Hockey: Sri Lanka Masters go down fighting in Bali

Sri Lanka Masters Hockey team went down fighting in the semi-finals of the Bali International Sixes Hockey Tournament 2016 concluded in Bali, Indonesia. 

Sri Lanka stickers were most unfortunate to be beaten by Indonesia 2-1 in a hotly contested game. 

Led by M.G.M. Naleem the senior stickers reached the semi-finals with an unblamish record to register four wins. 

Thailand, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore competed along with Sri Lanka where national and international players of yesteryear was seen in action testing their skills and touch in the game which they brought fame and glory to their respective mother countries. 

Sri Lanka was seeded in Group B along with Malaysia 'A', Thailand CUD, Bali JBDSA and Taiwan and beat Malaysia 3-0, Thailand CUD 3-0, Bali 3-0 and Taiwan 3-1 in the preliminary rounds. 

Ashok Peiris, Nadith Kudagama and skipper Naleem scored a goal each against Malaysia and against Thailand Nadith Kudagama, Ashok Peiris and Godwin Soloman sounded the board once each while against Bali and Taiwan it was the combination of Kudagama, Soloman and Duncan Devendra along with the skipper scored a goal each to be victorious. 

In the semi-finals Sri Lanka met Indonesia IDU - winners of the second quarter-final and it turned out to be ding dong battle where fortunes swung from side to side. 

Ashok Peiris scored the solitary goal for the losers while the Indonesians beat the Sri Lanka defence to score two goals to go past the Lankan to the finals. 

Nadith Kudagama was out of action in this all important encounter due to an injury. Sri Lanka Masters exhibited a fine brand of hockey with skipper Naleem, Ashok Peiris, Duncan Devendra, Nadith Kudagama and Ananda de Silva were outstanding in the in the field play while the custodian D.C. Perera's solid defence between the posts was a tower of strength to the side. 

Sri Lanka was represented by M.G.M. Naleem (Captain), Ashok Peiris, Ananda de Silva, D.C. Perera, Godwin Soloman, Nadith Kudagama and Duncan Devendra. 

M. Aazmil and Ratnasiri Mahagalaella accompanied the team as the Coach and Manager respectively.