Lanka lionesses out to conquer Asia

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The Sri Lankan Women`s National Basketball team will take wings to China on Wednesday to compete for Supremacy in Asia. The FIBA Asian Championship for women will be conducted from 29th August – 9th September in Wuhan, China. Here’s some insight into the team before the clash. 

As the players bid adieu to the premier club league, the selection process commenced. The elite selection panel of the Sri Lankan Basketball Federation selected twelve adroit palyers based on their performance in the club tournament. Veteran Ajith Kuruppu was given the task of guiding the adept players into the limelight and bring glory to the paradise island. 

Sri Lanka will be playing in the level two bracket of the tournament and will face up against Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Kazakhstan in the preliminary rounds. The last time we participated Sri Lanka had to bow out in the preliminary rounds; that was back in 2011 and since then our national women`s team has not participated in an international championship. Hence, this time around the lionesses will want to turn the tables and rise from the ashes.

Inoka Sandamali and Benika Thalagala will strengthen the side with experience and hold the bunch together at tough times. Sri Lanka, having the advantage of having some preeminent offensive players in the fraternity are well equipped with pace and talent to swish the nets for points.

Kumarine Silva, the most experienced campaigner in the outfit will be in charge of the rebounds and giving the outfit that second chance at the hoop. Playing in the position of Center her experience and her talent will rattle the opposition without any doubt.

Anjalee Ekanayake and Premila Fernando who had an outstanding run in the Colombo Super League will fill up the rest of the slots of the team card. Anjalee`s all-around skills in ball handling, shooting and defense will indeed come in handy when matching up against the Asian giants. Premila Fernando who is one of the most experienced point guards will look to control the pace of the game.

It will be a tough task indeed to compete against the some of the top teams after a lapse three years. Yet the team has been well prepared over a couple of weeks’ time, focusing on the both physical and mental conditioning. Natasha Perera , being one of the future prospects of Sri Lankan basketball will have much to gain from the experience and the exposure that she is yet to receive from this tournament and this will hopefully be a handy investment in the future of Basketball in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka will play their first match on the 29th of August against the Philippines and commence their battle for the crown.