Sri Lanka to host for first time from Nov.12-19
Pix by M.D. Nissanka
With the game of golf gaining popularity among members of the Armed Forces, the 11th World Military Golf Championship 2017 will be hosted by Sri Lanka, for the first time in the history of the Championship, from Nov.12-19, at the Eagle Golf Links, China Bay.
The Sri Lanka team will comprise six men and three women golfers. It is interesting to note that the majority of the team are from the outstations, who had never played golf or visited a golf link, before joining the services. The services encourage their members to take up to golf by providing them with all the facilities and, as a result, golfers hailing from the outstations dominate the golf competitions conducted by the services.
Eagle Golf Links in China Bay has been developed into international standards, with the Lankan Armed Forces team expected to shine on the home greens. For this year’s edition of the championship, 12 countries have confirmed their participation with 84 golfers in action. including General Secretary of the World Military Sports Council, Col. Dorah Mamby Koita, along with 27 officials will attend the competition.
The Sri Lanka men’s team of six will have two players each from the Army, Navy and Air Force, while the Women’s team will have two players from the Air Force and one from the Army.
Participating countries are Bahrain, Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Pakistan, Spain, Uganda, USA and Zimbabwe. This was revealed at a press briefing held at the Media Centre of the office of the Chief of Defence Staff on Thursday (2).
The Headquarters of the World Military Sports Council, based in Italy, was established in 1948, with the participation of five nations, to foster friendship through sports. Today it has a membership of 136 countries. Twenty four sports disciplines have been recognised by the World military Sports Council and the World Military Games including golf takes place once in every four years.
Sri Lanka participated at the 10th World Military Golf Championship conducted in the Netherlands in which Brazil emerged champions.
Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, is Chairman of the organising committee with Sri Lanka Air Force Director Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Pathirana as Vice Chairman.