By Hishan Welmilla
Sri Lankan netball coach Thilaka Jinadasa is optimistic that Sri Lanka could repeat their winning performance which they dis under her supervision 9 years ago at the Asian Netball Championship which will be worked off at the OCBC Arena at the Singapore Sports Hub from September 3-9.
Thilaka Jinadasa — a former Sri Lanka double international lead successful campaign at the 2009 edition as the coach and Sri Lanka last won the Asian title back in 2009 when they defeated Singapore but since they have struggled to clear the last hurdle, becoming the losing finalists in the last three editions.
Sri Lanka seniors managed to enter the Asian Netball Championship thrice, but failed against Singapore twice and Malaysia, the last occasion in 2016. But Sri Lanka holds the honour of winning the Asian title 4 times, followed by Singapore thrice, Malaysia twice and Hong Kong once.
Sri Lankan team took wings on Wednesday (29).
Sri Lankan team were in 07 months training programme and also got some international exposure by playing against Malawi queens leading to the Asian Championships.
“ I have very much faith in my team and hope we could do the same performance as in 2009 and bring the cup home. We have a strong team with a mix of new and senior players ” Thilaka Jinadasa said .
So heartbroken and depressed was Thilaka Jinadasa, having had to step down soon after clinching the Asian Netball title in 2009, that she ended up in Brunei, where Netball was a new sport. She then spent 9 years nurturing and guiding the Brunei Netballers to become a winning outfit, while in contrast, Sri Lanka Netball declined gradually.
The 12-member Sri Lanka team is captained by Chathurangani Jayasuriya and this is the first time she takes the control of Sri Lanka Team.
Chathurangi will have the services of an experienced campaigner Darshika Abeywickrema who will ve the vice-captain of the team will deputized.
Sri Lanka will not have any obstacles in the first round as they will meet Chinese Taipei and India as their first round opponents. Two top teams in each four groups will walk to the second round and that will be crucial as they may meet the defending champions Malaysia and Singapore depending on the standing they finished in the first round. Then the best four teams will proceed to the semi-finals
Sri Lanka will meet Chinese Taipei in their opening match on September 1 while their next match will be against India on September 2. Sri Lanka compete in group B.
Defending champions Malaysia, Japan and Maldives compete in Group ‘A’ while Group ‘B’ includes Singapore, Brunei and Pakistan.
Hong Kong, Thailand and Philippine will battle it out in Group ‘C’.
Sri Lanka Team: Chathurangi Jayasuriya (Captain), Dharshika Abeywickrema (Vice captain), Gayani Dissanayake, Tharjani Sivalingam, Sureka Kumari, Thilini Waththegedara, Gayanjali Amarawansha, Nawchali Rajapaksha, Dulangi Wannithilaka, Dulanga Dhananji, Hasitha Mendis, Eliyanthini Sethukawalan.
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