In the Volleyball tournament organized by Ariyalai Saraswathy Community Center to celebrate its 98th anniversary of existence, Kodikamam Gajaba Military Regiment team beat Aavarankal Hindu Youth Team and clinched the championship.
The tournament consisted of Northern Province’s seven strong teams which were divided into two groups namely A and B. Group A had four teams and group B had three. Every team played all the opponents within the group and the first two teams from each group table were selected for the semifinals.
Group A:
- Jaffna Puthur Valarmathi Team
- Jaffna Aavarankal Central Team
- Jaffna Aavarankal Hindu Youth Team
- Kodikamam Gajaba military regiment
Group B
- Jaffna Ilavalai Central Team
- Mannar District TEAM
- Kilinochchi District Team
In the Group A, Kodikamam Gajaba military regiment won all the games in which they played and qualified to semifinal as the group toppers. Jaffna Aavarankal Hindu Youth Team finished second after winning two of the three matches. Similarly in group B, Mannar district team won both their matches and finished on top. Following their win against Kilinochchi district team, Ilavalai Central was also qualified for the semifinals.
Group Stage Results
Puthur Valarmathi 1-2 Aavarankaal Central
Gajaba regiment 2-1 Hind Youth
Puthur Valarmathi 0-2 Hindu Youth
Aaavarankal Central 0-2 Gajaba regiment
Puthur Valarmathi 0-2 Gajaba regiment
Aavarankal central 1-2 Hindu Youth
Ilavalai Central 0-2 Mannar District
Kilinochchi Dsistrict 1-2 Ilavalai Central
Kilinochchi District 0-2 Mannar District
In the first semifinal, group A winners Gajaba regiment took group B runners up Ilaivalai Central. The regiment team who had players featured in national level competitions crushed through the first set and won it 25-14. In the second set, spirited Ilavalai Central replied with 25-23. However, the experience of Gajaba regiment helped them to secure a place in the final after easily winning the following two sets 25-11 and 25-18.
In the second semifinal, Mannar faced Aavarankal Hindu Youth. This match was a treat to the spectators as both teams comprised of equally talented players and the match went onto five sets. From the first set the game had all they joy and fun, shots fired from both ends, and Mannar finally sustained the everlasting first set with the score of 33-31. Hindu Youth recovered quickly to win the second set 25-17. Another nail-biting set was played and Mannar won it 25-23. Fourth set was won by Hindu Youth by a margin of 25-16. Therefore, the decider set was set up. In the mouthwatering ever-so-close fifth set, Hindu Youth completed a wonderful comeback by winning it 17-15. Following their tremendous win, Hindu Youth set up the final against Gajaba regiment.
In the most anticipated final, the crowd lent a cheerful support to the players. Gajaba regiment showed no mercy once again in the first set and claimed it 25-14. However, Hindu Youth resisted the pressure and replied with 25-17 in the second set. The third set was regarded as the most vital. As both teams were slowly tiring after spending a full day at the courts, the points in the third set were equally shared between both sides of the net. However, regiment showed higher stamina and strength during the dying minutes of the set and won it 27-25. That proved to be the turning point of the match.
Having lost the third, Hindu Youth tried to response immediately. However experienced players in the Gajaba regiment side withstood the challenges to win the fourth set 25-19. With that win, they became the champions of the tournament that celebrated the 98th anniversary of Ariyalai Saraswathy Community Center.
Rathnayaka of Kodikamam Gajaba military regiment was assigned as the man of the tournament.
