Defence Services retain Men’s Hockey Nationals

Defence Services HA Men’s Hockey Team

By Susil Premalal

Defence Services HA retained the Men’s Senior National Hockey Championship when they trounced Mercantile HA 8-1 in the final played at the Shalika Grounds in Narahenpita yesterday.
The 60th Senior National Hockey Championship was conducted by the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation (SLHF) and sponsored by Lanka IOC PLC, with 13 teams competing in the Men’s event and six teams vying for honours in the Women’s category.

The Defence Service HA Team dominated the final from the start, with Lahiru Weerasuriya (2), B. L. A. Sandaruwan (2), W. W. A. P. U. Fernando (2), R. M. S. Suresh (1), and B. H. K. N. Thilakasiri (1) doing the scoring.

Boditha Dias scored the solitary goal for Mercantile Services HA.

Asanka Jayasundara from the Defence Services HA Team was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament, while Dharatha Tenne (Defence Services HA) was selected as the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

Earlier, in the semi-finals, Defence Services HA beat Wennappuwa HA 3-0, and Mercantile HA defeated State Services HA 3-2.
In the Men’s consolation final, State Services HA beat Wennappuwa HA 5-1 to claim third place in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Defence Services HA and Kandy HA emerged joint champions of the 25th Women’s Nationals Tournament after their final ended in a 1-1 draw.
Sandya Dayananda netted the goal for Kandy HA, while Vimukthini Kaluarachchi sounded the board for the Defence Services HA.

Kandy HA’s Sakunthala Illeperuma was named the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament, while Imesha Weerabahu of the Defence HA Team was selected as the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament.

In the Women’s semi-finals, Defence Services HA beat Colombo HA 4-0 and Kandy HA beat Wennappuwa HA 3-0.

Wennappuwa HA beat Colombo HA 3-0 in the Women’s consolation final.