Sri Lanka will need to produce the best performance up to date if they are to survive the group stage and go into the super eight of the 18th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship.
Sri Lanka are drawn in group D alongside Asian heavyweights China and Japan who are seeded 4th and 5th respectively as well as Bahrain. Bahrain are world ranked 42nd while Sri Lanka are ranked 68th.
Hosts Iran, who are tenth in the world ranking and consecutive two-time Asian champions, have been drawn in Pool A with Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman and Chinese Taipei following the drawing of lots for the 18th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship.
Sri Lanka’s best performance in the championship came in 2011 when they were placed 8th, the last time Iran hosted.
“We had a good six weeks of training at the Sports Ministry indoor courts and the advantage this time is unlike other years we have a squad with an average height of 196cm,” a beaming National coach Kumara Wendakoon told exclusively with ThePapare.com.
“This is the 13th time we are participating. One time we came to the super eights under my coaching. Considering the talent and the experience of this side believe can do well this tournament,” he went on to say.
Sri Lanka will be up against Asia’s best in Japan and China.
“It will be a challenge for us against China, Japan and Bahrain. First time in the tournament Japan and China have been drawn in the same group which makes this group really tough,” Wendakoon finally added.
“We were champions in the tournament held in Nepal. Also there’s a few silver medalists from the SAFF games while a few from the side that were placed 8th in 2011 in this tournament,” the 6’ 2’’ Sri Lanka captain JanithaSuraj talked about the experience of the side.
A total of 17 countries – Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, China, Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Australia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain – have confirmed participation in the Asian meet, which is due to be held in the Iranian capital from July 31 to August 8, 2015.
At the previous championship in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates two years ago, Iran were victorious ahead of Korea in second and China in third. Japan came fourth, while Australia, Thailand and India finished fifth, sixth and seventh. The other teams participating were Lebanon, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, the UAE, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Myanmar, Oman, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.
Draw result
Pool A: Iran (Organisers and top seeds), Kazakhstan (8th seeds), Kuwait, Oman, Chinese Taipei
Pool B: Australia (2nd), India (7th), Turkmenistan, Qatar
Pool C: Korea (3rd), Thailand (6th), Pakistan, Saudi Arabia
Pool D: China (4th), Japan (5th), Sri Lanka, Bahrain
Preliminary match schedule
July 31: Kuwait v Iran, Oman v Kazakhstan, India v Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia v Korea, Thailand v Pakistan, China v Sri Lanka
August 1: Chinese Taipei v Kazakstan, Kuwait v Oman, Qatar v Australia, Korea v Thailand, Japan v Bahrain
August 2: Iran v Oman, Chinese Taipei v Kuwait, Turkmenistan v Australia, India v Qatar, Pakistan v Saudi Arabia, Bahrain v Sri Lanka
August 3: Kazakhstan v Kuwait, Iran v Chinese Taipei, Qatar v Turkmenistan, Korea v Pakistan, Japan v China
August 4: Oman v Chinese Taipei, Kazakstan v Iran, Australia v India, Thailand v Saudi Arabia, Japan v Sri Lanka, Bahrain v China
Sri Lanka Squad
1. Shamil Malinda – Quick Attacker – 200 cm height
2. T.M.H.Keshala – Quick Attacker – 200 cm height
3. P.A.D.AyeshDilhan – Quick Attacker – 200 cm height
4. M.GayanMadhushanka – High Attacker – 193 cm height
5. P.P.Sudasinghe – High Attacker – 193 cm height
6. S.A.JanithaSuraj – High Attacker – 190 cm height
7. H.DeepthaRomesh – High Attacker – 188 cm height
8. J.A.ChanakaMadhushanka – Quick Attacker – 190 cm height
9. P.G.MorrisChaminda – Setter – 184 cm height
10. G.M.ChamaraMihiran – High Attacker – 189 cm height
11. A.W.Lakmal – Libero – 170 cm height
12. LasinduMethmal – Setter – 200 cm height
