Sri Lanka Schools emerge Junior Netball champions 2016
Sri Lanka Schools led by Manoli Divakara Mohotti from Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo emerged champions at the Junior National Netball Championship 2016 conducted by the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka which concluded at the Galle International Cricket Stadium last weekend.
Participated by 18 teams from 14 district associations in this edition Sri Lanka Schools defeated Galle District by 43-27 in the finals. (1st set 9-4, 2nd set 13-8, 3rd set 9-8 and 4th set 12-7). The main upset of the tournament was the defeated suffered by defending champs Kandy at the hands of the Schools team in the semi finals. In the quarter-finals Kandy beat Badulla 34-18, Sri Lanka Schools beat Polonnaruwa 27-5, Host city Galle beat Colombo 36-9, Matale beat Matara 27-24 to book their berths to play in the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka Schools defeated Kandy 27-19, while Galle defeated Matale 32-13 in the semifinals to qualify for the finals.
In the final showdown Sri Lanka Schools dominated play in the first and second sets with a bigger margin and in the third set Galle District team came back to the game to go down fighting to lose by one point (9-8). After a long lay off this was the first time that Galle District played a the finals of the netball championship. As the Schools team was in good touch the Galle lasses failed to give the Sri Schools lasses a tough game. "This win will give a big boost for the Schools team who take wing to Australia to take part in the Australasia International Invitational Schools Netball Tournament to be held next month" said the skipper Manoli Divakara Mohotti at the conclusion of the tournament.
Coached by Janaki Gunasekera probably the best netball coach in the junior level.
Thilini Dimithri Guniyangoda (Sri Lanka Schools) was crowned the Netball Queen 2016, the Best Center Court player award went to U.K.B. Achni Madushika (Galle District), Tharushi Dulangi Illangaratne (Sri Lanka Schools) was adjudged the Best Defender and Best Shooters award was won by Udara Nawinna (Sri Lanka Schools).
Kandy beat Matale for the third place 28-10.
Champions Sri Lanka Schools was represented by Manoli Divakara Mohott, Kavindi Samarasekera and Dahami Wimarshana (Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo), Udara Nawainna and Jayangani Judith Francis (HFC Kurunegala), Nickleshi Jayatilleke (Maliyadeva Balika Kurunegala), Thilini Dimitri Guniyangoda (Sacret Heart Convent, Galle), AShani Devindi Peiris (HFC, Kalutara), Andrea Wijepura (Ave Maria Convent, Negombo), Rashmi Tharaka (Dharmasoka Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda), Sajini Perera (Kalutara Balika) and Tharushi Dulangi Illangaratne (Presbetarian Balika, Dehiwela). - Text and pix by Susil Premalal