Basketball: COVID positives force Sri Lanka to pull out of FIBA 3x3 U-18 WC

Sri Lanka had to unwillingly pull out of the FIBA 3x3 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.

The team was scheduled to leave Sri Lanka on Sunday (22) as the tournament begins on Tuesday (24). 

The six-day world tournament, includes 20 each teams boys and girls from 37 nations. 

The 37-nation Junior World Cup is scheduled to be held from August 24 to 29 at the Kossuth Square in Debrecen, Hungary as 3x3 format of basketball, which also debuted in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics.

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. 

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.