Disabled VB team to Beijing felicitated

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

PG Garments, Seethawaka recently felicitated the National Girls disabled volleyball team which will participate in the first Asian Sitting Volleyball Championship from November 17 to 25 in Beijing, China. The ceremony was held in the Seethawaka factory where a member of the team Thisara Jayasinghe is employed.

The 12 member team was selected a month ago included three rehabilitated war victim former LTTE women soldiers who will represent the country in Sri Lanka’s first ever international tournament of this sport. With the assistance in the Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, the team was given all the necessary facilities during the pool practices while lodging was provided at the Sports Ministry.

Speaking at the occasion the Lady Chairperson of the team J. A. Shamali Renuka Jayasuriya said that it was really hard to bring these girls together in the beginning as the sport is new to our country. “We started with only eight players and later found these Tamil girls. After Sri Lanka National Volleyball Federation For Disabled (SLNVFD) conducted a coaching camp for players with the support of two Malaysian coaches, we experienced good progress.

The exhibition match played in Kilinochchi with the aim to introduce the game to North has been a great experience for the players,” Shamali revealed. The girls team is training under head coach Jayasiri Perera and trainer J. R. Krishaniya.

PG Garments’ General Manager Serge Watte said that they are proud to support this sport as they believe disability should never be a barrier to appreciate true talents which is the very reason for them to recruit Thisara.

The company’s Senior Production Manager W. D. Lakshman said that Thisara is an efficient employer who has been an inspiration for many in the factory. “She is an asset to the garment and we wish her and the team all the very best to make our country proud in the Asian Championship,’ Lakshman concluded.

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, Nandani Mangalika, Lady Chairperson – J. A. Shamali Renuka Jayasuriya, Coach – Jayasiri Perera, Trainer- J. R. Krishaniya.