Sri Lanka women clinch CISM beach volleyball silver medal

Women’s medal ceremony: gold medalist France (centre), silver medallist Sri Lanka (right), and bronze medalist Sri Lanka

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka’s No. 1 beach volleyball players, Deepika Bandara and Kushani Tharaka, won the women’s silver medal for the first time in history in the 4th CISM World Military Beach Volleyball Championship on Friday (17). Sri Lanka’s No. 2 team also won the bronze medal in the event.

This tournament was conducted by the International Military Sports Council (CISM) from February 13–17 at Negombo Beach Park with the participation of 16 men’s and nine 
women’s teams.

In the women’s final, Sri Lanka lost 2-0 (21-9, 21-14) to the formidable French pair of Aline Chamerean and Clemence Vieira.

France and Germany competed in the men’s finals, with French pair Oliver Barthelemy and Samuel Cattet winning the gold medal and the match 3-1 (21-19, 17-21, 15-10).
France managed to win both the men’s and women’s World Military Beach Volleyball gold medals.