Zahira College, Sri Sangamitta emerge Boys and Girls Champions
Zahira College Matale and Sri Sangamitta Girls School Matale emerged Boys and Girls Champions respectively at the 2nd Ariyapala Wimalasingha Memorial Trophy Matale District Inter School Hockey Tournament for Under (U)-15 Boys and Girls concluded at Edward Park on Sunday, September 25. The closely contested Boys Final between Zahira and Vijaya ended scoreless at full time, with Zahira winning 5-1 in extra time on the tie breaker system. Boys Semi finals- Vijaya beat St. Thomas’ Matale 1-0, while Zahira beat Tenna MV 5-3 on penalties.
St. Thomas’ won 3rd place defeating Tenna MV 2-0. In the Girls Final Sri Sangamitta posted an easy 5-0 win over Sirimavo Bandaranaike in a one-sided game, to take away the “Ariyapala Wimalasinghe Memorial Trophy” for Girls. This Hockey tournament held once in two years, was inaugurated in 2014, in honour of the late Ariyapala Wimalasingha who was a member of the Matale District Hockey Association, where he was the Treasurer and later, one of its Vice Presidents from 1983 to 1986. He took a keen interest in promoting Hockey at school and club level in Matale.
This year’s tournament attracted 6 Boys schools and 2 Girls schools. Boys teams: St. Thomas’, Vijaya, Zahira, Tenna MV, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Model and Elwala MV in Matale. Former National Hockey Captain (1982) and Coach, Sarath Wimalasinghe, eldest son of late Ariapayala Wimalasinghe, was the Chief Guest, while his younger brother, former National Hockey Captain (1990) and Coach, Tilak Wimalasinghe, was the Guest of Honour. Under Tilak Wimalasinghe’s captaincy, Sri Lanka won its first Silver medal at the 1990, 5 Nations International Hockey Tournament held in Singapore.
Boys Champs – Zahira College Matale
Girls Champions Sri Sangamitta Matale