Sri Lanka Youth Netball team off to Japan

By Susil Premalal

The Sri Lanka Youth Netball team took wing to Japan yesterday (26) to take part in the 11th Asian Youth Asian Netball Championships from June 29 to July 7 in Kashima, Japan. The tournament is being conducted by the Asian Netball Association. Eleven countries are taking part in it. Sri Lanka in the first round will take part in four games. They are against: South Korea, Nepal,Thailand and Singapore. The skipper and deputy of the Sri Lankan team are from Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo. They are Tharushi Illangaratne (Capt) and Melani Wijesinghe (Vice-Captain). Sri Lanka has won the Youth Netball Championships on three occasions. They are in 1998, 2002 and 2015.

The Sri Lanka Youth Netball Team – Tharushi Illangaratne (Capt.-Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo), Melani Wijesinghe (V-Capt. Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo), Dilani Perera (Visakha Vidyalaya), Dimitri Gooniyangoda (unattached), Ganya Senanayake (Ladies College Colombo), Anisha De Perera (Gateway College Colombo), Ishmika Ratnayake (Gateway College Colombo), Kavindi Randima Perera (Prysbeterian College Dehiwela), Kusalika N.Aluvihare (Hillwood College Kandy), Devna Randima Silva (Kalutara Balika), Sajini Ratnayake (HFC Kurunegala) and Imasha Perera (unattached).

Officials- Kumari Gamage (Coach), Vajira Pushpakumari (Manager),Ganga Uswatte (Umpire), Tamara Paragoda Liyanage (Sports Ministry Representative), Dr.Shiromi Pilapitiya (Team Doctor).