Sri Lanka golf has strong hand at SAG
From left: Sanjeewa, Sisira Kumara and Chanaka at a local event
Sri Lanka Golf team is targeting a rich haul of Medals in both Men and Women Golf at next month’s South Asian Games in Nepal.
The XIII South Asian Games (SAG) postponed from March to December 1 to 10, will be held in Nepal, in the host city of Kathmandu, Pokhara.
Individual and Team Medals are up for grabs and M.U. Chanaka Perera the reigning Sri Lanka Amateur National Golf Champion primed-up with a scintillating performance to win the Lectra Grand-Prix October Edition at the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club.
George Patrick Sisira Kumara, the Golfer with the most experience representing Sri Lanka for over seven years now, performed with exception when he made the top cut-off score, playing among the best in the Asia Pacific Golf Championships – APGC 2019, China recently, conducted by the R and A the World Governing Body of Golf.
Sisira Kumara is the second best performer of the APGC China 2019, of the participants in SAG 2019. The Indian challenge is favoured but Japan also could surprise with Pakistan, Bangladesh, home-team Nepal, Bhutan competing with Sri Lanka who have being well prepared by the SLGU with much support and a comprehensive training plan executed in association with the Ministry of Sports and the NOC.
Sri Lanka has an outstanding opportunity in winning Medals in the Women’s Golf too, represented by a three-member team comprising experience, exceptional talent and youthful exuberance. Thuhashini Selvaratnam based in Arizona spearheads the team with Grace Yatawara an exceptional talent a student majoring in Engineering in the United States and the reigning Junior and Sri Lanka Ladies Amateur Champion teenager Taniya Minel Balasuriya.
Emerging star Taniya Minel
The Sri Lanka Golf Union continues to monitor both the Men and Women’s teams, providing specialised training including physical, mind focus and match practice with the determination of bagging several Medals.
“The Management of Sri Lanka Golf has made every effort to get the best possible Golf delegation to capture Medals and bring glory to Sri Lanka,” said a spokesman for the SLGU who also extended a word of appreciation to the MOS (Ministry of Sports) officials and the NOC management for the support and close supervision provided to the Golf squad over a period of time with the focus of being the best in Golf, at the XIII South Asian Games 2019 – Kathmandu.
The SAG first held in 1984 Kathmandu, 1985 Dhaka, 1987 Kolkatta, 1989 Islamabad, 1991 Colombo, 1993 Dhaka, Chennai 1995 back in Kathmandu in 1999, has since being held every four years and was last held in India 2016.
Sri Lanka Golf Team
Men: G.P. Sisira Kumara, M.U. Chanaka Perera, B.A. Sanjeewa, Navinda Ranga
Women: Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Grace Yatawara, Taniya Minel Balasuriya