National VB C’ship for President’s Gold Cup

Bernard PERERA

The national volleyball championship for President’s Gold Cup sponsored by Dialog Telekom and conducted by Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation gets underway on Monday at National Youth Services Centre Indoor Courts.

Thirty two men’s and thirty one women’s teams have qualified to compete this year after the conclusion of the Zonal and Provincial competitions were concluded. These teams represent eight provinces.

The mens and womens teams are grouped in to A & B groups with each group consisting of 16 teams. The mens teams play the group A matches in Aug 11, while the B group play their games on the following day.

The women start their competition on Aug 14 and continue till Aug 16. Last year’s winners of the mens category Seeduwa Siriduwa Sports Club and the runners-up Vijaya Sports Club Koswadiya both compete in Group ‘B’. Navodya Sports Club Bopitiya the winners of last year have failed to reach the National level championship this year while Golden Birds Sports Club from Radawana the runners-up have however made their way to the final stage of the tournament.

The tournament attracted 732 mens and 392 womens teams from all parts of the island except the Northern Province. The winners and runners up in both categories will carry away the President’s Gold Cup and big cash awards. Meanwhile there will be special awards.

Teams (men): Group ‘A’ - Siyanetharu SC, Gampaha, Madura SC, Madakumbura, Sagara SC, Bentota, Dharmapala SC, Eheliyagoda, Mihidupura SC, Trincomalee, New Six SC, Badalkumbura, Sinha SC, Medawachchiya, Siri Perakum SC, Bingiriya, Rantharu SC, Debegama, Pelwatte SC, Moneragala, Aruna SC, Thalahagamwaduwa United SC, Nattandiya, Sri Naga SC, Naula, Rashmi SC, Ampara, Eksath Tharuna Handa SC Medawachchiya, Lucky Six SC, Pothupitiya.

Group ‘B’ - Thotagamuwa SC, Ran Samanal SC Kantale, Dimuthu SC, Warakapola, New Akbar Seven SC, Kalpitiya. Siriduwa SC Seeduwa, Supershine SC, Kaikawala, Sarasavi SC, Eppawala, BCC SC, Bandarawela, Ekamuthu SC, Udathawinna, Sinha SC, Thanamalwila, Balarase SC, Boralesgamuwa, Dilena Tharu SC, Ampara, Pragathi Eksath SC, Polonnaruwa, Black Horse SC, Balangoda Suhada SC, Pasgoda, Vijaya SC, Koswadiya.

Group A women - Suhada SC, Pannala, Rushmi SC, Ampara, St. Mathew SC, Deniyaya, Sri Sumangala SC, Himbuttugollewa, Nawa Udara SC, Ella, Weerakeppetipola SC, Matale, Central SC, Eheliyagoda, Ekabadda SC, Mirigama, Weerasinghe SC Thunkama, Pagal SC, Aluthwala, Vijaya SC, Koswadiya, Golden Birds SC, Radawana, Dileum SC, Peraketiya, Young Paradise SC, Kandy, Palugasdamana SC, Mihindupura SC, Trincomalee.

Group B - Sinha SC, Bingirya, Pubudu SC, Badulla, Rantharu SC, Mudduwa, Lakmal SC, Ampara, Central SC, Anuradhpuara, Niwaigamuwa SC, young speed SC, Hangamuwa, Kapala SC, Siyebalagoda, Rantharu SC, Trincomalee, Weeraparakrama SC, Yatawatte, Thotagamuwa SC, United SC, Nattandiya, Maya SC, Kegalle, Kreeda Shakthi SC, Siyambalanduwa, Jayasinghe SC, Yoda-Ela