Defending National Champions Sri Lanka Navy are in for a stiff challenge to defend their title at the National Water Polo Championship which will be held at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool Complex on the 27th October to the 1st of November 2015.
STC, RC and OTSC teams are expected to be Navy’s biggest challenge at this year’s championships.
Ten men’s teams and five women’s teams will compete for national glory this year and the men’s teams are Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), Royal College Union Aquatic Club (RCUAC), Old Thomains Swimming Club (OTSC), Royal College Colombo (RC), S.Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia(STC), Sinhalese Sports Club(SSC) Nalanda College Colombo (NC) and Ananda College Colombo (AC).
This year’s tournament is played under a knock-out format. The 1st round matches will be held on the 27th of October while the semi-finals will be held on the 29th and 30th of October. The 3rd place match and the finals will be worked out on the 31st of October and 1st of November respectively.
In the Women’s category Sri Lanka Air Force will play Ladies College in a 1st round match and the winner of that match will play Visakha Vidyalaya Old Girls in the semi -finals and Sri Lanka Navy and Bishops’ College will play each other in the other semi-final and the winner of the semi finals will qualify for Sunday’s final.
In the Men’s category Yahan Samarajeewa will lead the defending Champions Sri Lanka Navy. Navy comprises of a star studded National line up which includes Musharraf Uwais, Wasim M. Bawa, Shan Lakshitha, Kanitha Munasinghe, Avinda Kaldera and Poorna Kankanige. Sri Lanka Navy has also included 3 players who played for Royal college last year namely Akila Weerasinghe Yashoda Wasalage and Waleed Uwais.
Navy is expected to face stiff challenge from the current Dr. R. L. Hayman Trophy winner and current National league champions S Thomas. The STC team is captained by Aqeel Sourjah and includes National regulars such as Kosala Wijewardena, Keshan Munasinghe. Deelaka Weerarathne , Ashane Francis, Sachitha Jayathilake Shakya Gunathilake and Isura Kahadawala are some of their key players. STC will be looking to continue their magical form and make it 4 out of 4 championships this season. Last years’ finalist OTSC side is led by Dhanushka Saram and also includes National regulars such as Chanuka Perera and Devshan De Mel.
RC will be led by Royal Captain Chandula Fernando and also includes national regulars such as Rifat Uwais. Yahiya Jaffer and Basith Yakoob are key players who’ll look to change royals dismal run this season and change fortunes for them.
Sri Lanka Air Force will be led by former national player S J S Silva and includes some promising players.
Head on to Sugathadasa to witness some high quality Water Polo this year as Navy will go all out to defend their titles while STC RC and OTSC teams will definitely look to stop Navy who’ll look to lift it this year as well.
