A conflict of opinion has arisen between the coach and the chairperson of the selection committee regarding a player selected by the selection committee when selecting the Sri Lankan team for the 14th Asian Cup Netball Tournament to be held in Hong Kong.
While the Chairperson of the Selection Committee, Padma Beddawala, strongly emphasized that Thumalka Ekanayake, the second tallest player in the Sri Lanka Netball team at 6 feet 2 inches tall, and an 18-year-old from Maliyadeva Girls' College, Kurunegala, is a must-have player for the Sri Lanka Netball team, Sri Lanka Netball Coach, Somita de Alwis, has said that a middle-order player should be given to the team in place of the player
The conflict continued and finally the Netball Selection Committee unanimously decided to include Thumalka Ekanayake, the second tallest player currently in the Sri Lanka Netball team, in the twelve-member squad. The National Selection Committee Chairperson, Ms. Padma Beddawala, has informed the Sri Lanka Netball Executive Committee that the selection committee should not be subjected to undue influence from the national coach.
"In every selection test held since the first selection test, both national coach Thumalka Ekanayake and Teemi Wasanthapriya said no to the team. With the intention of shaping the future of the team, Thumalka, the tallest player in the team after Thisala Algama, was selected. Such a talented child cannot be cut. We have informed the executive committee of the Sri Lanka Netball Federation of this," said the selection committee chairperson.
"I explained this to the coach. Thumalka Ekanayake is a young player. Thumalka is the only school player included in the national team this time. She is a technically advanced and complete player. She is the tallest player needed for the future Sri Lanka netball team. Therefore, our choice was correct," said Ms. Beddawala.
She won the Most Valuable Player award for Maliyadeva Girls' School in the 2024 Milo Cup Netball Championship and was also named the Most Valuable Player (Under 19) in the Eva Cup Netball Championship held last year. She was a regular member of the Sri Lankan team in the 2024 Asian Youth Netball Championship.
Thumalka Ekanayake is a talented badminton player and has also excelled in athletics events such as the long jump, 100m and 100m hurdles. Due to this, she is also recognized as a highly qualified athlete in terms of her physical fitness.
Regarding this, Sri Lanka Netball Coach Somita de Alwis said, “I have now selected the team. I need to create the necessary background to bring victories to Sri Lanka. It is true that I asked for another player to replace Thumalka. I am short of a middle-order player. Thumalka is a talented player. I have no personal issues with anyone. It is my responsibility to ensure that Sri Lanka wins,” the national coach told ‘Dinamina’.
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