St. Aloysius Galle and Seetha Devi GS Kandy bag hockey titles
View(s):St. Aloysius College Galle led by Kelum Srimal and Seetha Devi Girls School Kandy skippered by Charuka Abeyrathna lifted the Under-19 Boys and Girls titles respectively at the 33rd National Schools Games Hockey Tournament 2017 concluded at Astro turf in Colombo. A total of 21 boys and 18 girls teams from hockey-playing schools across the island participated in the tournament conducted by the Ministry of Education.
St. Aloysius Galle boys’ champions Standing from left: R.M.D.D. Rathnayaka (MIC), Lahiru Prasanga, Kelum Srimal (Captain), Udesh Sandipa, T. Vihanga, Tiran Shasintha (VC), Sandaru Madusara, Pasindu Dismitha, M. Nifras, Dileesha Kalhara, Rusiru Dananjaya, Darshana Malin (Coach) Squatting from left: Sunteh Sandamitta, Vidura Perera, Ashen Gimhana, Supun Sandeepa, Dilmitha Madushanka, Lakshan Sandaruwan, L. Weerasingha
St. Aloysius Galle crowned themselves with glory as they beat fancied Nalanda College Colombo by 2-1 in the final with goals from Thiran Shasintha and D. Madushanka (one goal each), to register their maiden victory in the National Schools Games Hockey. Displaying superb skills in the sport, St. Aloysius stickers became the first school from Galle district as well as Southern Province to achieve this feat. Thiran Shasintha of St. Aloysius was adjudged as the best player in the boys segment.
In the girls final, a solitary goal by right-inside Dilhani Rajapaksha gave Seetha Devi Girls School Kandy a thrilling 1-0 win over Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya Nawala to annex the title. Charuka Abeyrathna of Seetha Devi Girls School was named the best female player. In the semi-finals of the Boys tournament St. Aloysius Galle (Udesh Sandeepa 1) beat S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia 1-0 while Nalanda Colombo outplayed St. Joseph Vas Wennappuwa 2-0 to enter the finals. In the decider for the boys 3rd place STC Mt. Lavinia beat St. Joseph Vas 2-0.
In the Girls tournament Seetha Devi Kandy beat Sumangala Girls School Panadura 2-0 while Janadhipathi Balika Nawala defeated St. Anthony’s Girls School 2-0 in their respective qualifiers. Sri Sumangala Girls Panadura won the third place as beating St. Anthony’s Girls Katugastota 1-0 in the consolation final.
- Text and pix L.D. Chandrasiri
Girls champions Seetha Devi Girls School Kandy Standing from left: M.A.M. Ashrof (Coach), Charuka, Nishadi, Madumali, Tharaki, Pushpa Rajakaruna (TIC), Shehani, Neranji, Sadani, Sandipani, N. Paranitharan (Assistant Coach) Squatting from left: Gimhani, Arosha, Malsha, Anjali, Sajini , Nayani, Amasha, Roshini, Nimesha, Krishika