Pinnawela Central sweep the board at Women’s Sepaktakraw Nationals
Pinnawela Central College swept the board at the first ever Women’s Sepaktakraw Nationals 2014 held at St. Joseph’s College Indoor Stadium. Pinnawela Central fielded three teams and they bagged the championship, runners-up spot and third place in front of an enthusiastic and supportive audience.
The champion Pinnawela Central College girls team flanked by the President of the Association Nizam Hajireen and his wife Nizara Hajireen
Anusha Sandamali emerged as the Best Player of the competition displaying excellent skills as a Takong (Server) Maduwanthi Dissanayake, Tharaka Dilrukshi and Nadeesha Shashikala excelled for Sri Summangala Mawanella whilst Tashima Piumali excelled for Hathara-Liyadde.
A point of note was that the outstation teams were from Hathara-Liyadde, Mawanella, Pinnawela Central and Rambukkana. Eight girls teams participated in the competition conducted in the Ragu Event. Sepaktakraw is a game similar to volleyball played on a court the size of a badminton court without the use of hands. The head, arms, legs and shoulders can be used giving the game an agile and athletic profile. The game is very popular in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, India and is now catching on in Canada and the USA.
The games were keenly contested and a notable feature of the competition was the participation of yesteryear women players from Garudas Sports Club comprising of Felicia Fernando, Apsara and Inoka. Despite their age difference they gave a tough time to the young girls of the other teams and reached the semi-finals stage where they lost to the young and strong Pinnawela team. Garudas SC won fourth place. The girls from Sri Summangala Mawanella who entered the competition for the first time impressed with their skilful display and lost narrowly to Pinnawela Central mainly due to lack of experience.
The Pinnawela ‘A’ team comprised of Anusha, Duleeka and Chani. The ‘B’ team was made up of Kalani Palpitiya, Tharushi Herath and Gimhani. The ‘C’ team consisted of Duleeka, Ahimsa and Imasha.
The Chairman Organising Committee was headed by M. Jaldin. He was ably assisted by Ex-Co members of the Association Rohan Ousmand, Zahida Ousmand and A.S. Asmone. The Technical aspects were handled by Chairman Technical Committee Zahiran Hajireen and Referees: Bahar Sarap, Roween Sarap, Milanroy Fernando, W.D. Soysa, M.J.M. Inshanulla, K.K.I. Srimal and Tharindu Hettiarachchi.
The Chief Guest was Percy Dencil Perera, Coordinating Secretary to the Deputy Minister of Education.