COVID positives force Sri Lanka to pull out of FIBA 3×3 U18 WC
Sri Lanka had to unwillingly pull out of the FIBA 3×3 Under-18 World Cup, after six players in the touring contingent were tested positive for COVID-19 upon a mandatory PCR test. The eleventh-hour shocker, which forced Sri Lanka Basketball Federation (SLBF) to make a reluctant U-turn, came as a heavy blow after the six players were identified as tested positive for the latest Delta variant.
As other participating nations, Sri Lanka had to submit PCR test reports to FIBA a week prior to the departure. SLBF has conducted PCR tests on the 12 players on August 17. Out of 12 players, six each of boys and girls, four girls and two boys were tested positive.
“When you have that kind of big number tested positive, sending the rest of the players for to quarantine is a must. We are now in a helpless position and we cannot think of anything else other than to pull out from the tournament. We wrote to FIBA as the protocol explaining our condition. It’s a huge blow,” Chandana Liyanage, the secretary of SLBF said.
The team was scheduled to leave Sri Lanka on Sunday as the tournament begins on Tuesday (August 24). The six-day world tournament, includes 20 each teams boys and girls from 37 nations.
“We were planning to leave Sri Lanka on Sunday and return on Monday, August 30. Unfortunately, since there is a very strict health protocol that the organisers need to follow during the games, we need to upload two PCR reports,” Liyanage added.
The 37-nation Junior World Cup is scheduled to be held from August 24 to 29 at the Kossuth Square in Debrecen, Hungary as 3×3 format of basketball, which also debuted in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics.
“In the team, we need to have four players. We were basically planning to travel with four players, and with four standbys. That’s how the six members were teamed up,” he explained.
“Four boys are equally good. We brought a Italy-based Sri Lankan, Jason Wickramanayake. We actually got him down for this tournament, but unfortunately, he was also tested positive,” the secretary mentioned.
The entire teams of boys and girls have been training at Torrington in Colombo for six weeks after getting a delayed approval from the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Education.
“Even during the COVID situation, they were practising quite well. I think we are losing a huge opportunity,” basketball coach Chathura Rodrigo stressed.
“Jason, who came from Italy will be an asset to the Sri Lankan basketball team in the future. Sri Lanka qualified for Under-18 Men’s and Women’s World Basketball Championship and it’s very sad to see these players, who had been striving hard in their practice sessions, missing the chance of representing the country,” Rodrigo asserted.
The boy’s team included B. Yuganan of Royal College, Shehan Anthony of St. Joseph’s College, Sanjan Gunaratne of Lyceum International, Nugegoda, Jason Wickramanayake of Agribertocchi Orzinuovi Club, Italy and Hashen Madusanka of Ananda College and K. Thagirathan of St. Michael’s, Batticaloa as standbys.
The girls team comprised Shonali Darmasena, Minoli Direkze and K. Reiss of Holy Family Convent, Colombo and M.I. Rafaideen of St. Joseph’s Girls School, Nugegoda while the standbys were Familian O. Dunuwille and J.M. Fernando of Ladies’ College.
The tournament also features a dunk contest for men, a skills contest for women and a shoot-out contest that features teams comprised of a male and female player each from the same country.