A pool of 21 players was selected for the upcoming 8th Netball World Youth Cup to be held from 8th July in Gaborone, Botswana.
Sri Lanka Netball has been under severe criticism and internal dispute during the last few days after a shock 4th place finish in the recently concluded 10th Asian Youth Netball Championship, in which they were champions in 2015.
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The island’s championship in 2015 earned them a place in the 2017 Netball World Youth Cup. However after the disappointing 4th place finish Hon. Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekara initially mentioned that he will not allow the team to participate in the World Youth Cup but after considering the fact that Sri Lanka has already spent a lot of money on it and will incur a fine for non-participation, he reversed his decision.
After a meeting with the Netball administrators, a coaching consultant and two coaches were appointed. Former Sri Lanka National coach Hyacinth Wijesinghe will be the consultant coach while Amalka Gunathilake and Janaki Gunasekara will be the two coaches. Ananda Wannithilake will act as the trainer. Amalka has been coaching the champion Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala for some time while Janaki is leading the Holy Family Convent, Kaluthara side.
From the Asian Youth 18 member squad only 12 have been able to retain their places in this 21 member pool while there are 9 exciting new school girls in the squad.
Nadee Fernando and Sachini Rodrigo who have been at the center stage of the Asian Youth Netball controversy are among the twelve while Rashmi Divyanjali Perera, Nilumi Happuarachchi, Poorni Lakshani Gamage, Mandira Charuni Sampath, Kaveena Rajapaksha, Malsha Sathsari Rathnayake, Hashini Perera, Nilusha Warnakula, Imesha Nirmani and Hansima Dissanayake are the others who have retained their places.
Hansima Dissanayake who was injured during the Asian Youth Netball tournament has been added to the pool after considering a medical certificate. Tharushi Illangarathna from Visakha Vidyalaya who was impressive playing all the matches at the Asian Youth Championship missed out on the 21 after not participating in the selections.
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The nine new faces are Bimanya Rathnayake, Natasha Aluvihare, Rashmi Nirmani, Aloka Udari Dissanayake, Dilshani Kaveesha, Susima Kumari Bandara, Mellony Wijesinghe, Sethmi Danoshi, and Ganya Senanayake.
Susima Kumari Bandara from Holy Family College, Kurunegala and Mellony Wijesinghe from Visakha Vidyalaya are still U18 players who have impressed in the All Island tournaments last year. Suseema Kumari was the adjudged the Best Player in the 2016 All Island Schools’ Games Netball U17 category while Mellony Wijesinghe was also adjudged the Best Player in the Milo All Island Netball Championship U16 category.
The squad is expected to start residential training in the next few days.
21 Member Pool (Netball World Youth Cup)
Bimanya Rathnayake (Ladies’ College) – Natasha Aluvihare (Hillwood College, Kandy) – Rashmi Divyanjali (Presbyterian Girls’ School, Dehiwala) – Nilumi Hapuarachchi (Navy SC) – Poorni Lakshani (Army SC) – Mandira Charuni (Seylan Bank) – Rashmi Nirmani (CDB Finance) – Kaveena Rajapaksha (Hillwood College, Kandy) – Malsha Rathnayake (Seylan Bank) – Sachini Rodrigo (Army SC) – Hashini Perera (Army SC) – Nadee Fernando – Nilusha Warnakula (Navy SC) – Aloka Udari Dissanayake (Girls’ High School, Kandy) – Dilshani Kaveesha (Sacred Heart Convent, Galle) – Susima Kumari Bandara (Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala) – Mellony Wijesinghe (Visakha Vidyalaya) – Sethmi Danoshi (Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala) – Imesha Nirmani (Navy SC) – Ganya Senanayake (Ladies’ College) – Hansima Dissanayake (Air Force SC)
