Lankan women spikers shine in Thailand

Bernard Perera in Thailand

VOLLeYBALL: Sri Lankan women Spikers turned a new page in the history books of Volleyball when they defeated Iran to record their third victory yesterday to become the first ever Sri Lankan women’s team to win three games at an international Championship. The Match was played at ‘The Mall’ Court in Nakonratchasima, Thailand.

Their victory yesterday proved that they have improved a lot during the past few months. With few youth players being induced to the side the team has encouraged a lot.

“This will definitely help improve Volleyball in Sri Lanka” said the coach Jayatissa.

Sri Lankan women have never won more than one game outside their home soil in the past and this achievement is a great one said the coach.

“I am happy with performances of the spikers, they fought hard to bring this glory at this championship, they failed at the start of the championship as some of the top players caught with illness and they could not get acclimatized to food here in Bangkok” added the coach.

Iran were the favorites at the start of yesterday’s game when considered their performances during the championship. As expected they stuck to their task and got off to a grip, collecting eight points to Sri Lankans’ two. Iranians held onto this strong position for a long spell until they reached 18 points with the Lankans having only 11.

From this point onwards Lankan women collected point after point to get closer to their rivals and came onto equal terms at 23 all in a thrilling affair and completed the set at 25- 23 to go ahead of the Iranians 1-0.

The second set began once again with Iran taking full control of it and to have a 7-3 lead in the early stage of this set. Lankans in this had a set back and could not get positioned themselves to counter the onslaught to halt the fast scoring Iranian women. The Lankans could muster only 18 points to Iran’s 25 which also leveled the game, one all.

Lankan spikers entered the third set with determination but the Iranians got ahead 3-2. Iran kept on adding points freely until they took a five-point lead to be placed at 15-10. At this juncture the Lankan Spikers got their act together to halt their opponents attack and took control within few minutes adding five consecutive points to take a firm grip of the set.

The Iranians set a good defense to stop the Lankans march towards a win, but they could not maintain the consistency they showed in the earlier set and went down fighting to lose the set 25-21.

Lankan women came for the fourth set with many intentions and got off to a flying start to gain a seven-point lead 9-2. Iranians made gallant effort to get closer to Lankan but never were able to get near their rivals.

Iran used all their physical advantage and all their tactics but failed to penetrate the defense of the wall set by the Lankan women and lost set at 25-13 giving the Lankans the third victory in the Championship.

Rankings are to be made after the final games scheduled for tomorrow. Sri Lanka is expected to be ranked ninth or tenth in the Asian region which is a top class achievement for the Lankan Volleyball.