Rush to contest first netball championship

By Susil Premalal

The Western Province Netball Association (WPNA) has announced that entries for the Eva All-Island Open netball tournament will close at 5.00 pm on January 23, according to the WPNA Competition Committee.

WPNA Secretary Kumudini Gomes told the Daily Mirror that all arrangements have been finalised to conduct the tournament on January 31 and February 1 at the Air Force ground, Slave Island, Colombo 2.

Teams that have not yet submitted their applications have been requested to forward the completed forms to Kumudini Gomes, Secretary of WPNA at No. 16A, Gomes Path, Colombo 5 or contact 077 739 2650 for further information.

According to WPNA officials, a large number of teams have already submitted entries for the Open and Under-19 categories, including national and international-level players, as well as emerging athletes who have represented Sri Lanka at Youth Asian Netball Championships.

The championship is traditionally recognised as the first major national-level netball competition of the year, drawing wide participation from across the country.

The tournament is open to clubs, mercantile teams, government institutions, banks, universities and schools affiliated with their respective associations. Competition will be conducted across four divisions in the Open event for men and women and what is called “women only” meaning national players and school teams are not permitted.

An over-40 veterans’ division and school teams in the age categories of 15-19 will also be worked off.