Sri Lanka youth netballers face Hong Kong today

The Sri Lanka Youth Netball team during a fitness training session in South Korea

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka Youth Netball team Head Coach Hyacinth Wijesinghe expressed confidence ahead of the opening match of the 13th Asian Youth Netball Championship against Hong Kong in South Korea, scheduled for today.    
Sri Lanka has never lost to Hong Kong at this level and the coach also believes that the outcome of the match could be decided on the playing style of two opposition players, who have a height advantage.    
However, Wijesinghe said that the Sri Lankan players are ready to face any challenge in this opening fixture of the tournament.
The Sri Lanka team participated in several training sessions yesterday and expressed confidence that they will make a good start by winning the match against Hong Kong.
Thereafter, Sri Lanka will play against India on June 29, Malaysia on June 30 and Singapore on July 1.
The tournament is conducted by Netball Asia and the South Korean Netball Association with the participation of 11 countries in the region. The tournament will conclude on July 4.
Sri Lanka will compete in Group ‘A’ along with Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and India.
Meanwhile, Brunei, who were included in Group ‘A’, withdrew from the tournament at the last minute.
Chinese Taipei, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Maldives and Saudi Arabia will compete in Group ‘B’.
At the last Asian Youth Netball Championship held in 2023, Malaysia won the title, Singapore were the runners-up and Sri Lanka clinched third place.