Lankan Netballers gearing up for Asian C’ship

The Sri Lanka Netball Federation (SLNF) already started preparations for Asian Netball Championship said President of the SLNF Ranjani Jayakody.

The Netball Chief further said their talent search program on Provincial basis is highly successful and already these programs concluded at Central, North Western, Southern, North Central, Western and North Provinces and Sabaragamuwa and Uva Province programs to be held shortly. All programs were conducted within two weeks at this hard period with provincial Associations gaving good support to the National Federation.

“Our aim is to pick talented players from this program and finally they will bring to Colombo for further training under well qualified coaches. We also make arrangements to select new National coach on January 6th at the Institute of National Sports Science Auditorium in Colombo.

Two international netball coaches Thilaka Jinadasa and Hyacinth Wijesinghe have applied for this post while SLNF have also set up an interview board which includes Retired General Daya Ratnayake (Chairman), Sunil Gunawardena (athletics), Surangani Wijendra (netball), Chandrani Pathiraja (netball) and a medical doctor.

In addition SLNF is expected to name new selection committee and the names already have sent to the approval said Netball President. The National pool training already started at Torrington grounds and requested to get Bandaragma sport complex for the training.

The Assistant Manager and the fitness trainer already conducted National pool training and new head coach who will appoint next week will join with National pool,” said President of the SLNF. Meanwhile SLNF is expect to conduct their postponed National championship at Digana Kandy on January 22 and 23 .

SLNF have confirmed their participation at the 12th Asian Netball Championships from September 3 to 10 in Singapore.

Sri Lanka won the Asian title for the fifth time when the tournament was last held in 2018 in Singapore with the host nation becoming runner-up and Malaysia claiming the third place.

Sri Lanka have the credit of having won this tournament the most number of five times in 1989, 1997, 2001, 2009 and 2018.