The sports activities in Kandy have been postponed bringing all sports in to a halt as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and the ongoing situation and now it’s the weather. Successful sportsmen and sportswomen from Kandy are disappointed due to halt of sports. Kandy is one of the proud cities for sporting achievements. This was possible due to their keenness, the backing they got from parents, schools and coaches. Records reveal that Kandy has produced some of the best sportsmen and women in Rugby, Cricket, Hockey, Football, Athletics, Table Tennis, Iron Sports, Netball, Volleyball, Lawn Tennis, Boxing, Badminton, Cue Sports (Billiards and Snooker), Cycling, Swimming, too has caught up in recent times. This year has been something else entirely.
RUGBY - Has become the king of Kandy sports, as the speed and intensity of the game increased. Players tend to become somewhat oblivious to their basic roles in retaining possession and maintaining continuity of the game. At club level Kandy SC has been dominating for nearly three decades. They have won the League, Clifford Cup and the Sevens tournaments for many years, which no other club has done so far. Kandy Sports Club has also fed the National team with the most number of players. At school level they play the game at the highest level.
CRICKET-The game of cricket takes pride of place at school and club level. The schools play well and the KDCA Division III tournament and the inter provincial under 19 which was also halted due to bad weather.
FOOTBALL - It was at one time the most popular sport, known as the common man's game. It has sadly taken a back seat in the recent past. This is because of the substandard organization. Today football in Kandy has lost its appeal.
HOCKEY - This game has become very popular among the schools and clubs. Girls' schools dominate the game in Kandy, boys schools too are somewhat on the same level, but the girls' schools are on top. Club hockey continues with tournaments.
BILLIARDS AND SNOOKER - The Cue game has taken a nosedive in Kandy. There are no tournaments as in the early days.
SWIMMING - most of the boys and girls schools dominate.
BOXING - This sport remains a popular sport among the schools. One time kings of the ring were St. Sylvester's and they continue the good work. Other schools who took a keen interest in the sport was Peradeniya MMV, Sarasavi Uyana. Now Vidyartha too are in the pool. Along with Kingswsood and Dharmaraja, they have taken to the sport and are doing well. The first school which donned gloves- Trinity in 1906 are not taking the sport that seriously.
NETBALL - Schools in Kandy are doing well in this sport and have taken part in most of the tournaments organized by the governing body. Girls High School. Hillwood, Mahamaya, St Anthony's Convent, Pushpadana, Swarnamali, Hemamali and all the International schools take the game seriously. Netball was first played in Sri Lanka in 1921. The first game was played by Ceylon Girl Guide Company at Kandy High School. The first inter-school match was played between Kandy High School and C.M.S. Ladies' College, Colombo in February 1925.
ATHLETICS - All schools in Kandy have athletics in the curriculum and are doing very well. Every school promotes it in the correct way and has their annual inter-house athletics meet on a grand scale.
TABLE TENNIS - In Kandy this game was very popular, but all of a sudden, it nosedived. There is some hope as there are many schools and clubs who are capable of bringing the game back to its former glory.
BADMINTON - There is somewhat a lack of interest in this sport. Something must be done to lift the game. There are not many coaches and should the schools take the cue, then the game can pick up.
VOLLEYBALL - At a certain time Volleyball was a popular game, and today the much needed support is not there for the game. If the proper backing is there, this game too, could be make news. The first Volleyball League was formed in Kandy in 1941.
IRON SPORT- Bodybuilding and Weightlifting were given the best of support by the YMCA. It is a top sport in Kandy, hence its domination. Several national title holders have been produced.
BASKETBALL - Kandy continues to produce talented players. Most of the schools that play basketball have done well and have won many tournaments. Same in the club sector.
CYCLING - This sport is popular in Kandy and there had been races on many occasions.
CHESS - Although chess has been popular in schools for quite a long period, both in girls' and boys' schools.
KARATE - This is a sport for youngsters. The youngsters have done well in tournaments held in Sri Lanka and abroad.
SOFTBALL CRICKET: It is very popular here in Kandy. Over here every Sunday tournaments for various trophies are being played.
CARROM: Is also a popular sport in Kandy, mostly played by the government departments. This is a re-creation sport. Kandy's Carom Association gives a big hand to promote the sport.
LAWN TENNIS - At one time it was a popular sport in Kandy. It is the Kandy Lawn Cub, Kandy Garden Club, University of Peradeniya, who gave the best to the sport, and also Trinity and Hillwood are involved in big way. Former Municipal Commissioner and All Ceylon cricketer, the late D.H. de Silva gave his utmost support for the sport. During the time of late DIG Bodi Liyanage, he introduced Tennis to the Police and came out with a super court at Asgiriya.
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