Thursday Dec 26, 2024
Friday, 16 July 2021 00:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
As many as 100 badminton athletes invited to the National Pool lined up on Saturday at the SLB HQ Courts to receive a full complement of Li Ning gear which comprises high end rackets, shoes and training plus competition dress ensemble, as they await the call for national training no sooner COVID restrictions are lifted.
Already, the Elite Squad have received their materials and have been in training in a limited program conforming to health guidelines.
The Li Ning package is worth a lot to SLB as it is a long-term commitment that covers all of its national pool players as well as the annual activities, mainly the tournaments sanctioned by SLB including the Nationals each year.
Sanjeewa Akuratiya representing Li Ning was at hand to join SLB President Rohan De Silva in leading the presentation to the players comprising the Elite, Senior, Intermediate and Junior Groups. SLB Secretary Mohan Wijesinghe, Treasurer Mangala Gamage and VP Palitha Hettiarachchi were associated with the event.
Selection Committee Chairman Niroshan Wijekoon was also a keen participant as he overlooks the trials and selections that will take place shortly to pick the teams for the World Junior Championships in October this year and the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
VP Palitha Hettiarachchi who heads the National Players Training Committee (NPTC) remarked that now all our national badminton aspirants have what it takes to perform on the world stage.
Apart from the attractive Li Ning equipment, integrated training on-court, physical and nutrition goes on relentlessly with his committee assigned to overlook each of the groups. Players sign a Code of Conduct to signify their agreement to the SLB training and development process and their long-term commitment to the sport.