First ever Youth Beach Volleyball C’ships

Bernard Perera

For the first time in the history of Beach Volleyball, the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation along with Sri Lanka Beach Volleyball has made arrangements to conduct the Youth National Beach Volleyball Championships for boys and girls.

The Championship is to be held on the Mount Lavinia Hotel Beach premises on April 5 and 6. The event is sponsored by Mount Lavinia Hotel.

These details were disclosed to the media by President of Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation Dilan Perera yesterday addressing them at the Hotel’s Conference room. Perera pointing out the necessity to have a youth squad for Beach Volleyball said that the Federation has sought the assistance of the Education Ministry too.

This he said as most of the players who are eligible to play in the youth category include the students. As most schools have taken a keen interest for Volleyball the Federation decided to introduce this age category which will be of vital importance for the development of the sport.

Sri Lanka in the recent past has reached the seventh slot in the Asian Region. We the Federation is of the view that we are in a position to improve further. With this in mind and to have replacements for the senior team it has become necessary to conduct this tournament to new talent.

Specially Sri Lanka is to compete at the forthcoming Asian Youth game to be held in Singapore. As this is the first opportunity for Asian Youth to compete in this sport we have to make a good start. This tournament will give the youth a chance to prove their abilities and to enter the squad in preparation for the games.

The selected player will undergo residential training from April 7 to 23 at Senanayake MV, Madampe. They will be under the guidance of well trained coaches who have undergone training with foreigners.

Students who are born between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 1993 are eligible to send in their entries through their school authorities. Entries are now accepted and should be sent to Nihal Fernando, Deputy Director Education Sports, Isurupaya, Battaramulla.

President further added that already 38 school teams have sent in their entries, and more schools are making inquiries with the intention of participating. At present even the Colombo schools too have taken a keen interest for volleyball and this attractive Beach Volleyball should interest the youngsters in a big way. The doors are open even for International Schools to send in their entries, said the President.

He also said that Mount Lavinia Hotel has come into sponsor the sport though they are undergoing many hardships due to the present economic crisis. They have already taken charge of the National Pool expected to participate at the Asian Beach Volleyball Championships in Thailand next month.