Ladies’ and Visakha meet for 16th time in Water Polo battle

The 16th Water Polo encounter between traditional rivals -- Ladies’ College and Visakha Vidyalaya will be held on October 11 at 2.30pm at the Sugathadasa Indoor Swimming Pool Complex in Colombo. The two schools will fight for the honour of taking back to their schools the coveted 'Edussuriya Challenge Trophy' and the 'Gunawardana Challenge Shield'.

This glamorous annual water sport festival has a history that dates back to 1994. To date Visakha Vidyalaya has carried home the 'Edussuriya Challenge Trophy' which is awarded for the Under-19 category 10 times while Ladies’ College has won it four times. Once was a draw.

The 'Gunawardana Challenge Shield' is awarded to the champions of the Under-15 category. This joyous celebration is an event looked forward to with huge enthusiasm and healthy competitive spirit by both schools who strive their outmost to become champions of the day.

Visakha Vidyalaya Under-19 team is captained by Januli de Silva while Davisi Warnakula will be her deputy. Others in the team are Janisha Katuwapitiya, Savini Gunawardena, Chethya Liyanage, Yenuli Weerasinghe, Ineshka de Mel and Apna Dodandeniya. Their Under-15 team is led by Ruvee Perera, while Siyara Mannapperuma will be her deputy. The team consists Thiyumi Gunawardena, Thurushka Hettigama, Binuthi Withanage, Disuri de Zoysa, Yenuli Dharmapriya, Divya Aluthgama, Mehansa Jayarathne, Ishini Dharmathilake, Ruwanya Dadagamuwa, Kaushani Liyanaarachchi, Isini Dharmathilake and Sithuki Jayarathne.

The experienced Rheanna David will lead the Ladies' College Under-19 team with Sulani de Silva and Talisha Yogendranathan as her Vice Captains. The team includes Kesara Gunawardena, Dinasha Hewagama, Tiyara Semage, Disara Samarasinghe, Thimaya Dasssanayake, Thushani Wasanthan, Shanalie Kularathne, Sanesha Sammugalingam and Ayana Amarasinghe. Harishma Hewavisenti, Raheel Dias, Tiyasha Kurukulasuriya, Seyara Jayaweera, Aneeka Sumanatilleke, Dinara Jayasinghe, Ayana Amarasinghe, Treasa Adams, Ramaya Wickramasinghe and Tharuki Kalansooriya represent the Under-15 team of Ladies' College.

The Visakha Vidyalaya teams have been training under the watchful eyes of their Head Coach Shan Lakshitha and Assistant Coaches Yashoda Wasalage and Thusari Ekanayake. Shane de Silva is their Fitness Coach). The Ladies' College team is trained by Head Coach Zafar Zainudeen and Assistant Coach Kanishka Fernando.