Women Sailors win hockey 7s title on debut
S. M. JIFFRY ABDEEN Kandy Sports Corr.
Sri Lanka Navy women’s ‘A’ team put up a stupendous performance to
defeat the defending champions Seetha Devi Sports Club, Kandy 2-1 to
become champions at Bank of Ceylon Super Sevens women’s hockey
tournament organised by Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya which was worked
off at the Asgiriya stadium in Kandy over the weekend. At half time
there was no scoring.
This was the first time that Sri Lanka Navy had fielded a women’s
team at hockey and they created a record for themselves by winning an
all island championship title in their first appearance.
This was possible following the recruitment of hockey players from
Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy.
In fact the entire cup winning team was made up of former players
from Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya, most of them were national players.
The finals started off on a bristling with both teams with some super
stick work striving hard to draw first blood. But the defences of both
teams held and no penetration of the defence was possible.
After a blank first half Navy ‘A’ kept the scoreboard moving when
centre forward Chathurika Wijesuriya scooped the ball to centre half
Maneesha Dissanayke who sounded the board.
But a minute later Seetha Devi Sports Club equalised through centre
forward and Sri Lanka captain Shyama Kumari Ranasinghe setting the stage
for a grand finish.
With a minute to go for the final whistle, Chathura Wijesuriya who
had a fine game obtained the decider through a scorching drive.
Anuruddha Herath Bandara and Indika Jayawardena umpired.
Plate championship
Colts Sports Club was the Plate Champion by defeating Yasodara Sports
Club 1-0. Centre forward Dinesha Perera scored for Colts SC.
Bowl championship
This final turned out to be a battle of the Universities when Colombo
University had no difficulty in overcoming their counter parts from
Peradeniya to clinch the Bowl championship.
Shield championship
Navy won their second title in this tournament when their ‘B’ team
defeated University of Moratuwa 2-0 to lift the shield title.
All in all it was a brilliant performance by the women sailors to
walk off with two titles in their debut at competitive hockey. |
