2027 Netball World Cup: Sri Lanka faces tough qualification battle, say top coaches

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka will have to face strong competition from Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong if they are to qualify for the 2027 Netball World Cup, according to three of the country’s most experienced netball coaches, Hyacinth Wijesingha, Tilaka Jinadasa and P.D. Prasadi.

At the 2024 Asian Netball Championship held in Bengaluru, Singapore emerged as champions, Sri Lanka finished runners-up, Malaysia secured third place, and Hong Kong claimed fourth place.

The 2027 Netball World Cup will be held from July 27 to August 6 in Sydney, Australia, as announced by World Netball (WN). Asia’s qualification tournament, the 14th Asian Senior Netball Championship, will take place from August 6 to 16, 2026, in Hong Kong, where only two Asian teams will earn World Cup berths.

Several Asian netball nations have already begun training programmes specifically targeting World Cup qualification.

Both Hyacinth Wijesingha (currently serving as Consultant Coach in Bahrain) and Tilaka Jinadasa (Consultant Coach in Brunei) previously guided Sri Lanka to multiple Asian Championship titles.
Sri Lankan netball has remained inactive for nearly two years, with administrative responsibilities currently under the Department of Sports Development, functioning under the Ministry of Sports. Although nominations have been called to re-establish the national netball administration, no official election date has been announced.

Coaches warn that the absence of any national-level competitions for two consecutive years has severely affected the sport’s progress.

Wijesingha, speaking from Bahrain, stated that she is unwilling to serve as a coach under the Ministry of Sports or the Department of Sports Development.

She added that she would only accept the role of Consultant Coach, with a proposed monthly salary of LKR 150,000, under a formally appointed Netball Association. She also stressed that she has no intention of applying for the national head coach position, to allow other interested candidates that opportunity.

Brunei-based consultant coach Tilaka Jinadasa said she is under contract with the Brunei Ministry of Sports and its netball administration until March 2026. Therefore, taking charge of the Sri Lanka team thereafter with only four to five months remaining before the Asian Championship would not provide sufficient preparation time, she said.

Former national coach P.D. Prasadi, who led Sri Lanka to the runners-up position at the 2024 Asian Championship in Bengaluru, said she is ready to take up the role again:

“I am prepared to face any challenge. Despite the limited training period, I am willing to take charge again and work for the country,” she said.

Prasadi added that Sri Lanka has a good balance of senior and young players, who still possess strong skills. With proper preparation, reclaiming the Asian title and qualifying for the World Cup is “certainly achievable”.

She also revealed that she did not receive any payment for her services during the previous Asian Championship campaign.