Sri Lanka storm to third consecutive victory at Asian Netball Championship

Thursday, 13 August 2026 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

by Hishan Welmilla

Sri Lanka continued their impressive campaign at the Asian Netball Championship 2026 with a commanding 78-33 victory over the Maldives, recording their third consecutive win in the tournament.

The Sri Lankan team produced another dominant performance from the opening whistle, controlling the game in all four quarters and leaving the Maldives with little opportunity to challenge their superiority.

Sri Lanka established their authority immediately, taking a 19-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Their attacking combinations were sharp, and their defensive structure effectively restricted the Maldivian shooters, allowing Sri Lanka to build an early 10-goal advantage.

The second quarter saw Sri Lanka move into another gear. They added an impressive 26 goals, while the Maldives managed only 11, giving Sri Lanka a commanding 45-20 lead at halftime. The Sri Lankan attack continued to demonstrate excellent movement and accuracy, while their defensive players maintained relentless pressure on the opposition.

Sri Lanka were even more dominant in the third quarter. The Maldivian attack struggled to penetrate the Sri Lankan defence, scoring just three goals, while Sri Lanka added another 16 to their tally. At the end of the third quarter, Sri Lanka had extended their advantage to 61-23.

The final quarter saw Sri Lanka maintain their intensity. They scored a further 17 goals, with the Maldives managing 10, eventually sealing a comprehensive 78-33 victory.

The win further strengthens Sri Lanka’s position in the tournament following a series of contrasting results. After suffering a 67-51 defeat to Singapore, Sri Lanka drew 57-57 with hosts Hong Kong before recovering strongly to launch an impressive winning run.

Their resurgence began with a 66-53 victory over Malaysia, followed by an outstanding 100-34 demolition of India. They then continued their winning momentum against the Maldives with another emphatic performance.

The victory over India was particularly impressive, as Sri Lanka became the first team in their current campaign to reach the 100-goal mark. Their latest success against the Maldives once again demonstrated the depth and consistency of the Sri Lankan squad.

Sri Lanka’s campaign has therefore featured a mixture of adversity and remarkable recovery. The defeat to Singapore and the draw against Hong Kong were followed by three successive victories, showing the team’s ability to adapt and respond under pressure.

With their confidence growing with every match, Sri Lanka will now look to carry this momentum into the next stage of the competition. The combination of strong defensive pressure, accurate shooting and effective teamwork has made them one of the teams to watch as the Asian Netball Championship 2026 progresses.

The comprehensive victory over the Maldives not only added more points to Sri Lanka’s campaign but also underlined their determination to challenge for the Asian title. After a difficult start, the Sri Lankan side has now found its rhythm at a crucial stage of the tournament.

Sri Lanka 78-33 Maldives

Quarter scores: 19-9, 26-11, 16-3, 17-10