SL women’soff to Japan

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Sri Lanka women’s outfit led by ThaujaWeerakody took wing to Tokyo three days back in order to participate at the Asian Qualification for the Rio Olympics at Tokyo on 28 and 29November. 

The winner in aggregate at the Hong Kong leg and the Tokyo sevens will book their berth for next year’s Olympics in the Women’s segment where 12 teams will participate in Rio.

Hosts Japan, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, China, Guam and Sri Lanka will feature in group encounters at Tokyo. Sri Lanka will lock horns with Kazakhstan, China and Guam on the opening day and battle it out with Japan and Hong Kong on day 2. 

This will give a good opportunity for the Sri Lankan women to go flat out on the opening day with a win or two to improve their ranking in Asian region. On the second day they will not have any chance with the heavyweights of Asia Japan and strong Hong Kong outfit.

Former England Sevens captain Kat Merchant will be the Coach with S.W. Chang as the Manager on tour.

The team: Thanuja Dilrukshi (Capt), Sandika Hemakumari, Randika Kumudumali, Anusha Attanayake, Nadeeka Munasinghe, Dulani Pallikkondage, Ayasha Lakmali, Sanjeewani Wasana, Sanjeewani de Silva, Niranjala Wickramaratne, Shanika Madumali and Jayantha Dilrukshi.