Lankan strikers looking for glory
The Sri Lanka Hockey Pool will undertake a week’s training session in Malaysia in the first week of February. The reason for this is that Sri Lanka has qualified for the Hockey World League Round Two to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from March 4 to 12.
In 2016 Sri Lanka were runners-up in the Hockey World League Round One in Singapore where Sri Lanka met China in the finals. After a close fight China emerged champions on penalty strokes. The game ended in a three-all draw and on penalty strokes, Sri Lanka suffered a 2-4 defeat.
This is the first time that Sri Lanka has achieved such great success in field hockey.
Six teams will take part in the Second Round in Bangladesh. They are: Bangladesh, China, South Africa, Canada, Egypt and Sri Lanka.
A 24 member pool has been named for the event. Anuruddha Herath Bandara is the Head Coach. The residential pool is currently in training at the Astro Turf, Racecourse in Colombo.
“The pool is in excellent form. Sri Lanka took part in only one Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup in Hong Kong last year. That was the only international tournament Sri Lanka took part in. The players have no international experience and as such we made a request to gain some international exposure from the Sports Ministry,” said Anuruddha Herath Bandara.
“On their instructions of the Sports Ministry, Sri Lanka will play five friendly games in Malaysia. Sri Lanka is hoping to embark on the Malaysian tour in the first week of February.
“The final tour party of 18 players will be picked on February 20, after the Malaysian tour.”
Finally Anuruddha Herath Bandara said that the Hockey World League second round in Bangladesh will not be easy and that Sri Lanka is hoping to face stiff competition from Bangladesh and China.
“It is difficult to state the performances of other countries such as South Africa and Egypt as we have not faced them before. But we will certainly give them the best opposition we can,” he concluded.
PICTURE: Sri Lanka Hockey Coach Anuruddha Herath Bandara