Two Visakhians head Sri Lanka Youth Netball team
The Minister of Sports has given permission to the Sri Lanka Youth Netball team to participate in the 11th Asian Youth Netball Championships to be held in Kashima, Japan from June 30 to July 6.
Twelve players and three standbys have got the approval for the tour. The team captain is Tharuhi Dulangi Illangaratne and the vice-captain is Melani Ama Wijesinghe. Both are Visakhians. The team will leave the country on June 26.
In the history of the Asian Youth Netball Championships Sri Lanka has won the title on three occasions – 1998, 2002 and 2015.
The last edition took place in 2017 in South Korea where Sri Lanka sank to fourth place with Singapore emerging champions, runners-up Malaysia and third place going to Hong Kong.
There are two challenges this year. One is to be champions from fourth place and the other is to qualify for the 2021 World Championships in Fiji.
“Already two players are down with chicken-pox in the team. As a result training has been stopped. They hope to resume training from next Monday (June 10) and will train for two weeks without a break. They are training at the Bandaragama Indoor Stadium,” said Malindu Kumara Gamage, the Youth Coach.
Malindu Kumara Gamage got the chance to train the Youth Netball pool on April 2 and due to the April 21 disaster training was stopped. Winning the Asian Championships is difficult this time.
The Sri Lanka Youth Team: Ganya Natali Senanayake (Ladies College Colombo), Kavindi Randima Perera (Presbyterian College Dehiwela), Tharushi Dulangi Illangaratne (Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo), Melani Ama Wijesinghe (Visakha Vidyalaya), Thilini Dinithri (Seylan Bank), Imasha Sankalpani Perera (SL Navy), Anisha Dulshani Perera (Gateway College), Vishmikha Nuwangi Ratnayake (Gateway), Navodya Aluwihare (Hillwood College Kandy), Devuna Sandini Silva (Kalutara Balika), Uthpala Sanjini Ratnayake (HFC Kurunegala) and Dilani Perera (Visakha Vidyalaya). Stand-byes–natasha Aluwihare (Visakha Vidyalaya), Angelika Tillekeratne (C). Kaushi De Perera (Presbyterian College, Dehiwela, Malindu Kumari Gamage (Coach),vajira Pushpakumari (Manager).
Twelve players and three standbys have got the approval for the tour. The team captain is Tharuhi Dulangi Illangaratne and the vice-captain is Melani Ama Wijesinghe. Both are Visakhians. The team will leave the country on June 26