Sri Lanka Men qualify for World Hockey League 2nd Round
Coach Anuruddha Herath Bandara
“China is a strong men’s Hockey nation. The fact that Sri Lanka held them to a 3-3 draw at the final whistle, in the final of the World Hockey League 1st Round, speaks volumes of its fighting qualities. However, Sri Lanka lost the final 4-2 in the penalty shootout. “Then take Sri Lanka’s performance against hosts Singapore, which we triumphed 2-1, after Singapore led 1-0 at the breather. This also portrays Sri Lanka’s fighting abilities in the game. This performance could be called Sri Lanka’s best ever against Singapore in Singapore since 2004 when we last won there!
“These performances could be classed our best efforts in field Hockey,” said men’s team head coach Anuruddha Herath Bandara, when the Sri Lanka team returned from the World Hockey League 1st Round. Anuruddha Herath Bandara is a national Hockey player, an international referee and a leading coach at present. An old boy of Matale’s prestigious Christ Church College, which has produced several leading Hockey players in the past. He was also the coach of the Sri Lanka Hockey team at the12th South Asian Games (SAG) held in India.
This is the first time Sri Lanka’s men’s Hockey team has had such a magnificent tour, qualifying for the 2nd Round of the World Hockey League, to be held in 2017. “In the past, Sri Lanka suffered many a defeat at international Hockey, because we had not taken part in international contests for a long spell. This is not a fault of the players, but a setback in Hockey administration. Hockey talent still exists. This was amply displayed by our players at the just concluded World Hockey League. The Sports Ministry must be lauded for sending our team to this contest when a lot of other problems still remain. There was a huge protest at the appointment of two medical doctors to the team. Dr Lal Ekanayake was a great help both as doctor and manager,” concluded Herath Bandara.
The Sri Lanka Men's team who emerged Runners-up
Singapore fielded 9 men’s teams and 6 women’s teams in the 1st Round. Men’s competition: China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Brunei and Vietnam. China emerged 1st Round winners, Sri Lanka came 2nd and Thailand was 3rd. All three teams qualified for the 2nd Round in 2017, at a venue still to be decided. Sri Lanka were unbeaten Group B champions in the 1st Round. In their 1st Group B match they beat Myanmar 7-0. Halftime 3-0. Goal scorers were Abeetha Fernando (2), Sandaruwan Priyalanka (2), Hareendra Dharmarathne, Lakshan Nanayakkara and Asanka Welagedera (1 each).
In their 2nd match, Sri Lanka beat Singapore 2-1. Singapore led 1-0 at the breather. Damith Bandara and Abeetha Fernando (1 each) scored for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka trounced Kazakhstan 7-0 after leading 3-0 at the breather. Sandaruwan Priyalanka (2), Abeetha Fernando (2), Damith Bandara, Ishanka Jayasundera and Lahiru Weerasuriya (1 each) were the scorers. Sri Lanka qualified for the final as unbeaten Group B leaders. In the semi-finals Sri Lanka had to face Thailand while China met Singapore. In Sri Lanka beat Thailand 5-0 after leading 2-0 at the breather. Anuruddha Suresh Ratnayake (2), Sandaruwan Priyalanka (2) and Abeetha Fernando (1) sounded the boards. China beat Singapore 5-0. Sri Lanka faced China in the final. In the 1st half China led 1-0. In the 2nd half Sri Lanka scored 3 goals-in-a-row while China scored two to tie the game 3-3 at the final whistle.
In the nsuing penalty shootout and China triumphed 4-2. The Sri Lanka team was led by Nalantha De Silva.
In the women’s matches Sri Lanka showed good form after a long layoff, playing 6 matches, but failed to reach the semi-finals. Sri Lanka won 2 matches. The participating teams were Thailand, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Brunei and Cambodia. Sri Lanka beat Brunei 6-0 and drubbed Cambodia 13-0, which could be a world record. Sri Lanka lost 1-6 to Singapore, 1-4 to Hong Kong, 0-9 to Thailand and 0-2 to Kazakhstan. Thailand emerged Round 1 champions and Kazakhstan qualified for the 2nd Round. Sri Lanka had to be content with 5th place. The Sri Lanka women’s team was skippered by Madhara Rathpitiya.
Sri Lanka Hockey team:
Nalantha De Silva (Captain), N.D.B. Disanayake (Vice Captain), Hareendra Dharmarathne, Isanka Jayasundara, Thusith Ratnasiri (Goalkeeper), Tharanga Gunawardhene, Amila Rathnasiri, Damith Bandara, Sandaruwan Priyalanka, Madhuranga Wijesinghe, Lahiru Weerasooriya, Lakshan Nanayakkara, C.A. Welagedara, Shamika Gunawardhene, Tharindu Hendeniya, P.K. Hendeniya, Anuradha Suresh-Ratnayke (Debut), Abheetha Fernando (Debut), H.M. Anuruddha Herath Bandara (National Hockey Coach), Dr Lal Ekanayake (Manager) and Dr (Mrs) Daminda Athtanayake (Doctor).