Sri Lanka marks 30 years since first SAF VB Gold Medal

The Sri Lanka Women’s Volleyball Team:
Front row (from left): Sandya Sandaleka, Rohini Chandrika (Vice-Captain), Renuka Abegunawardene Yapa (Captain) and H. A. Swarna.  
Back row (from left): W. P. Sriyani, Iresha Chiranthi, K. M. Indrani, Dilini Vasanthi, Deepika Kumari, Udeni Priyadarshani, Jayanthi Karunaratne and Chintha Dilrukshi

By Susil Premalal

The Sri Lanka Women’s Volleyball Team won their first ever South Asian Federation (SAF )Games Gold Medal 30 years ago on December 28 , 1991 (today).  

This was the first time in the 106-year-old Sri Lankan volleyball history that Sri Lanka won a volleyball Gold Medal in either a Men’s or Women’s Championship.  

Sri Lanka defeated India 15-1, 17-15,15-12 and 15-7 in the Fifth SAF Women’s Volleyball Tournament final held in Sugathadasa indoor stadium Colombo.  

This was also the first time that Sri Lanka participated in the SAF Women’s Volleyball Tournament. But thereafter, Sri Lanka have failed to win a medal at this level.  

Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh participated in this tournament, which was held from December 22 to 31 at the Sugathadasa Stadium.  

The Sri Lanka Women’s Volleyball Team was led by the experienced Renuka Abeygunawardene Yapa and Rohini Chandrika was her deputy.  

The Sri Lanka Women’s Volleyball Team was coached by K. A. K. Wijapala and I. Wijesinghe was the Assistant Coach with both having passed away some time back.  

The Manager of the Sri Lanka Women’s Volleyball Team was ASP Waidyathilaka.  

However, the current Administration of the Sports Ministry, and the Sri Lanka Volleyball officials have neglected their duties in at least recognising this historic achievement of the Sri Lanka Women’s Volleyball Team.  
In fact, former President of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and the late Minister Ashoka Wadigamangawa had pledged a cash award of Rs. 100,000 for each player and coaches if they win a SAF Gold Medal.  

Three decades have passed away but that promise remains still a dream as the officials have failed to perform their duties properly.“We don’t need any material or financial reward but at least if they could celebrate that moment with a cup of tea that will be enough for us,” some of those players lamented.