Today is the 03rd day in Incheon. A misty morning with South Korea on top of the medal tally with a bag of 13 medals equal with China a close second having won 05 Gold’s each. Most of the 30,000 strong staff and 48 Competition Venues are busy.
On the opening day of Men’s Beach Volleyball at the Sondong Global University facility Sri Lanka’s No 1 pair met Indonesia’s No 2 duo in the First Match of the Games Competition. Pubudu Ekanayake partnered by Asanka Kumara won the 1st set comfortably at 21 – 14. Indonesia took control from there onwards. The 2nd set was tied 15 – all but Sri Lanka conceded it at 18 – 21.The 3rd set was equal at 05 – 05 at one stage but Indonesia prevailed to win it at 15 – 10 to win the match 2 sets to 1. It was evident that the experienced Sri Lankan pair paid a heavy price for not being aggressive enough early in the 2nd set and conceding unforced errors once put under pressure by their opponents in the Pool B encounter. Later today in a Pool C game Sri Lanka’s 2nd team comprising Wasantha Rathnapala and Jude Mahesh Perera will face the pair from Cambodia.
In Men’s Hockey at the floodlit Seonhak Stadium today Sri Lanka is up against former Olympic Champions India in a Pool B fixture. In the first match yesterday, Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka 14 – Nil
The weather had improved and it was bright and sunny as the Pool C game between Sri Lanka and Cambodia commenced. Jude Mahesh Perera partnered by Wasantha Rathnapala was called upon to draw up on all their experience as the lead fluctuated several times as an extended first set ended 23 -21 in favour of Sri Lanka. Cambodia rallied well in the second set as the scores was tied 10 -all at one stage. Despite fighting hard Sri Lanka conceded the set 18 – 21. That set up an exciting final set. Both sides gave nothing away as the scores were level 09 – all at one stage. Good ground support and level headed play carried Sri Lanka to victory as they secured the third set at 15 – 12.Sri Lanka beat Cambodia 2 sets to 1
The second match for the Sri Lankan Stickers was against neighbours, mighty India. A group of young South Koreans were cheering for the underdogs but Sri Lanka led byThusith Nandasiri faced the daunting task of containing the opponents. India led 3-0 at the end of the1st quarter. The favourites sounded the boards twice in the 2nd quarter to be 5-0 in front at half time. In the 3rd quarter Sri Lanka played aggressively and also defended purposefully as India managed only a penalty in the last few seconds to be 6-0 in front at the end of the period. India added two more goals in the 4th quarter to record a handsome 8-0 victory at the floodlit Seonhak Stadium. Sri Lanka’s 3rd match is with China the day after tomorrow.
Tomorrow in Men’s Beach Volleyball Sri Lanka will be seen in action against Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Sheikh Ahmad Al -Fahad Al-Sabah at a Media briefing confirmed that the 2017 Youth Asian Games will be held in Colombo.
Team Captain Chinthana Vidanage will compete in Men’s Weightlifting tomorrow. He will be lifting in Pool B having entered with a combined weight of 300kgs. Altogether 24 lifters have been drawn into two groups of 12 each while 12 others have entered with combined weights exceeding 300kgs.
The next Asian Games will be hosted by Jakartha,Indonesia.
Haritha Perera @ the Main Media Centre in Incheon,South Korea
