National Volleyball finals today

Bernard PERERA

Sri Lanka Army

Sri Lanka Air Force

The finals of the Munchee National Volleyball Championships will be conducted on Saturday at the Sugathadasa Indoor stadium from 1.00 p.m. In the men's division Sri Lanka Air Force will confront Sri Lanka Army while in the women's section it be a battle between Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Youth Services Casualline teams.

The Championship was organized and conducted by Sri Lanka Volleball Federation, which was in two segments Division I and II respectively. The Division II comprised 4317 teams while the Super league tourney saw the participation of 21 teams.

Division II finals were completed on February 28 at the Davisamara MV courts under lights. Sri Lanka Air Force won the Championship defeating Sri Lanka Army while in the Women section it was Casual Line SC from Mawathagama who beat Sri Lanka Army to go away with the coveted Championship.

The women Spikers from Railway were the second runners-up in division II with Sri Lanka Ports Authority men were placed third in this category.

Sri Lanka Air Force with many national players in the team has a slight advantage in the final against Sri Lanka Army. The Army too is packed with a set of Spikers capable of giving the Airmen a tough time in this final. According to form both teams are well set for the final an a keen tussle is on the card. This is sure to give the onlookers a chance to witness a superb game of volleyball as last years Champs Army will try to retain the trophy while Air Force will try to regain the same what they could not achieve in the final last year. With the teams evenly balanced and hope to make every effort to go away with the coveted Munchee Trophy.

The women's final too is expected to be a keenly contested one as these two teams comprise Sri Lanka's leading spikers and who have gained lot of experience through foreign tours representing the country at various levels. Sri Lanka Air Force has a slight advantage in this game as most of them are with experience and is sure to go flat out to beat their arch rivals Soldiers in this final.

Air women come out for the final with a high morale as their men have already bagged the championship in the division II and they hope to make it double this time.

On the other side Women Soldiers will make an effort to take revenge as their teams in the division II have failed in both men and women finals played earlier. So the women soldiers have to put everything they have in store to have a go in this final and carry the Munchee Trophy.

The winner in this final will take a purse worth Rs. 100,000 in addition to the Munchee Trophy. The two runners-up teams too will receive cash awards Rs. 75,000 and 50,000 respectively along with trophies and certificates.

Special Invitees for the women's final will be Deputy General Manager Ceylon Biscuits Limited, Theja Peiris, Chairman Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama and Chairman National Youth Services Council, Bashwara Senaka Guneratne, while for the men's final chief guest will be Ports Development Minister and President of Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation Dilan Perera and the guests of honour are Managing Director Ceylon Biscuits Limited Lakshman Silva and Co-operate Director Sales Ceylon Biscuits Limited, Nandana Wickramage.

Sri Lanka Ports Authority

NYSC Casual Line SC

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[The teams]

Women

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (from) B.K. Anusha Deepani, A.C.P. Akarawita, K.A.R. Pushpamalee, N.P.P. Chandrakumara, M.C. Damayanthi, K.A.T. Niranjali Gunewardene, S.AO.H. Senanayake, Y.R.M.P.S. Tillekeratene, L.S.A.K. Deraniyagala, W.W. Sujeeva, M.A. Prashani Chamarika, E.D. Wasana Madumalee, Kalika Wasanthapriya (coach)

NYSC Casual Line SC (from) L.R. Kanchana Dilhani, V.G. Shashikala, P.P.S.L. Somaratne, A.H.T.T. Madushika Ratnasiri, P.B. Nimasha Nilanthi, J.A. Kanchana Jinadari, R.M.A.G.C. Gayani Ranasinghe, K.V.T. Panchali Vithanage, S.M.A.N.S. Subasinghe, P.W. Harshani Isanka, A.N.P. Sajeevani, M.A.S.L. Fernando, Ajantha Dahanayke (coach).

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Men

Sri Lanka Air Force (from) D.J.S. Senadheera, N.S. Abeysinghe, M.L.A.P. Kumara, J.A.D.N.R. Jayakody, M.E. Kodagoda, Y.H.S.M. Yapa, M.S. Chandranath, A.M.T.C. Abeykoon, M.M.M. Rizni, M.S.M. Kumara, N.G.P. Neththasinghe, M.E.L. Pradeep, Channa Jayasekera (coach).

Sri Lanka Army (from) R.M. Shantha, K.M.K. Sunil, M.L. Abeyratne, R.H.A.N.C. Ranasinghe, R.M.P. Rajapaksa, K.K. Nishantha, D.M.C.D. Dissanayake, P.K.R. Senaratne, H.A.S. Dayaratne, K.D.K. Gayan, M.N.C. Perera, W.P.M. Tissera, Lalith Premalal (coach).

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