Sri Lanka men’s and women’s cagers to start from qualifiers at Asia Cup
Sri Lanka’s s 3×3 men’s and women’s basketballers will leave to Singapore later this month to compete in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023, needing to start from qualifiers. The teams, yet to be decided, are, however, at practices and are to be finalised within a few days.
“We have our rankings. If we don’t come within the eight, then we have to play the qualifying round and play the main draw. For the last two years, we didn’t do it that way due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We didn’t have enough tournaments, consequently we didn’t have points to qualify for the main draw. Hence, we have to play the qualification round,” Ajith Kuruppu, the coach-cum-manager for the tour, reasoned out.
The Ministry of Sports has not funded the teams, and Vaaj Fitness Centre has come to the rescue in funding the teams, he added. The final few procedures of finalising the team, sending them through the fitness test and ministry approval are currently underway.
The men’s team will be up against Indonesia, Tahiti and Chinese Taipei respectively, beginning from March 29. The women’s team will open their campaign taking on Hong Kong on the same day and will face Tahiti, India and New Zealand in teh following days. The touring party, of four players each and two officials, will take wings to Singapore on March 27.