Seylan Bank, Navy and Maliyadeva - netball champions

Angu Rajendran

The first of the many netball tournaments planned for this season dazzled Trincomalee on July 24 and 25. Six teams in the ‘A’ division, 23 teams in the ‘B’ division and 10 teams in the ‘C’ division took part in the tournament.

Seylan Bank beat HNB in the ‘A’ division final with a score of 50/33 at the McHeyzer Stadium in Trincomalee. Only three quarters of the one sided match were played as Goal Attack Sashika Samarasinghe of HNB left the match due to injuries. Seylan Bank having the services of six footer Tharjini Sivalingam led throughout the game with a half time score of 35/22.

Navy beat CMC in the ‘B’ division final with a score of 24/11 and Maliyadeva beat Polonnaruwa 35/20.

Special awards were given to Tharjini Sivalingam of Seylan Bank who was adjudged the Netball Queen and Best Shooter. Best Centre Court Player - S.P.G. Manabashini of the Sri Lanka Navy, Best Defensive Player- GK of Air Force W.M.N.M. Dhammika, Best Attacking Player - GA of HNB, W.M.N.M. Dhammika, Most Prominent Outstation Player was Keethika K. Silva Goal Defence of the Jaffna team.

“Our intention is to unify the country through sports”, said Secretary of the Netball Federation Damayanti Jayathilleke. Taking a cue from the Minister of Sports C B Ratnayake who has planned sports activities in locations all around the island, the Netball Federation headed by Leisha de Silva Chandrasena has spearheaded the movement.

“The idea is to give Trincomalee a glorious event and to dispel the notion that everything that we do is only for Colombo,” said Kumudini Gomes the Vice President of the Association.

Susantha Punchinilame Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquatics Resources Development who attended the tournament in Trincomalee as the chief guest said that a tournament of this nature has been brought to Trincomalee after 20 years and he hopes that it will continue all around the Island.

“We are for the game, the game is for Sri Lanka and its future generations,” said Leisha de Silva Chandrasena while motivating her committee to give of their best efforts for the tournament, the first of many that will be held all over the island.