Navy women win CHA invitation hockey c’ships

S M Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Correspondent

Unbeaten Sri Lanka Navy Women team won the Colombo Hockey Association Invitation Hockey Championship in title in style when they inflicting crushing 10-0 defeat on Combined Ladies Hockey Team in the final match of league played at Malay Grounds. At half time the Navy women stickers had an unassailable lead of 6-0 and virtually wrapped up the championship title.

Centre forward Chathurika Wijesuriya who has made a great impact on the local hockey arena once again stamped her class by scoring five goals which included a hat-trick. This was her fourth hat-trick in this tournament which is a local record and also a rare feat in the world.

Scoring four goals in a tournament may be a pride for any hockey player but performing four hat-tricks in a top tournament where the best participated could take anyone to the Himalayan heights and may be hard to break.

Apart from the five goals scored by Chathurika Wijesuriya, the other goals were scored by right extreme Sandhya Dayananda (2), right inside Buddhika Gunaratne (1), left inside Madhushani Jayanetti (1), left extreme. Manisha Dissanayake (1). Mohamed Naushad and N. Sathiskumar umpired.

The navy womens team was captained by former Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy. Sticker Jeewanthi Keerthiratne and coached by Sri Lanka Junior National Coach M. A. M. Ashroff a product of St. Sylvesters College, Kandy.

The Navy team domination this particular tournament to such an extent they scored 46 goals against two by their opponents to remain unbeaten.