Netball team from New Zealand to tour Sri Lanka

By Susil Premalal

A leading New Zealand university netball team (Lincoln) is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on June 30 for a short goodwill tour aimed at helping the Sri Lanka national netball squad prepare for the upcoming Asian Senior Netball Championship.

Six training matches between the Sri Lanka squad and the visiting New Zealand university team have been scheduled from July 1 to 9 across Galle, Kandy and Colombo.

The tour comes in response to an invitation extended by the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL). According to reports, the visiting team’s international airfare will be covered by the New Zealand university authorities, while the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will provide local hospitality and logistical support.

Despite earlier assurances from the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Sports that the national squad would receive an overseas training tour and the services of an international specialist coach ahead of the Asian Championship, neither initiative materialized.