Lankan spikers leave for 14th Asian c’ship

Bernard PERERA in Indonesia

VOLLEYBALL: The Sri Lanka National men’s volleyball team will leave the island today to compete at the 14th Asian volleyball championship to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The twelve member team is led by experienced Nalin Sampath who took over the reigns from Kalika Wasanthapriya who retired from the game after a period of two decades.

N.D. Gunasena is the overall manager for the tour, the other officials on town will be Sarath de Silva (Head coach) Lalith Premalal, (Asst coach) Kalika Wasanthapriya (trainer) and P. Abeysinghe referee.

This year a total of 17 countries have entered the fray. The teams have been grouped into four groups A,B,C, and D. The groupings were made according to the geographical situation of the participating countries.

Sri Lanka which comes under central zone along with Pakistan, Maldives and Kazakstan have been allocated positions in four groups to compete along with other nations in other asian zones Australia represents the oceania while Taipai and Vietnam represent east zone and South east zones respectively.

According to rankings Japan is in top position followed by China. Other ranked teams competing are South Korea (3) India (4) Thailand (5) Iran (6) and Quatar.

Sri Lanka occupies the ninth position in the present rankings. They hope to make every attempt to more forward with this tournament results.

Lankans are grouped in group C along with China ranked No.2, fifth ranked Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Sri Lanka play their opening game at the Istora stadium against Thailand on August 31 under lights meanwhile Saudi Arabia takes on Thailand the following day at the same venue.

Lankans confront Saudi Arabia on September 2 in their second game of group C.

On the opening day the other two matches scheduled to be played are Iran Vs Vietnam and Qatar Vs. Taipei at the same venue. Istora stadium will host the matches of group A,B, and C while the group D Matches are to be conducted at Tennis Indoor stadium also in the Jakarta.

The four groups consist of the

following countries:

Group A: Indonesia,

Qatar, Maldives and Taipei.

Group B: Japan, Iran,

Pakistan and Vietnam.

Group C: China, Thailand,

Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia.

Group D: Korea, India,

Kazakstan, Kuwait and Australia.

The tour party: Nalin Sampath (Captain) Morris Chaminda, Dimuthu Upashantha, M.A. Kodagoda, Pradeep Fernando, S.A. Jamith Sarath, Shamil Malinda, Charaka Abeykoon, Melan Jayawardene, Chaminda Kumara, Udaya Rukmal, Lasantha Abeyratne.

Officials: N.D. Gunesena, Chef De Mission, Sarath de Silva, Head coach, Lalith Premalal, Asst Coach, Kalika Wasanthapriya, Trainer, P. Abeysinghe referee.