The Janadhipathi Balika Hockey 7s  concluded quite successfully at the Shalika Grounds, Narahenpita yesterday.

The Tournament was organized to commemorate 10 years of Hockey at the Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Nawala. The School’s hockey has been in the forefront in the sport of Hockey in Sri Lanka, “Nothing matters more than hockey” was the tagline on the jersey of the Janadhipathi girls which suggests that these girls take their hockey seriously. It was 2 days of interesting back to back hockey games which was well attended by  Hockey fans and followers.

The Janadhipathi Hockey sevens saw the participation of more than 15 schools competing for titles of Cup champions , Plate champions and Star Champions  in two categorize as Boys and girls.

Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya had two teams registered as Janadhipathi GOLDS and MAROONS and both these teams ended up with honors at the tournament.

The Cup champions were the Janadhipathi GOLDS team in the girls category who beat Musaeus College in the final while Nalanda College were awarded champions beating D.S. Senanayake College in the boys category. Both Janadhipathi and Nalanda teams did extremely well throughout the tournament showcasing a good skill with the stick. It was an ANANDA – NALANDA semi final which was a tense game with two rival schools playing each other for supremacy.

Another interesting result of the draw of the tournament was the game between historic rivals, St. Josephs College vs. St. Peters College. A hockey match between the two schools had been played after about 6 years proving that this tournament brought together friendly rivalry among schools in a competitive atmosphere.

Janadhipathi MAROONS team beat Yashodara Balika Vidyalaya to be crowned Plate champions in the Girls category and it was St.Benedicts College who beat St.Josephs college in the final who were awarded boys plate champions.

In the Star Champions final St.Josephs College Maradana beat Asoka College which awarded them the Star Champions title. This match was an intense game which went down to the wire and finally the boys from Darley road finished things off with honors to their college.

Panadura Balika Vidyalaya beat Gothami Balika vidyalaya in the girls category to be awarded the stars of the girls.

At the end of the two days of exciting hockey taking place in Narahenpita the awards/closing ceremony was graced by newly elected provincial council member Miss. Hirunika Premachandra. Awards for the best player Boys/Girls, Best All-rounder Boys/Girls, Highest Goal Scorer Boys/Girls and Best Goal keeper Boys/Girls were also awarded at the awards ceremony.

Lithma Kumaradasa of Musaeus College was awarded girls best player while Gehan Madanayake was awarded best player in the boys category. The best all round player (girls) was awarded to Imesha Lakshani of Janadhipathi Balika and it was Prabodha Pathum of Nalanda College who was awarded the Best All-rounder in the boys category.

The highest goal scorer was Sandali Dilhara the Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya forward whist the forward of Nalanda, Budharaka Pathum scored the most in the boys category.

With a beautifully and professionally conducted awards/closing ceremony, two days of exciting hockey came to an end. Tournaments of this nature go to show that the sport of hockey will never die down in the country. In terms of talent there was a plenty and it is evident that, these young players will represent the country one day.