kandy YMCA by the big margin of 26-4 to win the inter club championship for women. Himali Balasooriya of University of Peradeniya was adjudged the Best Player of the Tournament.

The President of the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation and Chief Minister of the Central Province Sarath Ekanayake who was the Chief Guest at the Awards Ceremony said that basketball had made good progress in the Kandy area and efforts will be made a stage the 45th Basketball Nationals for men and women in Kandy shortly.