Three Volleyball finals scheduled for today

Bernard PERERA

The DSI Super Sports Volleyball Championship which has set anew record for the highest participation for a single sport has reached its final stage with the finals scheduled for today and tomorrow. The tournament attracted 4724 Boys and Girls teams from all parts of the country in the age groups of under 12,14, 16 and 18.

The preliminary round was conducted at District level and the Provincial level before the national level commenced three weeks ago. All winners and runners up in these two segments qualified to play in the 11th DSI Super Sports National Volleyball Championships for 2009.

The highlight this year was the increase in the number of participating teams from the North and East and the organizers Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and the Schools Volleyball Association had the opportunity in conducting the matches in the liberated North and East.

Last year too few teams from East were seen in action in this most looked forward tourney which also helped the National Sport in its development.

Today three finals are scheduled to be played at the Sugathadasa stadium under 14 girls final at 12.30p.m., the Boys final at 1.30p.m. and the third final for the day will be at 2.30p.m. The finals today will see all outstation teams in battle.

For the first time an under 14 team from Seenigama in the Southern Province Wimalabuddhi MMV coached by Thushara Kumara confront Senanayake MMV from Madampe. In this game the Boys from Madampe come out as favorites to win the game.

They are coached by Charles Tillekeratne who has produced many National players. The under 14 Girls final is between two schools that has been in the sport for a long period of time and also figured many finals in different tournaments held here in the past.

As such both teams are experienced and a good game of spiking is expected from these two teams.

The Boys Under 16 final scheduled as the last game for the will be contsted by a Kurunegala District school and a school from the Puttalam District.

These two Districts have been in the fore front in this sport by winning practically almost all major tounament in the past few years.

This achievement by the seniors has rompted the youngsters to take to the sport seriously and produced good results for both districts.

The game in particular will see top class spiking from both teams. Aprediction can naot be made for this in advance.