The National Netball Team, which won the Asian Netball Championships in 2018, after a lapse of 9 years were felicitated by the Sports Minister Hon. Harin Fernando earlier today along with the national Carrom Team and Junior Steeplechase Parami Maristella.
During the felicitation at the Sports Ministry auditorium, the minister also presented each of the sportsmen and women, along with their coaches, special cash prizes.
Speaking at the event, the Minister said;
“Unlike in many other sports, these sports aren’t ones where you see a huge amount of money being invested or see big sponsorships. This is why, as a Sports Ministry, we want to support the sports in any way we can.”
He went on to reveal why there has been such a delay in rewarding the respective sportsmen and women, despite their achievement having come between August and October last year.
“Unfortunately, the reason for this to be delayed for so long is because, when we looked at the National Sports Fund, we found that it was more or less fundless. We only managed to put together the money for this by releasing a deposit we had made.”
Sri Lanka demolish Singapore in Asian Championship final
The Netballers emerged champions of the 11th Asian Netball Championships, beating hosts Singapore comfortably, to claim their 5th title last September. The team was led by Air Force defender Chathurangi Jayasooriya, had a near perfect tournament, steamrolling past India (101-29) and Chinese Taipei (137-5) in the 1st round, before going on to the Cup round, where they beat Singapore (74-61), Malaysia (59-62) and Hong Kong (71-48).
They faced a tougher fight in the semis, where they overcame Hong Kong (55-46) once again and then lifted the trophy by beating age-old rivals Singapore 69-50 in the finals.
Each of the 12 players who went on tour were handed a cash prize of 300,000 rupees, while Head coach Thilaka Jinadasa, who many credit as the catalyst behind Sri Lanka’s success was rewarded with a 500,000 cash prize.
The Team – Chathuranga Jayasooriya ©, Dharshika Abeywickrama, Tharjini Sivalingam, Hasitha Mendis, Elilenthini Sethukavalar, Dulanga Dhananji, Gayanjali Amarawansa, Nauchali Rajapakse, Thilini Wattegedara, Dulangi Wannitilake, Gayani Dissanayake, Sureka Kumari, Thilaka Jinadasa (Head Coach)
Photos: Arrival of the World Carrom Champions 2018
Meanwhile, the National Men’s Carrom team, were crowned World Champions at the Carrowm World Cup held in August 2018. The women’s team emerged runner-up, losing to India in the final. The team along with their coaches received various cash prizes valued between 26,250 – 600,000 rupees.
The Team – Chamil Cooray, Nishantha Fernando, Shaheed Hilmy, Chandima Perera, Yashika Rahubadda, Roshitha Joseph, Chalani Liyanage, Dilshani Ranaweera
Coaches – Ranjan Fernando, Lasantha Ranatunga, Nishantha Fernando, Kamala Wickramasinghe, Chaminda Ranatunga, Sujatha Maduregoda, Mohammed Hilmy, Langley Mathiasz, Amila Rathnayake.
The heartening story behind Sri Lanka’s first YOG medal
Parami Wasanthi Maristella became a household name last October, when she claimed Sri Lanka’s 1st ever Youth Olympic Medal, breezing into 3rd position in the 2000m Steeplechase event in Argentina.
Maristella also ended Sri Lanka’s medal drought in international Athletics, which had lasted over a decade. The 18-year-old was the chief beneficiary from the felicitation held today, taking home a whopping 1.5-million-rupee prize while her coach Janith Jayasinghe was handed 375,000 rupees.
Although there was a significant delay in the felicitation of these athletes, who have sacrificed a lot to get to where they are today, one would hope that the Ministry of Sport continues to support not only the athlete but the up and coming sports as well in which Sri Lanka has a great chance to reach bigger height in the international arena.
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