SL ready to host 2022 Asian Netball Tourney

Sri Lanka are the defending Asian Netball champions

By Susil Premalal

The Executive Committee of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL) has decided to make a request to Netball Asia to host the 12th Asian Senior Netball Championship in 2022.

The NFSL hopes to get the approval of Sports Minister, Namal Rajapaksa and make a formal request at the forthcoming Congress of the Asian Body.

Sri Lanka has hosted the Asian Netball Championship on two occasions in 2001 and in 2012.

The last Asian Netball Tournament was held in Singapore in 2018. The next edition of the tournament was scheduled to be held this August in Thailand but was cancelled because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Sri Lanka have won the Asian netball title on five occasions in 1989, 1997, 2001, 2009 and 2018. In 1985, 2012 and 2014, Sri Lanka were runners-up.

The 12th Asian Netball Championship which Sri Lanka proposes to host in 2022 is significant for Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia. 

Two or three teams from Asia could qualify for the 2023 Netball World Cup to be held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2023.

Sri Lanka has already begun preparations for the 2022 Asian Netball Championship and 2023 Netball World Cup with a 30-member National Pool having commenced training, NFSL President, Lakshmi Victoria told the Daily Mirror’ yesterday.

The National Pool comprises the 12-member winning squad at the last championship in addition to several Under-23 players, according to Victoria.

Meanwhile, National Coach, Somitha de Alwis is conducting National Pool training at the Torrington Sports Complex. 

However, on the advice of the health authorities, the poolists will be given leave to return home because of the prevailing situation in the country.