7th Asia Cup Hockey Championships in Chennai - The Nation

7th Asia Cup Hockey Championships in Chennai

Lankan stickers hope for a better performance

By Samiddha Kalmith Rathnayake

Once a much reputed game, hockey has hardly become a news making source in the local sports arena.
The game of the curved sticks was once a heart-throb in Sri Lanka. During the early fifties to the late seventies Sri Lankan hockey players had a decent reputation in the international arena. For the last two decades or so, that glory and interest for the game has gradually faded away.
The recent success that they had during the South Asian Games (SAG) as the second runners-up was a major victory the game had for quite sometime.
The national squad of 22 players who left for Chennai yesterday to take part in the 7th Asia Cup Hockey Championship from September 1-9 is bubbling with excitement.
“This is an opportunity that we’ve got for quite sometime and we want to prove a point during the tournament,” assistant manager of the team, J.D. Balasooriya said. Being a former national player, Balasooriya is also someone who has got immense experience in the international circuit.
“Teams like Bangladesh continue with their squad even after the SAG, but unfortunately we had only two weeks to do the necessary training sessions. Still we have got a strong outfit and I’m sure the lads can do well in the tournament,” he remarked.
Regional giants India, Pakistan and China are also taking part in this tournament and one cannot see much of a chance for the local lads during their nine days in Chennai.
“It is true that those teams (India, Pakistan and China) will be hard nuts for our kids. But with teams like Bangladesh, Vietnam and Thailand we have got a definite chance of recording victories. It all depends on how the boys will approach the tournament,” Balasooriya said pensively.
A.N. Perera, the head coach in the squad has been a busy man for the past few weeks.
“These boys are really talented. We picked these boys considering their performances at the recently concluded Senior National tournament. Initially there were 40 players and we pruned them down to 22,” said Perera.
“The only thing that bothers us is the financial situation in the association. We are trying our best not to put any sort of financial burden on the players,” he said.
Sri Lanka is placed in Group ‘B’ with India, Korea, China, Bangladesh and Thailand. Perera said that they are focusing on displaying a better performance than in 2005.
“The fifth Asia Cup was the first time we took part in this event. We finished 10th. I’m focusing for a much improved performance this time and I’m sure that our plays will do their best,” he said.

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SRI LANKA HOCKEY TEAM TO CHENNAI - (L-R) – L. Ettapana (Coach), E. Jayasuriya, P.M. Cramer, T.M.S.D. Abeyratne, H.S. Hettiarachchi, C.L. Sumanaratne, K.S.S. Perera, N.A. Hewage, K.B.J.D. Balasuriya (Asst. Manager), A.N. Perera (Head Coach), S.M. Mulafer (Coach), T. M.A.B. Karunaratne, T.M.P.P. Abeyratne (Captain) A.M.S.B. Wickremasinghe, M.M. Gazaly, P.G. Jayaratne, H.M.C.H. Bandara (Umpire), M.M. Mulafer, D.T. Panditharatne, D.R.M.I.K. Jayasundara, D.M. Weerasuriya, R.C. Fernando, H.T.W. Perera, Nimanka Srimal, R.I.S.F. Megamage, W.L.P. Priyashantha. (Pic by Pushpakumara Matugama)