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| Monday, 25 October 2004 |
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Lewke - 11th hour entry into rugby squad by Dinesh Weerawansa Third row forward Dushan Lewke has passed a late fitness test to make an eleventh hour entry into the Sri Lanka squad for the Rugby Asiad in Hong Kong starting on Wednesday. The 23-member Sri Lanka squad, which is due to leave today, was finalised over the weekend after the final practice session. Chairman of the national selection committee, Dr. Maiya Gunasekera said Lewke, son of former Sri Lanka coach and STF Commandant, DIG Nimal Lewke, had overcome his hamstring injury and was declared fit to make the tour. However, Sri Lanka will miss the services of experienced winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe due to a hamstring injury. Dr. Gunasekera said the absence of Jayasighe is a big loss for the three quarter line but expressed confidence in the team which has been training hard over the past few weeks. A former CR & FC, Royal and Sri Lanka player, Dr. Gunasekera said the stronghold in the Sri Lanka side is their pack. "They are strong and capable of giving a good fight to any team in their group," he said. He said the team is a blend of experience and youth and should do well. "We should do well at the Asiad. Of course we should be able to make it against Pakistan. But what matters is the next game against either China or Malaysia. Considering the strength of our team, Sri Lanka should be able to win the bowl title," Dr Gunasekara said on a confident note. He said the lads had trained hard and made good progress under their contracted foreign coach George Simpkin. He said about two to three players have been groomed as stand byes for one position and that is an important aspect for the team to survive in the big league. Sri Lanka coach Simpkin expressed confidence in the team and said they should be able to make their presence felt. "They should do very well if they play to the best of their abilities," Simpkin said on the eve of the team's departure to the former British colony. Skipper Basnayake will pair off with Senaka Bandara in the second row with Anuradha Walpola as the hooker. Adding strength to the third row is flanker Pavithra Fernando, son of National Olympic Committee President Hemasiri Fernando. Former Royal and CR fly Asanga Rodrigo should be able to feed his line more often if the forwards make use of their experience to win good ball. Though they miss the services of Jayasinghe, the Lankan line still looks good with centre Rajith Jayasundara and winger Radhika Hettiarachchi adding more speed and power with their penetrative moves. Sri Lanka has been drawn in the bowl category for the tournament. They will scrum down with minnows Pakistan in the first game on Wednesday. Sri Lanka will play their crucial and title deciding game on Saturday, against the winners of Wednesday's league match between China and Malaysia. Asian rugby giants Japan and Korea will join Taiwan and the hosts Hong Kong to form the main cup group. Drawn in the plate category are Singapore, Kazakhstan, Arabian Gulf and Thailand while the rest of the Asian minnows will form the bowl group. Secretary of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union, Iswarn Omar said they had found a sponsor to finance the team. He thanked the Chairman of Hoodvian Group of Companies, Moty Cafry for coming forward to sponsor the national team for the Asiad. Sri Lanka tour squad: Prop forwards: Dilan Ekanayake, Saranath Hettiararchchi, Shamly Mohammed, Asanga Gomes. Hooker Anuradha Walpola Second row forwards: Pradeep Basnayake (captain), Senaka Bandara. Third row forwards: Pavithra Fernando, Buddhika Thalagampola, Rajeev Ganapathy, Sumedha Malewana, Dushan Lewke. Scrum halves: Ajmad Bucks, Zulki Hameed. Fly halves: Asanga Rodrigo, Mohammed Fazil. Centre three quarters: Pradeep Liyanage, Rajitha Jayasundara, Chamara Vithanage, Mohammed Salidin. Wing three quarters: Radhika Hettiarachchi, Wasim Thajudeen. Full back: Ajith Silva. Officials: George Simpkin (coach), Trevor Nugawela (manager). |
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