Over 317 participants expected at Junior Squash C’ship
The 27th edition of the Sri Lanka Junior Squash Championship conducted by Sri Lanka Squash Federation and sponsored by Ritzbury, will be worked off from November 26 to December 3 at Tamil Union Squash Courts Complex.
Then the Under-19 final matches followed by the awards ceremony will be held at Air Force Courts Complex at Ratmalana on December 3.
The national tournament will see all top-ranked junior players in the country in six age categories (Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19) and also three Novices categories (in Under-11, Under-15 and Under-19) both girls and boys, will vie for honours during the nine-day championships.
Around 317 players are expected from two squash playing Provinces – Western and Central.
The draw, which has already been completed on November 19 at 5pm at the SLS Secretariat, will be displayed from November 23 at the SLS Secretariat and the courts venues.
The players and coaches can see the draw vie e-mail and can be downloaded from SLS website from December 23.
SLS Secretary Cdr Priyadarshana Jayawardana (Rtd) SLN has informed that arrangements have already been initiated with the sponsor to live telecast this event through the Channel Eye for the second time on December 3 from 4pm onwards.
According to the organisers, their main aim of this live telecast is to popularise the game among outstation schools and to provide them with required infrastructure facilities to promote and to develop the game in other rural areas with the assistance of the Ministry of Sports.
Sri Lanka Squash Federation’s target is to spread the sport island-wide as squash is played only two provinces in Western Province and three schools in Central Province.
“Last year’s response for the live telecast was beyond our expectations and we have received inquiries to introduce the game in Kandy, Kurunegala, Galle, Matara, Anuradhapura, Puttalam and Jaffna districts due to the live coverage of the game for the first time in history of squash,” Sri Lanka Squash Secretary Cdr Priyadarshana Jayawardana (Rtd) SLN said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Squash Federation has extended their helping hand to spread the game across Sri Lanka, Secretary Jayawardana told.
“A master plan to spread squash islandwide is our main focus and hope to conduct the Senior National Championship with more participation from all nine Provinces in the country,” Jayawardana said.
“I have already arranged every thing to get the assistance of Pakistan government with the help of Sri Lanka Sports Ministry under the guidance of Sports Minster Dayasiri Jayasekera,” Jayawardana said.