Seylan Bank defends national netball title

Win the crown for fifth consecutive year:

Thushan JAYASURIYA

Seylan Bank defended the national netball crown for the fifth consecutive year when they defeated Hatton National Bank (HNB) 69-62 in the final of the national championship 2011 played at the Sports Ministry grounds yesterday.

The star of the Sri Lankan national netball team during the 2011 Asian Championships, Tharjini Sivalingam of Seylan Bank kept her team’s hopes alive with her superb accuracy with the help of her teammates.

Their rivals, HNB team consisted of six members who played for Sri Lanka. With such a powerful battalion, HNB did not let the Seylan girls to have it easy. But in the end, with Tharjini’s perfect accuracy, Seylan bank clinched the title with a head to head battle in the later part of the game.

On their way to the final, Seylan defeated Sri Lanka Air Force 48-37 while HNB defeated Sri Lanka Police 36-27 to clear the semi-final hurdle.

Sri Lanka Air Force were placed third, after beating Sri Lanka Police 30-19. HNB’s Gayathri Lankathilaka was crowned as the Netball Queen of the tournament while Tharjini Sivalingam won the title for best defensive player.

Jayaliya Kumari was awarded as the best emerging player.

Asha Aluthgamage and Sports Director General Ranjani Jayakody gave away the awards.