Stars shine bright at 32nd Milo Sri Lanka Schools Netball Championship
View(s):The 32nd Sri Lanka Schools Netball Championship concluded last weekend at the Kurunegala Maligapitiya grounds with hometown favourites Maliyadeva Girls’ School emerging as overall champions. Sujatha Balika Vidyalaya, Matale clinched the overall championship of Division ‘B’
in the three-day competition, where Maliyadeva Girls’ School dominated by reaching three finals and winning two of them in the top division.
Maliyadeva GS claimed the Under-19 and Under-17 titles in Division ‘A’ to rake up 50 points and an additional 10 point from becoming the Under-13 runners-up made them the overall champions of Division ‘A’. Musaeus College emerged overall runners-up with 40 points while Tissa Central, Kalutara and Hollwood College, Kandy shared the overall third position with 20 points each.
Division ‘A’ Overall Champions - Maliyadeva Girls’; School, Kurunegala
Maliyadeva GS, coached by Kamal Sri Kanchana, defeated hometown rivals and a powerhouse in schools netball, Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala by 39-27 in the Under-19 final, while Musaeus College recorded a narrow 15-12 win against Hollwood College, Kandy to clinch the Under-17 title. Maliyadeva GS comfortably overvcame Siri Piyarathana Central, Padukka by 24-13 to pocket the Under-15 title, as Tissa Central, Kalutara edged out Maliyadeva FS by 11-10 in an exciting final to win the Under-13 title.
Tumalka Ekanayake of Maliyadeva GS was adjudged the Most Outstanding Player in the Under-19 category, while her schoolmate Chenumi de Silva won the same title in the Under-15 age group. Shiwangi Samarawickrama of Musaeus College was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Under-17s, as Tissa Central’s Ahasi Sanduli was aptly named the best out of the lot in the Under-13 category.
Division ‘B’ Overall Champions - Sujatha Balika Vidyalaya, Matale
Sujatha BV, who claimed the Division ‘B’ overall championship with 40 points, reached two out of the four finals, while winning one and placing second in the other. Mahinda Maha Vidyalaya, Gettuwana beat Sujatha BV in the Under-19 final, as Molaelapitiya Primary School, Kuliyapitiya overcame Kiyula Primary Schoo, Hungama to win the Under-17 title. Sujatha BV defeated Ranajayapura Maha Vidyalaya in the Under-15 final, as Sunanda Maha Vidyalaya overcame Christ King College, Pannipitiya to claim the Under-13 title.
Ushani Chamalsha of Mahinda MV, Gettuwana was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Under-19 category, while Thihari Ravindi of Molaelapitiya PS, Kuliyapitiya won the same award in the Under-17 age group. Prajani Jayawardane of Sujatha BV became the best among the rest in the Under-15 age group, while Ayodhya Sanuki Adikari of Sunanda BV, Padeniya was adjudged the Most Outstanding Player in the Under-13 category.
Organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Netball Association under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and sponsored by Nestlé Milo, the championship took place from August 15 to 17, gathering a participation of over 4,000 young netball players from across the country.
The championship was played in two divisions – Division ‘A’ and ‘B’ – covering four varying age groups, the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19.
Division ‘A’ Most Outstanding Players with (from left) Kamal Sri Kanchana (Tournament Secretary, SLSNA), Sajeewa Wickramasinghe (Head of Sponsorships and Activations, Nestlé Lanka), Ruwan Welikala ( Director, Corporate Affairs and Communications, Nestlé Lanka), Mohamed Ali (Director, Dairy and Beverages, Nestlé Lanka), Ananda Sahabandu (Mayor of Kurunegala Municipal Council), Bernie Stefan (Managing Director, Nestlé Lanka), Sugath Tilakaratne (Deputy Sports Minister), Nirodha Abeywickrama (President, SLSNA), Muditha Jayathilake (Provincial Director of Education), Victoria Lakshmi (President, Asia Netball Federation), Amalka Gunathilake (Secretary, SLSNA), Shiranthi Prasadika (Treasurer, SLSNA)
Division ‘B’ Most Outstanding Players with officials from SLSNA, Nestlé Lanka, and distinguished guests