Men’s champions Golden Bird SC and Women’s champions MAS SC players with their trophies 

By Susil Premalal

Golden Birds Sports Club, Radawana, and MAS Sports Club, Ampara, won the Men’s and Women’s Championship at the Dialog  President’s Gold Cup Under-25 Volleyball Tournament 2024 finals held at the Air Force Indoor Stadium in Colombo.

The tournament was conducted by the Ministry of Sports as part of the Sri Lanka Sports Fiesta in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation (SLVB).

In the men’s final, Golden Birds SC beat Rajasingha SC, Ruwanwella 25-20, 25-18, and 25-11, while MAS SC beat Hirdaramani SC, Galigamuwa 19-25, 25-22, 25-11, and 25-23 in the women’s final.

Meanwhile, United Sports Club, Nattandia, and Vijayaba Sports Club, Mahawa, won the men’s and women’s third places, respectively.

Dulanjan Sandeepa of Golden Birds SC and Sulakshana Pasinduni of MAS SC were selected as the Most Valuable Players in the Men’s and Women’s Tournament, respectively.

Best performances (Men’s): Best Outside Hitter (1): Dulanjan Sandeepa (Golden Birds SC). Best Outside Hitter (2): Induwara Rathnayake (Rajasingh SC). Best Centre (1): D.R.D. Shehan (Golden Birds SC). Best Centre (2): W.A.A.C. Dias (Golden Birds SC). Best Opposite Player: Praneeth Thinendra (Golden Birds SC). Best Setter: K.G.M. Karunarathna (Golden Birds SC). Best Libero: S.H.A.K. Kumarasinghe (Golden Birds SC). Most Valuable Player: Dulanjan Sandeepa (Golden Birds SC).

Best performances (Women’s): Best Outside Hitter (1): Harshani Senatsthna (Hirdaramani SC). Best Outside Hitter (2): Chathuri Poornima (MAS SC). Best Centre (1): Ruwanya Hadapangoda (Hirdaramani SC). Best Centre (2): Samara Nishadi (MAS SC). Best Opposite Player: Nishadhi Kawya (MAS SC). Best Setter: Thiwanki Madhumali (MAS SC). Best Libero: Nethmi Dhananjani (MAS SC). Most Valuable Player: Sulakshana Pasinduni (MAS SC).

(L to R): A.S. Nalaka - General Secretary, Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation; P.D.S.R. de Silva - Deputy Director General of Sports Development; Channa Amarasekara - Vice President, National Sales, Dialog Axiata PLC; and Kanchana Jayarathna - President, Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and Vice President, National Olympic Committee, presenting the trophy to Men’s champions Golden Birds Sports Club, Radawana

Action from the Men’s final between Golden Birds SC and Rajasingha SC

Action from the Women’s final between MAS SC and Hirdaramani SC

(L to R): A.S. Nalaka - General Secretary, Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation; P.D.S.R. de Silva - Deputy Director General of Sports Development; Channa Amarasekara - Vice President, National Sales, Dialog Axiata PLC; and Kanchana Jayarathna - President, Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and Vice President, National Olympic Committee, presenting the trophy to Women’s champions MAS Sports Club, Ampara