Over 5,000 teams expected for DSI Schools VB Championship
The Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation (SLVB) and the Schools Volleyball Association will conduct the 20th DSI Supersports Schools Volleyball Championship from February 28.
D. Samson & Sons (Pvt) Ltd., have been sponsoring this tournament since 1999.
Applications for the tournament will be available from February 15 in schools and all DSI showrooms across the island. Completed applications should be submitted to the nearest DSI showroom. Applications can also be posted to the Marketing Department at No.257, High Level Road, Navinna, Maharagama. It should be submitted before February 25.
The tournament will be held at both district and national levels with the district matches taking place from February 28 to March 31, and the national level matches form April 27 to May 7.
The final matches will be played on May 24 and 25 are likely to be held at the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) in Maharagama.
The competition will be conducted in five age groups for boys’ and girls’ as follows: Under-11, 13, 15, 17 and 19. The Under-11 boys’ and girls’ category was held for the first time last year.
The tournament has grown during the past two decades with the organizers expecting more than 5,000 teams this year, a far cry from the 198 teams which competed in the inaugural competition.
Significantly nearly 40 national level volleyball players have emerged from this tournament.
“It is a significant occasion for us at DSI as 2020 marks the 20th year of the DSI Supersport Schools Volleyball Championship. It is both a pleasure and privilege for DSI to sponsor this much-anticipated annaual event, which serves as a platform of recognition for the talented young sportsman/women from schools all across the island.
It is also our hope that the DSI Supersports Schools Volleyball Cahmpionship will play a crucial role in developing and popularizing volleyball as the national sport of our country,” said Thusitha Rajapaksa, the managing director of D. Samson & Sons (Pvt) Ltd., at a press conference held on Thursday.
SLVB secretary, A.S. Nalaka said they hope to select outstanding players to form a pool in preparation for a tour of Bahrain to take part in an Asian Men’s Under-18 tournament in July.