Beach Volleyballers for Asian C'ship

Bernard PERERA

Four Beach Volleyballers will leave the island on August 12 for Lipunshua, China to compete in the forthcoming Asian Beach Volleyball Championships. The team will be led by Wasantha Ratnapala from Sri Lanka Navy. They will be accompanied by M. P. S. Alahakoon the manager and Prasanna Udaya Kumara the coach.

Pubudu Ekanayake	Wasantha Ratnapala	Mahesh Perera
M. P. S. Alahakoon	Prasanna Udaya Kumara	Asanka Pradeep

In the previous championship Sri Lanka was led Dhammika Silva of Sri Lanka Air Force. Under his captaincy the Lankans recorded good victories and reached the fourth position in the rankings.

Three of the players who played under him Wasantha Ratnapala, Mahesh Perera and Pubudu Ekanayake will be in the tour party with the new comer Asanka Pradeep. With three experienced players doing the services for the Lankan team they are capable of maintaining their position for a further period while the chances are also there for them to reach a top position during this championship.

Pubudu Ekanayake was the partner for Dhammika in the past and with the new comer Asanka Pradeep joining him in the absence of Dhammika Pubudu with have carry a heavy work load.

Meanwhile the other pair consisting of Mahesh Perera and Wasantha Ratnapala who had played together for a long period they are capable of maintaining their form during the tourney. Also this combination being a young pair they could give a tough challenge to their opponents.

Prasanna Udaya Kumara the coach speaking said though Dhammika is out of the tour due to injury the foursome is in fine fettle and expect a top class performance. This he said as all these players have kept themselves in topping conditions throughout this season. Asanka Pradeep is a fine player who is capable of performing to the standard of absentee and former skipper Dhammika Silva. Coach is highly satisfied with the players fitness and hopes to have good tournament which could bring honour to the country.