Fancied teams advance to the semis

By M. Shamil Amit

The first day’s play of the two day Inter-Association netball tournament conducted jointly by the Netball Association of Sri Lanka and the Free Trade Zone Netball Association which was played at the FTZ Sports Complex in Katunayake saw fancied teams advance to the semi finals.

The tournament saw 20 association combined teams along with nine mixed teams participating. The schedule matches of the main tournament were completed and the organizers were unable to complete the schedule matches of the mixed team tournament which was conducted concurrently.

Last year’s runner up Combined Universities, Colombo District, Gampaha district and State Services recorded easy wins over Kurunegala district, Nationalised Services, Free Trade Zone and Galle district to qualify to the finals.

Mercantile Services who were the champions in both the categories last year was the notable absentee. Meanwhile Combined Universities and Colombo district are favoured to lift the title in the Inter-Association category while Puttalam and Kegalle district are expected to finish on top in the mixed teams category. Second day’s play will commence at 8.00 a.m. today and the finals are due to start at 3.00 p.m.