Sri Lanka hockey team led by Thusith Ratnasiri did well to clinch the bronze medal at the Asian Games qualifying tournament played in Dhaka, Bangladesh last week.
The team not only won a medal but also qualified for the Asian Games, after 36 years.
Sri Lanka last played in the topmost tournament in the region way back in 1978.
Eight teams played in the qualifying tournament and Sri Lanka came third losing only to eventual winners Bangladesh and second placed Oman.
Sri Lanka battled it out in Group A in the league stages and overcame Chinese Taipei 3-2, before tying 1-1 with strong Qatar, and losing to Oman 2-3.
As the runners-up team of the group Sri Lanka met Bangladesh in the semifinals.
The team did extremely well to hold the strong Bangladeshis for 2-2 at full time, but lost 3-0 in the ensuing dribbling strokes, which has replaced the traditional penalty stokes used when a game is tied. It was the first experience for the Sri Lankans in dribbling strokes and the Bangladeshi stickers displayed superior tactics in such play. The Lankans also rued two missed scoring opportunities earlier in the game.
In the third place match Sri Lanka beat Singapore 3-2.
For Sri Lanka Lahiru Weerasuriya scored five goals. The other players who excelled in their play were M.M Mulafer (3 goals), Damith Bandara (1), Sandaruwan Priyalanka (1) and Shanaka Nandalochana (1). Team captain Thusith Ratnasiri also dazzled with his excellent goal keeping.
The Asian Games will be held in Incheon, South Korea in September this year. (DS)
