Volleyball: Foreign Coaches to help SL prepare for 2018 Asian Games

A host of foreign coaches are to be brought to Sri Lanka for selected Sports next year by the Sports Ministry. 

Discussions regarding this are in progress between the Sports Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, local embassies and High Commissions, disclosed Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera. 

Plans are also underfoot to form a special unit to coordinate with these foreign coaches. 

All this is being planned for the 2018 Asian Games to be held from August 18 to September 2 in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

The Sports Minister divulged this at the Dialog President’s Gold Cup Volleyball Tournament concluding ceremonies held at the Maharagama National Youth Service Council (NYSC). 

Meanwhile Combined Sports Club Katana and Vijaya Sports Club Koswadiya annexed the Open Men’s and Women’s titles respectively, in the Dialog President’s Gold Cup Volleyball Tournament at the NYSC Indoor Stadium in Maharagama, on Wednesday. 

Combined SC defeated ‘Rantharu’ SC Debagama 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-18) in the Men’s final, while Vijaya SC beat Casualline SC Mawathagama 3-1 (25-19, 16-25, 25-22, 25-16) in the Women’s final. 

This is the 5th time that Combined SC has won the Dialog President’s Gold Cup Volleyball Tournament while, Vijaya SC won the title for the sixth time. 

Earlier, Dawisamara SC Seeduwa beat Rajasinghe SC Ruwanwella 3-1 in the Men’s Under (U)-22 final while Casualline SC Mawathagama had the better of Dharmapala SC Ehiliyagoda 3-1 in the Women’s U-22 final. 

President Maithripala Sirisena was the Chief Guest and distributed the main awards. He also participated in the ceremony held to mark 100 years of Volleyball in Sri Lanka at the same venue. 

Special Awards 

Men’s Open: 

Best Server: Janitha Surath (Combine SC) 

Best Receiver: W.A.D.M.S. Wickremasena (Rantharu SC) 

Best Setter: G.J.S. Senadhira (Combined SC) 

Best Attacker: H.D.R. Ranawaka (Combined SC) 

Best Defender: Janitha Surath (Combined SC) 

Best Libero: K.A.N.C. Fernando (Combined SC) 

Best Player: Janitha Surath (Combined SC) 

Women’s Open: 

Best Server: Chaturika Gayani (Vijaya SC) 

Best Receiver: Shashinika Lakmali (Vijaya SC) 

Best Setter: Nadeeshani Samaraweera (Dawisamara SC) 

Best Attacker: Champa Kalyani (Casualline SC) 

Best Defender: Iresha Udayangani (Vijaya SC) 

Best Libero: Ishanka Subashini (Casualline SC) 

Best Player: Dinesha Prasadini (Vijaya SC) 

Men’s U-22: 

Best Setter: Danushka Dilshan (Dawisamara SC) 

Best Attacker: Rehan Madushanka (Dawisamara SC) 

Best Player: Iyesg Dilhan (Dawisamara SC) 

Women’s U-22: 

Best Setter: S. Wickremasinghe (Casualline SC) 

Best Attacker: N.S. Jayawardena (Dharmapala SC) 

Best Player: A. Chatuni (Casualline SC)