Army SC & Navy SC won the Sunquick National Beach Volleyball Championship 2018 Men’s Open & Women’s Open championships respectively at the newly built Beach Volleyball Court at Sugathadasa Stadium.
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Men’s Open
Indika Tiron and Jayan Sanuja of Army SC ‘A’ defeated Pubudu Ekanayake and Sujeewa Chinthaka of Air Force SC ‘A’ 3-1 (15-21, 21-16, 15-13 & 15-11) in the final.
They entered the final through a ‘Double Elimination’ process which was implemented for the final four teams.
Pubudu & Sujeewa defeated Anjana Sandeepana and Sandun Madusanka of Army SC ‘B’ 21-14, 19-21 & 15-11. In the 2nd match Tiron & Sanuja beat Senarathna & Rathnapala of Air Force ‘B’ 21-17 & 21-12. In the 3rd match Pubudu & Sujeewa defeated Tiron & Sanuja 21-7, 14-21 & 15-11.
In the 4th match Anjana & Sandun beat Senarathna & Rathnapala 21-14 & 21-16 while Tiron & Sanuja beat Anjana & Sandun 21-10, 17-21 & 15-13 in the 5th match.
Photo Album – 2018 Sunquick National Beach Volleyball Championship | Finals
In the final Pubudu & Sujeewa took an early 1-5 lead and extended it to a six-point gap to win the 1st set 15-21. In the 2nd set Tiron & Sanuja got off to a better start leading 5-2 & 10-5 before Pubudu & Sujeewa closed the gap to 11-9. But again, the Army pair went on a 4-0 run to take the score to 15-9 and won the set 21-16.
Midway through the 3rd set Army led 8-4 and took the score to 13-8. However, Air Force countered with a dramatic 5-0 run to tie the game at 13 all. Unfortunately for Air Force the Army pair held their composure to win the set 15-13.
According to the tournament rules, since Tiron & Sanuja had lost a set more than Pubudu & Sujeewa they had to play a ‘Golden Set’ to decide the winner. It was a closely fought set but Army did just enough to pull away at the last few points to win 15-11 and avenge their earlier loss.
Anjana & Sandun won 3rd place.
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Women’s Open
Sagarika Gunasinghe and Kasuni Tharuka of Navy SC defeated Chathurika Madushani and Thamara Kumari of Army SC ‘A’ 2-0 (21-14 & 21-6) in the final.
The entry process to the final was through a ‘Double Elimination’ process for the final four teams.
Asha Nilmini & Nirosha Gunasinghe of Air Force beat Thilini & Harshani of Army SC ‘B’ 21-5 & 21-8 in the 1st match. Sagarika & Kasuni beat Chathurika & Thamara Kumari 21-19 & 21-17 in the 2nd match.
Sagarika & Kasuni again dominated Asha & Nirosha 21-10 & 21-17 to win the 3rd match. Chathurika & Thamara Kumari had an easy 21-8 & 21-4 win against Thilini & Harshani in the 4th while Chathurika & Thamara Kumari won 21-14 & 21-14 against Asha & Nirosha.
The final was utterly dominated by Sagarika and Kasuni. They led 10-3 at one point and went onto win the 1st set 21-14. At 5-2 the Navy duo went on a 11-0 scoring run to lead 16-2 and the won the 2nd set 21-6.
Asha & Nirosha won 3rd place.
Men’s U21
Ashen Rashmika and Kavindu Malinda of Air Force SC defeated Mihiranga Udayakumara and Rehan Madushanka of Davisamara SC 3-1 (21-12, 19-21, 15-10 & 17-15) in the final.
The ‘Double Elimination’ process saw Ashen & Kavindu defeat Kulara & Kanishka of Ruwanwella Rajasinghe MV 14-21, 21-14 & 15-4 in the 1st match while Nuwan Kumara and Kavindu Ashan of Lucky Six SC, Kaluthara defeated Mihiranga & Rehan 14-21, 21-18 & 22-24.
Mihiranga & Rehan bounced back to beat Ashen & Kavindu 19-21, 21-17 & 15-7 in the 3rd match while Nuwan & Kavindu won 13-21, 21-15 & 15-13 against Kulara & Kanishka. The 5th match saw Ashen & Kavindu win 21-17 & 21-12 against Nuwan & Kavindu.
In the final Ashen & Kavindu raced to a 21-12 1st set win. The 2nd set was a closely fought encounter in which the Davisamara SC duo won 19-21. Ashen & Kavindu ran away with 3rd set win 15-10 to send the match into a ‘Golden Set’. It was a thrilling decider where either side matched each other point for point. Ultimately it was Ashen & Kavindu who were victorious 17-15.
Nuwan & Kavindu of Lucky Six SC won 3rd place.
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Women’s U21
Hashini Malsha Priyamali & Shehani Asanga of Air Force SC defeated Dilukshi Harshani Senarathna and Rashmi Diwyanjali Lakmali of Galigamuwa SC 3-1 (17-21, 21-17 & 15-9) in the final.
Asanga & Priyamali defeated Nimeshika Sewwandi & Sunethra Priyadarshani of Galigamuwa SC 21-12 & 21-12 in the semi-final. In the other semi-final Dilukshi & Rashmi defeated Tharushi Ayodhya and Nirosha Maduwanthi of Anamaduwa SC 21-9 & 21-9.
Tharushi & Ayodhya defeated Nimeshika & Sunethra 21-8 & 21-18 to win 3rd place.