Sri Lankan disabled VB teams for Asian tourney
Anuradha Abeysekera
Sri Lankan men's and women's disabled volleyball teams will
participate in the Asian Sitting Volleyball Championship which is to be
worked off from November 16 to 25 in Beijing, China. It was revealed
during a press conference headed by the Sports Minister Mahindananda
Aluthgamage at the National Olympic House recently. Future plans of the
Sri Lanka National Volleyball Federation For Disabled (SLNVFD) discussed
with the Minister and reviewed the impressive progress Sri Lanka has
gained in the sport in recent past.
After winning the bronze medal in the World Standing Championship
held in Cambodia last month, Sri Lanka has emerged prominently in the
world disabled volleyball scene. Defeating long time champions strong
German team during the World Championship was a milestone in the local
disabled volleyball.
Explaining the SLNVFD programmes, its Secretary Karunarathna
Wickremasinghe said that the local players have participated in the
training programme conducted for the South Asian players in India last
September and plans are already made to conduct a training camp for
disabled volleyball coaches from November 4 to 16 in Colombo with the
participation of the World Champion German team's coach Athanasios
Papageorgion as the main instructor. Karunarathna also revealed that the
SLNVFD will host the National Sitting Disabled Volleyball Championship
on December 17 -18 and the National Standing Championship in January.
Both men and women national pool players are working hard to give
their best and make the country proud in November's Asian Championship.
The women's pool training under the head coach Jayasiri Perera and
trainer J. R. Krishaniya included three former war victim LTTE women
soldiers who will represent Sri Lanka after being rehabilitated.
Mallarvilee Paramalingam (20 years), A.S. Mary Aneeta (24 years) and
Navendran Nawalogini (27 years) are very happy to have the privilege to
represent Sri Lanka.
Speaking to the media, Mary Aneeta and Nawalogini said that they were
taken away from their parents by the LTTE and forced them to fight when
they were nine years old. These three girls were kidnapped by the LTTE
while they were on their way to attend their school, Kokavil Mixed
School.
"We were afraid to come to Colombo for practices at first, but all
our fears withered away as we have been treated nicely by the Sinhala
people.
We have thrown away the weapons and experiencing a peaceful life.
Please do not let this peace to be seized from our country," said
Mallarvilee.
Sri Lankan men's squad: D.S.D de Soysa, N.S.N. Nishantha, A.S.M.C.K.
Arthanayake, W.A.A.Udaya Pushpakumara, R.G.D.P.K. Wijerathna, S.D.
Wijitha, E.M.A.W.B. Edirisinghe, P.M.S. Thennakoon, J. Kumarathunga, G.J.
Chaminda Kumara, R.M.A. Senanayaka, N. S. Nandasena, S. R. Ruwan Kumara,
W. G. Ajith, H.M.S. Bandara, Coach - Sumith Priyantha Perera, Trainer -
Susiri Mangala.
Sri Lankan women's squad: J. A. Thisara Jayasinghe, M. Kanchana
Pradeepa de Silva, K. D. Dhananjani Randika, M. T. Kumari Mahagedara,
R.G. Kanthi, K. R. Pushpakumari, H. A. Wasanthi Sarojani, Mallarvilee
Paramalingam, A.S. Mary Aneeta, Navendran Nawalogini, D. M. Sriyani
Dissanayaka, Lady Chaperon - J. A. Shamali Renuka Jayasuriya, Coach -
Jayasiri Perera, Trainer - J. R. Krishaniya. |