Netball Federation out to improve national team’s standard

Sri Lanka Netball Federation has new ideas to promote the sport with focus on next Asia Cup which will be held next year .The defending Asian champions have big task to retain the title but they were disappointed after the last Asian Cup when Sri Lanka lost to Singapore three times during the recent five months period.

The senior official of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka ( NFSL) said they are going to appoint new head coach for the National team while talent search program to form new pool also going to commence very soon with the new Selection Committee headed by Padmini Beddewela .Former National player Vajira Pushpakumari and former Sports Director Sakunthala Pieris are also members of the selection committee while NFSL President Victoria Lakshmi is expected to make new plans to uplift the National team very soon.

Sri Lanka lost to Singapore at the World Cup held in Singapore under the guidance of head coach Thilaka Jinadasa but Sri Lanka won against Singapore at the Asia Cup to take the title in Singapore .At the Nation Cup Netball tournament in Singapore last month once again Sri Lanka lost to both Singapore A and B teams under the guidance of P.D.N Prasadi and the strandard of the National team declined at the last Asia cup and NFSL wants to improve the standard of the National Netball team.

NFSL President Victoria Lakshmi who is also Asia Netball Federation President and Director of the Asian Region of the World Netball Federation has good support to uplift the standard of Sri Lanka Netball with the backing of senior officials.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka depended on 6 feet 11 inches tall (.Asian tallest player ) Tharjini Shivalingam as a Goal shooter and after her retirement National Netball Federation has a big task to uplift the team.

NFSL also has development squad and junior National team which was placed third to qualify for next world junior Championship in 2024.However the main target is to get good replacements for the National team.

Former skippers Chaturangi Jayasuriya,Tharjini Shivalingam already retired from the sport while promising player Malmi recently gave up the game and all these places have to be filled soon while juniors have to get more international exposure and development of coaches and umpires are the key areas to look to develop the sport said a senior official of NFSL.

NFSL planned to conduct 2-3 international tournaments in Sri Lanka but it did not succeed this year and hope to do it at least next year .

Meanwhile next Asia Cup has to be conducted in either Sri Lanka or UAE but not finalized and if Sri Lanka get this chance National team will have home advantage.

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