Unbeaten Sri Lanka reach third consecutive Asian final
The undefeated Sri Lankan squad started strong, establishing an early 13-9 lead in the first quarter, with Thishala Algama accounting for most of the points. Rashmi Perera then pushed Sri Lanka further ahead, landing three consecutive goals to bring the score to 18-9 by the end of the quarter. Sri Lanka’s accuracy and strategic play allowed them to double Hong Kong’s points early on.
The dominance continued through the second quarter as Sri Lanka extended their lead, entering the halftime by a solid margin of 36-21. The partnership between Algama and Perera proved unstoppable, with both shooters scoring with precision and securing a safe cushion for their side.
Goal Shooter Thishala Algama was key to Sri Lanka's win in the semi-final
In the third quarter, Sri Lanka’s firepower was on full display. Algama quickly opened the scoring, and the team went on to build an insurmountable lead, doubling Hong Kong’s 23 points to reach a 46-23 scoreline. The Sri Lankan attack was relentless, pushing to a 50-25 lead midway through the quarter. With Hong Kong now aiming realistically for third place, Sri Lanka finished the third quarter with an unassailable 57-36 advantage.
The fourth quarter saw more incredible performances from Sri Lanka’s shooting duo. Algama continued her brilliant form, netting her 50th goal as Sri Lanka surged to 65 points. The Lankans lasses breezed through the semi-final, ending with a decisive 71-47 victory to secure their place in a record breaking seventh Asian Netball Championship final. Hong Kong will now compete in the third-place playoff today.
This final appearance brings Sri Lanka one step closer to claiming a third consecutive Asian title. After winning the championship in 2018, they missed the chance to defend in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic but reclaimed the crown in 2022. As the only team to have qualified for the finals seven times in a row, Sri Lanka’s players are now on the brink of making history. They will meet the winners of the second semi-final between Malaysia and Singapore, with the losing side set to take on Hong Kong in the third place playoff.
Earlier in the tournament, the undefeated Sri Lankans outplayed their opponents in all five matches, defeating the Philippines (71-42), Saudi Arabia (118-5), India (81-31), Japan (85-18), and Malaysia (72-40) on their path to the semi-finals. Now, they look to cap off their impressive run with a historic victory in the final on Sunday bringing home a third consecutive Asian Championship title and reinforcing their status as the ‘Pearl of Asian Netball’.