Record 218 teams want to be netball champs

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka’s oldest netball tournament, the Eva All-Island Open Netball Tournament organised by the Western Provinces Netball Association (WPNA), will feature a record-breaking 218 teams, making it the largest participation ever for a netball competition in the country.

The two-day tournament is scheduled to be held today and tomorrow at the Air Force ground, Colombo 2.

WPNA Vice President Rio Ramlal and Secretary Kumudini Gomas stated that the tournament will bring together a wide cross-section of players, including national and international-level athletes, as well as emerging school-level talent from across the island.

The Sri Lanka Netball Federation has also identified the tournament as a key talent identification platform ahead of the Asian Senior Netball Championship 2026, which will be held in Hong Kong.

Teams will compete across several divisions, including A Division Open Women and Open Men, B Division Women, Veterans Women (Over 40) and Schools Divisions covering Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 categories, collectively accounting for all 218 participating teams.