Lankan kabaddi team eyeing a medal

Chinthana Wasala - reporting From China

Sri Lanka men’s beach kabaddi team lost to Pakistan 35-21 at the Fengxiang beach in Haiyang last evening but looking for a win in today’s game against Afghanistan on the fourth day of the third Asian Beach Games in China. The powerful Pakistan outfit, silver medalists of the previous Asian Beach Games, looked strong from beginning. Lankans also worked hard to collect points amidst the resistance of tall and strong Pakistanis and cold weather. Pakistan led the first half 21-8 and tough work helped the Lankan men to reduce the gap at the end of the match.

However according to the team sources, the Lankan lads were not disappointed with their effort against their opposition at yesterday’s match.

They will meet Afghanistan this morning with the hope of securing the semi-final birth.

The jubilant Sri Lanka handball team after their victory against Mongolia. Pictures by Prince Gunasekara

The national beach kabaddi team coach Premachandra Jayaweera has admitted that Pakistan was too strong for them. “However we did not play our best game and we decided to save energy for tomorrow’s game which we hope to take very seriously to clear our path, making it trough to semi finals. If we had any injuries, trying hard in the match against Pakistan, we would find Afghans very hard to confront.

Sri Lanka beat Mongolia

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka mens handball team beat Mongolia in penalty shoot-out. The first set ended 14-17 in favour of the Mongolians but Lankans came back strongly with scoring 14 against 8 points to win the second set. That led the game to a penalty shoot-out which ended in Sri Lanka’s favour (7-6).

Thailand woemen were too strong for Sri Lankan women’s beach kabaddi players as they beat the Lankan girls 65-35 without much of an effort. Sri Lanka were 16 in contrast to Thailand’s 35 at the end of the first half. The Thai girls displayed their experience and commitment towards the game from the beginning and they looked relaxed towards the end and finished the game with a huge margin.

Meanwhile one of key players in the Sri Lanka women’s Kabadi team, Kokila Edirisinghe was injured and was rushed to the hospital. She took a blow on her shoulder during the match against Thailand. Team doctor Lal Ekanayake said that it was not a serious injury and she has been properly treated with medications.

Afghanistan won the beach basketball final (16-9) beating Turkmenistan while Mongolia defeated Bangladesh to win the bronze medal.

Haiyang, China