Sri Lankan netballers out to retain Asian crown

The 12 member Sri Lanka Netball team which will take part in the forthcoming Asian Netball championship in Singapore poses for a picture with Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe ,Sports Ministry Secretary Dr Amal Harsha de Silva Netball President Victoria Lakshmi and Sports Director General Amal Edirisooriya on Monday before their departure for Singapore.The team is led by Gayanjali Amarawansa while Dulangi Wannithilleka is the deputy skipper of the team. ( Pix courtesy Sport Ministry)

Gayanjali Amarawansa the experienced player from Hatton National Bank will lead the Sri Lanka Netball team at the Asian Netball championship which begins in Singapore on September 3. The team left for Singapore yesterday

Gayanjali Amarawansa will captain the National side for the first time and she is ready to take up the challenge to retain the Asian Crown which they have won on five occasions 1989 1997 2001 20009 and 2018.

The 12 member team comprises players who are over six feet tall with most senior player being 6 foot 11 inches tall Thajani Shivalingam who was away in Australia for league Netball and came

back to join the Sri Lanka team for the Singapore tour . They have been training hard from January this year under the guidance of dedicated coach Hyacinth Wijesinghe and the team is a blend of youth and experience eight seniors and four newcomers The squad has the services of four former captains which is a huge advantage for the defending champions

The 12 member team Gayanjali Amarawansa ( captain), Dulangi Wannithilleka (vice Captain), Tharjani Shivalingam, Semini Alwis, Hasitha Menids, Indusha Janani Perera ,Rashmi Divyanjali Perera, Charhuragi Jayasuriya, Gayani Dissanayake, Bhashani Perera ,Malmi Hettiarachchi, Deepika Abeykoon, Stand byes – Thishala Algama, Lakmali Bandara, Thilini Wattegedera, Hyacinth Wijesinghe (coach)Dr Shiromi Pilapitiya Team Doctor.