Over 4,000 teams to compete
The 17th annual DSI Supersport Schools Volleyball Championship 2017 conducted by the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation (SLVB) and Sri Lanka Schools Volleyball Association (SLSVA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education will commence on May 20.
The tournament was officially inaugurated at a ceremony held at the Olympic House Auditorium yesterday under the patronage of Thusitha Rajapaksa, Managing Director of D. Samson and Sons (Pvt) Limited and Erandika Weliange, President SLVB.
A special addition to this year’s tournament agenda is the re-introduction of the Under-13 Boys’ and Girls’ category with the objective of developing an enthusiasm and passion for the country’s National sport amongst youngsters as well.
The tournament will be conducted at District and National levels with the former being conducted from May 20 to June 12 and the latter taking place between June 24 to 28. The finals are scheduled to be held on September 8 and 9.
With the addition of the new category, the organisers expect to see the application of almost 4,000 teams from all four categories - Under-13, Boys’ and Girls’, Under-15 Boys’ and Girls’, Under-17 Boys’ and Girls’ and Under-19 Boys’ and Girls’.
A considerable number of teams will be taking part from the Northern and North Eastern Provinces.
“Initiated in 1999 by DSI with the collaboration of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and the Ministry of Education, the DSI Supersport Schools Volleyball Championship provides both rural and urban players with an opportunity to develop and showcase their talents and further build their careers in both national and international arena” said Erandika Weliange, President SLVB.
Since its initiation the tournament has served to produce a total of 40 national sports personalities.
“We at DSI have been honoured and delighted to play such a vital role in ensuring the development of our National sport for the past 17 years. We are also very happy about our partnership with the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation. The main objective of organising this championship is to develop the talents of both urban and rural young sportsmen/women and to assist them in qualifying for the National and international levels of the game,” said Thusitha Rajapaksa, Managing Director of D. Samson and Sons (Pvt) Limited.