by Bernard Perera

The finals of President's Gold Cup volleyball men and women will be played today at National Youth Services Centre Courts commencing 3.30 p.m.

The women's final between Siyane Tharu Sports Club, Gampaha and Tharuna Pela Sports Club, Dambadeniya will be the first game to be played on this day, which will be followed by the men's final between Golden Birds SC, Gampaha and Aruna Sports Club, Hambantota. These details were disclosed by Dilan Perera, President, Volleyball Federation and Deputy Minister for Ports and Aviation and Media at the press briefing held at Sugathadasa Sports Hotel last Thursday.

Speaking further, Perera added that "President's Gold Cup Volleyball Championship, was revived after a lapse of six years. Incidently this also happens to be the first major tournament conducted by the newly elected management committee.

"President's Gold Cup Volleyball Championship which was the most popular tourney for the Sri Lanka's national sport received a lavish sponsorship from Dailog GSM," he said. If not for this sponsorship the new committee could not have conducted this so smoothly up to this stage.

'The tournament was first conducted district level and it proceeded to provincial level before reaching the national stage. The early stage saw over 400 teams compete in both segments," Perera said.

The sponsors so lavish in spending' they distributed trophies and cash awards to winners and runners-up of two early stages of the tourney. This is a tremendous boost for the sport, he said.

Anuradhapura district fielded the highest number of teams for the championships. Central Sports Club from Anuradhapura reached the semi-final and lost to Siyane Tharu Sports Club, Gampaha in straight sets 3-0. Meanwhile the other semi-final saw ousting of Slimtex Sports Club from Kuliyapitiya by Tharuna Pela SC from Dambadeniya, also by the same margin 3-0.

In the men's category it was Golden Birds SC from Gampaha who reached the final first, when they outplayed Christ the King SC from Puttalam 3-0.

The second semi-final between Aruna Sports Club from Hambantota and Lucky Sports Club, Kalutara saw the exit of Kalutara team. Christ the King Sports Club was declared as second runner-up while in the women's section Slimtex SC were placed third.

Winners of both categories are to receive President's Gold Cup and cash awards, winners Rs. 100,000, 40,000 and 25,000 respectively courtesy of Dialog GSM. There will be special awards for high class performers. A top volleyball fare is assured to the spectators who gather in large numbers on this day.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse will be the chief guest at the finals today and will distribute the awards. Other guests on this day will be Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Jeewan Kumaratunge, Deputy Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Sripathi Sooriyarachchi and Chief Executive Officer, MTN Networks Ltd Dr. Hans Wijesuriya.

The organisers have made arrangements with Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation to telecast the matches live on Channel Eye.

Teams for the Women's finals

Siyane Tharu SC, Gampaha: Sasika Samarasinghe, D. D. S. D. K. Dehigaspitiya, K. A. Anusha Deepani, Renuka Pushpamalee, W. Iresa Udyangani, W. D. G. G. Withanage, E. K. Madhuka Nilmini, M. K. Gayathri, R. G. A. S. Rajapakse, M. A. T. Sandaruwani, S. A. D. A. R. Dissanayake. Coach: Wijedasa Samaraweera.

Dambadeniya Tharuna Pela Sports Club: A. M. S. Karunanayake, A. M. Niluka Samanthi Abeysinghe, H. V. Karunaratne, S. M. A. Sagarika Lakmali, S. A. V. Anuradha Samaraweera, S. M. A. N. Sandamalee Subasinghe, W. M. Rangika Jayasinghe, K. A. Yasika Madumali.

Teams for the Men's finals

Golden Birds SC, Gampaha: Saman Chandranath, Dilanga Sampath, Milan Jayathilleke, Niluka Perera, B. A. Roshan Nilanga, Sudesh Prasanna Samarasinghe, Y. A. Danushka, B. Susil Kumara, Udana Dissanayake, Lasantha Dayaratne, Tharaka Edirisinghe, Udesh Madusanka, Jayantha Basnayake (coach).

Aruna Sports Club, Hambantota: K. M. K. Sunil, U. S. Y. Nihal, U. S. Y. Sunanda, T. G. Achinta Udyanga, Chathuranga Ruwan Kulasinghe, M. G. K. Ravindra, M. A. Nilantha Aravinda, T. G. Chamara Prasad, T. G. Ranjith Nishantha, T. G. Sameera Buddhika, D. N. Namal Sandaruwan, M. S. H. Danushka Udayanga, Nishantha Mabarana (coach).