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Lankans aim for Bowl
By Asanka Gammanpila
The Sri Lanka skipper Pradeep Basnayake expressed his confidence ahead of the 19th Asian Rugby championship, which begins for the Lankans with their match against Pakistan on October 27 here in Hong Kong.

This will be the first time that Sri Lanka is clashing with Pakistan in a rugby tie in history, while this also will be the first time Pakistan plays in an Asian rugby tournament.

Skipper Pradeep Basnayake admitted they were the favourites against the minnows, but assured that the Lankans will not approach the game with complacency. "We will not take it easy against Pakistan" he said.

Sri Lanka are playing in the bowl championship according to their ranking and if Sri Lanka wins the Pakistan match, they will directly enter the Bowl finals, which is scheduled to be played on October 31.

However Basnayake indicated that their real challenge would be in the Bowl finals where they are likely to meet China, a team that made rapid progress in Asian rugby arena after being introduced quite recently.

The Lankan skipper added that the story would be different against China and Sri Lanka will have to use three quarters more as China had a set of strong and heavy forwards.

Basnayake singled out experienced players in Fly Half Asanga Rodrigo and winger Radhika Hettiarachchi, and said that he had the full confidence in his back division.

China will play their first game against India and the winners of that game will meet Malaysia, but China are expected to sail through against India and Malaysia.

In conclusion Basnayake said that Sri Lanka's main aim is to take the Bowl Championship and advance to the plate tournament at the next Asian championships, which is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in 2006.

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