Beach Volleyball – Most suited for Sri Lanka

Beach Volleyball (BV) is a team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net. It has been an Olympic discipline since the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Whilst the history of Sri Lanka BV goes back about 25 years, it is recorded that, originally, BV started in the early 20th century in the Waikiki coastal belt in Hawai in 1915.

The 1976 Olympia World BV Championship tournament held in California is considered the first world championship of BV. Today, it has become a popular sport spread over 220 countries, affiliated to the International Volleyball Federation.

In 1980, BV became a sport that attracted cash awards. Now it has developed into a US$ 100,000- 2,000,000 money spinner. Except in competitions organized by the International Olympic Council, all the other international competitions, as well as locally, the first 16 teams are given cash awards which is compulsory, which is special for BV.

In 1992, BV was introduced to Sri Lanka, and the first National BV Championship, limited to Men only, was held that year, with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority as inaugural winners. In 2000, the first Women's BV Championship was held and won by the Sri Lanka Air force.

In considering the difference between Volleyball and BV, the scope for BV, in a country like Sri Lanka, is immense.

BV from a technical, financial and environment aspect, has 3 advantages, to win international medals, prospects are high. In Volleyball, though Sri Lankan teams are playing well, at the Youth and Junior levels, the Senior level suffers mainly due to the problem of height, physique and technical actions, which is at a disadvantage in international competition. But, in BV, there does not appear to be a hindrance. As a team is limited to only 2 players and the game being limited to 3 Sets, we have a significant advantage, more than in Volleyball. Also expenses are minimal, as opposed to playing 12 Volleyballers. Two players wear shorts and Skinnys, and no shoes, is an advantage. BV can be played in different climatic conditions, and could be amalgamated with tourism.

As Sri Lanka is surrounded by sea, it is an appropriate sport for Sri Lanka. In 2003, Sri Lanka Men and Women participated at an international competition for the first time and to date, have participated at the Asian Championship, the Asian Beach Games, Asian Games, LusuforniaGames, South Asian Beach Games, Asian Youth Games and Youth Olympic Games. In 2009, in Bangladesh, Jude Mahesh Perera and Wasantha Rathnapala won Sri Lanka's first international medal at the Asia Pacific BV tournament. In 2011, at the first South Asian Beach Games, both the Men and Women won Gold and Silver, which is considered one of the best victories Sri Lanka has achieved in its BV history. In 2009, at the first Youth Asian Games, Sandun Madusanka and Asen Jeewantha came 5th place. In 2014, at the 2nd Youth Olympic Games, Chamika Sandaruwan and Isuru Madhushan came 9th, an important milestone in Sri Lanka BV. Special mention should be made of the patronage extended by Sun Quick and the Mt. Lavinia Hotel for their encouragement and support to Sri Lanka BV.

In Beach Volleyball, The best example is the Vanuatu archipelago in the Asia Pacific region. Although only 12,704 sq.km, and a population of only 286,429, within a short period of time, its National BV team is a tough proposition to any other national team.

To promote BV among males and females, a joint programme should be launched by the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education and the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation. It is also a good sign for the future that the Ministry of Sport has included BV in the National Sports Festival and the National School Games. If the authorities form a Beach Volleyball pool, to participate at the III Youth Olympic Games to be held in Buenos Aires in 2018, the XVIII Asian Games in 2018 at Jakarta, and the XXI Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast Australia 2018, Sri Lanka's medal prospects are promising.