Katana United & Koswadiya Wijaya Gold Cup Champions

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The Maharagama Youth Centre Indoor Complex played host to the Open Finals of the Dialog President’s Gold Cup Volleyball Championship today, where Katana United won the men’s title while Koswadiya Wijaya Sports Club won their seventh consecutive title in the women’s division.

Women’s Open

The final saw Wijaya Sports Club take on Casual Line after they defeated Golden Birds Sports Club and Kapila Sports Club respectively.

The initial exchanges of the first game saw Casual Line take the game to the Kosvadiya side with some attacking volleyball. But the eventual winners managed to hold off Casual Line by maintaining a healthy 19-14 margin. Dinesha Prasadini’s attacking play helped increase that gap further to 25-19 at the end of the first set.

Casual Line started the second round on the front foot, scoring four points back to back. The gap was increased to seven soon thanks to Hiruni Chapa’s strikes. Even though Vijaya managed to fight back through Iresha Umayangani and Prabodha Sandeepani, the Casual Line lasses managed to hold on to win 16-25.

The third set began with Prasadini and Umayangani grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and driving their team to an 11-03 lead. The duo’s combination began to spell the end for Casual Line, even though they managed to close the gap to four points. Vijaya claimed the set 25-22 in the end.

The last set saw the teams take points alternatively with Vijaya having the upper hand at the mid-point of the set at 14-09. The Kosvadiya side managed to hold out to extend their lead up to 9 points, claiming the set 25-16.

Final Result – Koswadiya Wijaya 25-19, 16-25, 25-22, 25-16 Casual Line SC

Special Awards
Best Player – Dinesha Prasadini
Best Attacker – Champa Kalyani
Best Server – Chathurika Ranasinghe
Best Defensive Player – Iresha Umayangani
Best Libero Player – Ishanka Subashini
Best Receiver – Shashika Lakmali
2nd Runner Up – Randawana Golden Birds

Photos: Open Finals – Dialog President’s Gold Cup 2016

Photos of the Open Finals – Dialog President’s Gold Cup 2016

Men’s Open

Katana United took on Debagama Rantharu Sports Club in a star-studded final where the Katana side managed to emerge victorious. The Katana side made the final after overcoming the Youth Services team while their opponents qualified after defeating Naththandiya United.

It was Gayan Madushanka and Deepthi Romesh who took charge for Debagama and Katana respectively. After a closely fought set where there was very little to separate both sides, Katana United managed to grab the opening set 25-20.

The second game started in far more competitive fashion with Jagath Sanjaya and Melan Jayawardena showing their experience to guide their team to an early lead. The two combined well to put their side in a commanding position which lead to them claiming the set 25-22.

The third set saw Janitha Surath step up with some good serves to give his side an early 4 point lead. The experienced Sanjaya and Jayawardena, who are playing their final few volleyball games showed that age is just a number with their performance to put their team ahead. Rukantha Pathirana of the Debagama side did try to mount a fight back but failed in his attempts, thus handing the game to Katana 25-18.

Final Result – Katana United 25-20, 25-22, 25-18 Debagama Rantharu SC

After the Final, Katana United skipper Nilanka Rukshan said, “We came into the final knowing that we had what it takes to win the game given that we have some national players too.”

The Awards were handed out by His Excellency Preident Maithripala Sirisena in the presence of Sports Minister Hon Dayasiri Jaysekara and other dignitaries.

Special Awards
Best Player – Janitha Surath
Best Setter – Jagath Sanjaya
Best Attacker – Deepthi Romesh
Best Server – Janitha Surath
Best Receiver – S. Wickramaratna
Best Libero Player – C. Fernando
2nd Runner Up – National Youth Services Council