The 8th Asian Championships:

Sri Lanka netball team's defeat to be probed

Yasaratne GAMAGE

A five member committee to probe and review Sri Lanka's defeat in the final in the recently concluded 8th Asian Netball Championships has been appointed by the Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage , sports ministry media sources revealed.

Sri Lanka who had been undefeated and showed tremendous netball skills in the preliminary round and in the semi finals, lost to Singapore in the finals by 47-48 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. The game was seen as could have won battle for Sri Lanka by many critics and veterans in the field considering the technical aspects and also the players nominations in the final.

The committee consists of a referee in the relevant tournament, Lakmini Samarasinghe, former national player Lakshmi Victoriya, Coach in the Kreeda Shakthi Programme Thamara Liyanage, Project Officer of the Sports Development Department Lakshman Kularatne and Deputy Director of Sports Sajith Jayala.

They are to find out and finalize a report within two weeks on the playing style of the national netball team in the finals and the reasons for the hosts defeat.

Many had hopes of Sri Lanka winning the crown not merely for the support to the home team but the talents of the team evident during the other matches.

Some players who played up to their best skills were not included in the final which came into discussion among many.

In the pre match conference on the eve of the final Sri Lanka coach Hyacinth Wijesinghe assured of her team victory which was proved on the next day to be just a speculation.