Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union along with Sri Lanka Water Polo has decided to field both the Men’s and Women’s National Water Polo teams at the 16th Asia Pacific Water Polo Championship which will be held from the 14th- 17th August in Hong Kong.
Asia Pacific Water Polo championship is regarded as one of the top tournaments in the Asian Region and is organized by the Hong Kong Swimming Federation. Sri Lanka Women’s Water Polo team won the Bronze medal in the 2009 edition of the tournament.
Sri Lanka National Men’s team will be led by experienced national player Dhanushka Saram while Yahan Samarajeewa will be his deputy. Musharraf Uwais who led the National U21 team to bronze medal at the 50th Malaysian National Age Group Water Polo championship has been included in the team along with his deputy Shan Lakshitha. Wasim M Bawa, Kanitha Munasinghe and Koasala Wijewardena who were members of the winning u21 team also have been included in the final team. Shehan Dassanayake, Devushan De Mel, Bhanuka Wijesundara and Avinda Caldera who toured to Singapore with the National team in October 2013 have been retained while Chanuka Perera makes a come back to the National team after an absence of few years. Chethana Munasinghe makes his debut for the National team with this championship.
The Women’s team will be led by Hashini Warnapura while Charya Dharmadasa has been appointed as her deputy. Deethri Samarajeewa, Dharithri Amarasekara, Minuri De Silva and Soraya Wickramasekara who were part of the National team’s Asian Championship in Singapore 2013 have retained their slots. Aneesah Fowzie who led the National U17 team at the Asian Junior Championship in 2013 has been given a promotion to the National team along with her team mates Ashanthi Sumanapala, Lara Modder and Nideesha Ellawela. Aneka Abeywickrama and Sachini Senevirathna who were part of the National team in 2012 makes a come back to the National team. Varuni Ekanayake makes her debut tour for Sri Lanka.
Head Coach of Sri Lanka Water Polo Lt. Malaka Chandradasa expects to make an impact in this highly rated tournament. He further said “this would be our first big task with the National team after almost a year and we expect to give a good fight with top ranked Asian teams and hopefully to bring back a medal. Both our teams are preparing well and we hope we can create few upsets in the tournament”
Tailand, Chinese Taipei, Guangdong, China, Guam, Indonesia and Japan are few of the top ranked International teams who will compete against Sri Lanka. Both teams will depart the Island of the 14th of August.
Lt. Malaka Chandradasa will be the Head Coach while Awnee Razack and Ajantha Silva will be his assistance coaches. Hiran Ukwatte will be the Chef De Mission. Ulfath Uwais has been appointed as Manager and Sameera Hunupolgama will be Asst Manager and Lalani Jayathilake will be the Lady Chaperone.
Sri Lankan Airlines are the Official Airline Partner and Mobitel Sri Lanka are the Telecommunications partner for the Sri Lanka Water Polo Teams.
Men’s Team: Dhanushka Seram (Captain, OTSC), Yahan Samarajeewa (Vice Captain), Shehan Dasanayake, Musharraf Uwais, Wasim M Bawa, Shan Lakshitha, Kanitha Munasinghe, Bhanuka Wijesundara, Avinda Kaldera (All from Sri Lanka Navy), BACA Perera, Devshan De Mel (both from OTSC), Chethana Munasinghe (RCUAC), Kosala Wijewardena (STC)
Women’s Team: Hashini Warnapura (Captain), Charya Dharmadasa (Vice Captain), Deethri Samarajeewa, Dharithri Amarasekara, Varuni Ekanayake, Sachini Seneviratne (All from Sri Lanka Navy), Aneka Abeywickrama (Vishaka), Aneesah Fowzie, Ashanthi Sumanapala, Minuri De Silva, Soraya Wickramasekera (All from Bishops), Nideesha Ellawala, Lara Modder (Both from Ladies)
