The actions of Sri Lanka’s national sports took the spotlight again as the finals of the Dialog President’s Gold Cup 2025 were concluded at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium this evening. After some thrilling lightning spikes and solid defences, Mahauswewa Rathanapala Sports Club & Dehiowita Rantharu Sports Club emerged as champions and earned the opportunity to keep the coveted Dialog President’s Gold Cup 2025 on their cupboard.
After highly competitive district and provincial-level competitions, 36 teams had secured their place in the national-level tournament (18 men’s and 18 women’s clubs comprised of champions and runners-up at the provincial tournaments). The tournament is limited to the under-25 players with the aim of sharpening the raw and young talents to the national level..
Women’s Final
In the first final of the day, the two sides from Wayamba Province, Mahauswewa Rathnapala Sports Club (representing Puttalam District) clashed against Mahawa Vijayaba Sports Club (representing Kurunegala District) in the women’s segment. Without any argument, Mahauswewa Rathanapala were the favorites to win as they got two players who have represented the national pool. In addition all of their players are professional players where four players from Air Force SC, two players from MAS Casualline SC and one player from Omegaline SC. On the contrary Mahawa Wijayaba side totally comprised of the school players from Vijayaba National College, Maho.
The much awaited final battle began with a serve made by a Vijayaba player and Mahauswewa Rathanapala secured the first point of the game with a magnificent spike shot. Since then Vijayaba managed to get four straight points and later Rathanapala girls closed the gap. Since then the first set was a see-saw battle and at the end of the day Rathnapala girls clinched the victory of the first set by edging out their rivals as 25 – 21 points.
The second set began with the serve of Rathanapala SC, and Vijayaba side gifted the first point as they were penalized four touching the ball for four times. Since then another tight battle unfolded and at the mid way mark it was anybody’s game with the score stood at 14 all. Since then there were some crucial mistakes by the school girls and eventually Rathanapala managed to take the victory of the second set as 25 – 17 points.
The crucial third set started by gaining the opening point to Rathanapala SC through a powerful front attack. Since then the game was in the balance and at one time scores read as 7 all. Since then the school girls from Vijayaba side were exceptional and they went on to win the set with 25 – 15 points and dragged the game to another set.
At the start of the fourth set, Vijayaba ladies took the lead and at one point they were cruising to the victory with 10 – 05 lead. But experienced Rathanapala girls never let the game slip out of their hands and made a superb comeback to win the fourth set (as 25 – 23 points) by clinching the title with a 03 -01 set victory. Despite the result of the game, the skills, passion and fighting spirit displayed by the Vijayaba school girls against professional and national level players, should be definitely praised. In the bronze medal game, Kirindiwela Sangamiththa Sports Club clinched the victory over Sri Seena Sports Club.
Men’s Final
In the men’s final battle, the neighbouring sides, Ruwanwella Rajasinghe Sports Club and Dehiowita Rantharu Sports Club battled for the coveted title. All the players and coaches that were featured in this final were the students of Head Coach SSP Chaminda Jayarathna who is still an active coach in the field. Rajasinghe boys were the first to go into the points board with a powerful spike which came from a short lift. Though the game swung between the sides during the initial phase of the first set, Dehiowita Rantharu players came up with a clinical performance to clinch the set with a 25 – 18 score margin.
The lads from Ruwanwella Rajasinghe got a fine start to the second set and they managed to lead the game with a clear margin of 11 – 04 points. But the spirited Dehiowita lads never turned their head down and counter attacked superbly to win the second set as 26 – 24 points.
There was a swinging battle in the crucial third set and the lads from Ruwanwella Rajasinghe were clinical against the defence of Dehiowita outfit. With a highly technical play Rajasinhe clinched the third set (with 25 -21 points) by dragging the game into the fourth set.
During the fourth set, the lads from Dehiowita Rantharu put their maximum effort to win the set and clinch the title. Hence they earned a clear lead during the initial to mid phase of the game. But the Ruwanwella Rajasinghe outfit found their rhythm at the right time and came back brilliantly to win the fourth set with the same points margin scored in the previous set.
The deciding fifth set lived up to every bit of its billing as the game twisted multiple times between the sides and it went down to the wire. When Dehiowita Rantharu led by a single point at 14 – 13, Ruwanwella Rajasinghe made a crucial mistake with a serve which landed out of the court. Hence Dehiowita Rantharu Sports Club clinched the men’s championship after an exciting battle with 03 -02 sets victory. In the third place match, Nattandiya United Sports Club thrashed Mahauswewa Rathnapala Sports Club to clinch the bronze medal.
Special Awards – Women’s Tournament
- Best Outside Hitter 1 : Preethika Prabodini (Rathanapala SC)
- Best Outside Hitter 2 : T.M.K.M. Tennakoon (Wijayaba SC)
- Best Middle Player 1 : N.P.M.A Nawarathna (Wijayaba SC)
- Best Middle Player 2 : Sewwandi Herath (Rathanapala SC)
- Best Opposite Player : Yasanga Nethmini (Rathanapala SC)
- Best Setter : P.A. Kavindi Madushika (Rathanapala SC)
- Best Libero : K.A. Udeshika Shrimali (Rathanapala SC)
- Most Valuable Player : Preethika Prabodini (Rathanapala SC)
Special Awards – Men’s Tournament
- Best Outside Hitter 1 : K.S.M.I Rathnayake (Ruwanwella Rajasinghe SC)
- Best Outside Hitter 2 : K.M.V.C. Wijewickrama (Dehiowita Rantharu SC)
- Best Middle Player 1 : D.M.P.D.B. Dissanayake (Ruwanwella Rajasinghe SC)
- Best Middle Player 2 : H.P.R.R. Puwakpitiya (Dehiowita Rantharu SC)
- Best Opposite Player : J.A,U,P. Adhikari (Ruwanwella Rajasinghe SC)
- Best Setter : L.R.C. Liyanage (Dehiowita Rantharu SC)
- Best Libero : H.P.N. Thathsara (Dehiowita Rantharu SC)
- Most Valuable Player : S.R.J. Dissanayake (Dehiowita Rantharu SC)
Mahauswewa Rathnapala Sports Club – Women’s Champions
Udeshika Shrimali, Saumya Nimanthi, Sachithra Sathsarani, Nimesha Kahandawa, Yasanga Nethmini, Heshika Piumali, Preethika Prabodini, Imasha Sankalpani, Sewwandi Herath, Kavindi Madushika, Maheshi Dilrukshi, Charitha Ruwani, Dilhara Thathsarani, Head Coach – Anil Chandrakumara, Assistant Coach – Thusitha Senevirathna, Team Manager – Chaminda Abeyrathne
Mahawa Vijayaba Sports Club – Women’s Runners-up
Piumi Ayansa (Captain), D.M.S.S Dissanayake, R.M.M.H. Rathnayake, C.B.S.D. Bandara, R.M.S.S.Rathnayake, E.M.C.G Herath, R.M.V.V.K. Hangilipola, N.H.K.D Nawarathna, W.M.N.N. Ranasinghe, N.P.M.A. Nawarathna, E.S.A. Viduni Sithara Rajapaksha, T.M.K. Madushani Thennakoon, M.A.N.S. Marasinghe, T.A.O.M. Shemaya, Head Coach – Jeewantha Semasinghe
Dehiowita (Debagama) Rantharu Sports Club – Men’s Champions
Captain – Chamara, Samindu Kalhara, Ravindu, Bihanga Rumeth, Randula Tharindu, Chamith, Tharusha, Nadil Lasitha Pramod
Head Coach – Kosala Senarathna, Assistant Coach – Lasantha Pathiraja, Team Manager – Thulara Chandrasiri
Ruwanwella Rajasinghe – Men’s Runners-up –Ishara Madushka (Captain), Pruthivi Suwahas, Pasindu Dilshan,Kusal Deshabandu, Hirun Rochana, Geeth Thejan, Uditha Priyan, Vihanga thenuka, Yasith Nethsara, Pubudu Dasun, Harshana Kavin, Induranga Rathnayake, Shirantha Shehan
Head Coach – Sanka Balasooriya, Assistant Coach – Kanishka Chamara, Team Manager – Pubudu Madushan
