Sri Lanka to host it’s 1st ever International Water Polo tournament on the 27th, 28th & 29th at Sugathadasa Swimming Pool Complex with the participation of India’s top Water Polo team Maharashtra Water Polo team.
Maharashtra Water Polo team will face off against Sri Lanka Water Polo Lions and Sri Lanka Water Polo Sharks in a triangular championship for the Sri Lanka Water Polo Invitational Challenge Trophy. Sri Lanka teams consist of National Water Polo players who are part of the National Water Polo squad.
This is the very 1st occasion that Sri Lanka has invited a foreign team to play a championship in the island. Sri Lanka Water Polo has improved very largely over the last few years and in a very recent development Sri Lanka Water Polo has formed a National Squad and is running a very successful program. As a part of this success when Sri Lanka Junior and Senior teams toured Singapore in October for the Asian Youth Water Polo Championship and Asian Water Polo Championship the Junior team beat much higher ranked Philippines 26-6 and Senior managed to draw with Philippines 11-all. Philippines are ranked under 25 in Water Polo rankings. By hosting a International tournament the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) and Sri Lanka Water Polo (SLWP) expects that Water Polo in Sri Lanka can be improved further.
The Tournament is organized by Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union along with Sri Lanka Water Polo.
SLWP Lions: Dhanushka Saram (Captain, OTSC), Yahan Samarajeewa (Vice Captain), Shehan Dassanayake ,Wasim MarikkarBawa, Musharaf Uwais, Avinda Caldera, Bhanuka Wijesundara, Poorna Kankanige (All from SL Navy), Rifat Uwais, Akila Weerasinghe, Waleed Uwais (All from Royal), Keshan Munasinghe (STC), BACA Perera (SL Police)
SLWP Sharks: Savith Warnapura (Captain), Shan Lakshitha (Vice Captain), Thisura Thamanegama, Akila Watareka (All from SL Navy), Chandula Fernando, Kanitha Munasinghe, Kisal Assalarachchi (All from Royal), Pathum Edirisinghe (SL Air Force), Deelaka Weerarathne, Kosala Wijewardane (Both From STC) , Oshada Madhushanka (Ananda), DA Dayarathne, Saman Kumara (both from SL Police)
Maharashtra Team: Ashiwinikumar Kunde, Jayesh Phartale, Uday Uttekar, Pratik Rajole, Mandar Bhoir, Neelkanth Akhade, Shreyash vaidya, Bhushan Shirke, Sarang Vaidya, Abhay Pavle, Nikhil Shinde, Kamlakar Deore, Swapnil Ambekar
