Sri Lanka Men’s and Women’s Volleyball teams are aiming for a gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games.

At the last South Asian Games Men’s team won the Bronze medal while the Women’s team won the Silver medal.

Men’s Volleyball

Sri Lanka Men’s Volleyball team has had good preparation leading up to the South Asian Games, with the Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship and a tour to Thailand at the beginning of the year.

“We practiced as a squad for the past 3 months or so and are in good physical condition,” newly appointed Head Coach Charles Thilakarathne added.

“We participated in practice matches locally and abroad. We went on a tour to Thailand in January where we played against clubs which had their national players and won. Locally we played against Army, Air Force. So the confidence is there,” he went on to say.

Sri Lanka did not have the best of tournaments at the Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship at the end of last year where they were placed 13th among the 16 teams.

Sri Lankan team played 7 matches of which they were able to secure wins against 3 countries: Turkmenistan, Oman and Kuwait. They were defeated by China, Japan, Bahrain and India.

Sri Lanka lost all their preliminary group stage matches to Japan, Bahrain and China; winning only one set against world rank 21, Japan.

Thereafter on the performance of the group stage Sri Lanka were drawn in Pool H in the classification round to fight for 9th-16th places. Sri Lanka could only win against Turkmenistan, hence had to play for the 13th-16th places.

In the 13th place semifinal Sri Lanka defeated Oman in 4 sets (25-22, 25-19, 21-25, 25-14) and in the 13th place final defeated Kuwait 26-28, 17-25, 14-25.

“We played against some of the tallest players in Asia. It was a good experience for us though we didn’t perform well. We also have most the players who represented that tournament in this squad,” Janitha Surath, who has been captaining Sri Lanka since 2015 added.

“Every player needs to give their best performance if we are to win. Last time we won the bronze medal and we are hoping to win a medal better than that,” a positive Thilakarathne finally added.

Men’s Squad

Janitha Surath © – Shamil Silva (vc) – Gayan Madushanka – Chanaka Madushanka – Nilanka Sanjaya – Deepthi Romesh – Kasun Chathuranga – Isuru Madushan – Nuwan Chamika – Chamara Mihiran – Wasantha Lakmal – Ayesh Dilhan

Charles Thilakarathne (Head Coach) – Nalin Sampath (Assistant Coach)

Sri Lanka Men's Volleyball Squad - SAG 2016
Sri Lanka Men’s Volleyball Squad – SAG 2016
Women’s Volleyball

Sri Lanka Women’s Volleyball team had been training under the watchful eyes of Cuban coach Roberto Cabrera Cepero for over a year. Sri Lanka women’s squad has a mixture of youth and experience.

“We have played around 10 practice matches in the last couple of months. We were more focused on techniques at practice,” Roberto Cabrera mentioned.

“All 12 players are at the same level. Sri Lanka won the gold in 1991 and we are hoping to repeat that performance,” Cabrera added.

We have practiced under Roberto for nearly a year and he is very good. He was there with us for the Asian championship last time and we did well to win matches at that tournament,” Sri Lanka Women’s Captain Dinesha Prasadini praised the Coach.

“We toured to Thailand and apart from one match we won the other three matches. We are positive about a silver medal so we are striving for a gold medal,” a beaming Prasadini, who was a 2006 SAG Silver medalist added.

Women’s Squad

Dinesha Prasadini © – Viraji Chamarika (vc) – Thushari Jayalath – Hashini Lakshika – Wasana Madumali – Chathurika Gayani – Thakshila Madurangi – Iresha Umayangani – Iresha Surangani – Dilusha Sanjeewani – Thilini Wasana – Kanchana Dilhani

Roberto Cabrera Cepero (Head Coach) – Kalika Wasanthapriya (Assistant Coach) – Samansiri Senevirathne (Trainer)

Sri Lanka Women's Volleyball Squad - SAG 2016
Sri Lanka Women’s Volleyball Squad – SAG 2016