Seetha Devi stickers create history

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Correspondent

Seetha Devi Sports Club, Kandy, created history when it became the first Sri Lankan Ladies hockey team to win a Cup Championship title in foreign climes when it became Cup champions at the 18th International hockey Sixes organized by the Singapore Cricket Club and worked off in Padang, Singapore on March 4 and 5.

In the finals Seetha Devi Sports Club beat Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club 4-3 in a thriller after trailing 3-1 at the breather.

The goal scorers for Seetha Devi Sports Club were centre forward Chathurika Wijesuriya (3) and Buddhika Gunaratne (1).

A total of 32 teams from ten countries namely the hosts Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Germany and Malaysia participated. Representing Sri Lanka in this tournament were Seetha Devi SC Kandy who finished Cup runners up in 2010 and Gymkhana Sports Club who this year finished Bowl runners up.

According to reports Seetha Devi Sports Club women stickers captained by that attacking cntre forward Chathurika made a great impact in this tournament as many teams fell victims to their power play and at one point the other teams were wondering whether it was Sri Lanka national side which was playing as they put up such a great performance.

It the opening match Seetha Devi SC beat International SC Indonesia 5-0 (Chathurika Wijesuriya 2, Buddhika Gunaratne 3).

Beat Valley Babes BC Hong Kong 6-0 (Cchthurika Wijesuriya 3, Buddhika Gunaratne 3).

Beat Western Australian University 2-1 (Chathurika Wijesuriya 1. Buddhika Gunaratne 1).

Drew with Hockey Goodesses HC Germany two all (Chathurika Wijesuriya 1, Buddhika Gunaratne 1).

Beat Monsoonaer HC Japan 7-0. (Buddhika Gunaratne 4. Maneesha Dissanayake 2, Chathurika Wijesuriya 1).

Seetha Devi Sports Club qualified to the Cup segment of the tournament which was played on a knock out basis.

Quarter finals beat Hockey Tragies SC Australia 4-0 (Chathurika Wijesuirya 3, Buddhika Gunaratne 1).

Semi finals beat North Queensland Rubies HC, Australia 2-1 (Chathurika Wijesuirya 1, Buddhika Gunaratne 1).

The champions Seetha Devi Sports Club were all products of Seetha Devi Balika Vidyalaya. Kandy, and now represent Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club and they played as a club team. In fact in the Cup finals they faced the Malaysian Defence Services team which went as Kuala Lumpur Hockey.

According to reports a grueling finals was witnessed half with the Malaysian team leading 3-1 at the breather. But in the second Seetha Devi Sports Club scored two more goals to draw level 3 all.

In order to break this deadlock the organizers decided to implement the tie breaker system of 'Sudden Death" in which the team which scores first emerges winners and the game ends. During the first session of the extra time cnetre forward Chathurika Wijesuriya slammed the winning goal.

Chathurika Wijesuriya was also adjudged the Player of the Tournament' and a Special Award was given to her for scoring the highest number of goals in the tournament.

Seetha Devi SC scored a total number of 32 goals and Chaturika scored 15 of them followed by Buddhika Gunaratne also 15, Maneshan Dissanayake 2.

Seetha Devi SC team comprised Chathurika Wijesuirya (captain), Buddhism Gunaratne, Maneshan Dissanayake, Madura Dharmaratne, Jeewanthika Keerthiratne, Buddhika Dharmaratne, Harshani Kumari, Vajira Rajapakse, Sandhya Dayananda, Pavithra Wickremsinghe (manageress) M.A.M. Ashroff (coach).