WP, CP, NWP champs in beach volleyball, hockey, taekwondo and swimming
The Western Province men’s Beach Volleyball team: K.P.Ekanayake and Asanka Pradeep Kumara.
Four sports items of the 41st National Sports Festival were concluded last week. They are: hockey, beach volleyball, taekwondo and swimming. In beach volleyball the men’s and women’s competitions took place at Trincomalee where Western Province emerged champions in both events. Western Province overcame North Western Province in the men’s final. In the women’s final Western Province beat Southern Province to annex the title. The most outstanding player in the men’s tournament was Asanka Pradeep Kumara of Western Province. In the women’s contest Niranjali Guneratne of Western Province was selected as the most outstanding player.
HOCKEY
Central Province emerged the men’s and women’s hockey champions in the tournament concluded at the Astro Turf in Colombo. In the men’s final Central overcame Western Province 2-1. In the women’s competition Central beat Western 7-0 in a one sided encounter. In the men’s Central Province squad there are 17 national players whilst in the women’s Central Province squad there are 15 national players. The players took their opportunity to dominate the game, specially the women who won by a handsome margin of 7 goals to nil. Indika Wickremarachchi was adjudged as the most outstanding player amongst men while Madura Dharmaratne was selected as the best player among the women.
The Western Province women’s Beach Volleyball team: Niranjali Gunasinghe and K.K.G.L. Gunewardena.
TAEKWONDO
North Western Province emerged overall champions in taekwondo. In the process they pocketed 4 Gold and one Bronze medals. The contests took place at the Torrington Square Indoor Stadium. Sabaragamuwa Province was overall champions bagging 3 Gold, 6 Silver and 7 Bronze. Western Province was third with 3 Gold, 4 Silver and 4 Bronze. The men’s championship was won by North Central who won 3 Gold. The runners-up were Western Province with 2 Gold. North Western Province was third bagging two Gold. Sabaragamuwa Province who won 3 Gold pocketed the women’s championship. North Western Province was runners-up with two Gold. Western Province followed in third place with a solitary Gold.
L.C.S. Liyanage of North Western Province (fly weight 54-58 kg) was selected as the best player. W.G.I.W.R. Wijesuriya (Central Province) – fly weight 46-49 kg – was the best player in the women’s category.
SWIMMING
Western Province emerged overall champions at the meet held at the Sugathadasa swimming pool bagging 19 Gold, 18 Silver and 10 Bronze medals. The overall runners-up were Central Province taking in 19 Gold, 9 Silver and 12 Bronze. Third place went to Southern Province with one Gold, 2 Silver and 5 Bronze.
Nine meet records were established at the three day event. Shehan De Silva of Central Province was selected as the best swimmer amongst men and Eshani Senanayake of Western Province was the top swimmer among the women.