SriLankan Airlines clinch Travel Trade Beach Volleyball title
VOLLEYBALL: The SriLankan Airlines 'A' team put up a
marvellous display of volleyball skills to overcome some stiff
competition and be crowned Champions of the annual Travel Trade Beach
Volleyball Tournament before a huge crowd at the Golden Mile Beach in
Beruwela recently.
SriLankan 'A' overcame every team they faced in the preliminary
round, quarter-final and semi-final before reaching the final where they
defeated a strong Club Palm Garden team 21-12, 21-18. Beach Volleyball
differs from regular volleyball in that each team has only two players,
and matches are played on the beach.
Hundreds of residents of Beruwela and Bentota crowded the beach along
with foreign tourists and staff of hotels in the twin coastal resort
towns to watch the action, despite adverse weather which added to the
excitement.
The tournament saw more than 30 teams in eight groups battling for
the title in the sand on the 25th of November. It was organized by the
Travel Trade Sports Club. Confifi Group was the Principal Sponsor, while
Black Knight and Mobitel were Co-Sponsors.
In the preliminary round SriLankan 'A', comprising S. D.
Karunanaratne and T. L. De Silva, first defeated The Beach 'A' 21-12,
then went on to a closer victory over Club Palm Bay 'B' 21-16, before
receiving a walkover from Hilton Residence 'B' and emerging leaders of
Group E.
In the quarter-final they took on Club Bentota whom they dispatched
in close games by 21-18, and 21-16. They then faced Blue Oceanic in the
semi-final, and defeated them more easily 21-13, 21-12, before taking on
Club Palm Garden in the final.
S. D. Karunaratne of SriLankan 'A' was crowned Most Outstanding
Player of the tournament.
SriLankan Airlines 'B' won two matches in the preliminary round,
beating Hotel Neptune 21-8 and Riverina Hotel 21-7 before going down to
Brown's Beach Hotel in a thrilling 3-setter 12-21, 21-19, 15-6. |