Saturday, 21 December 2013 00:01
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In keeping with its commitment of nurturing young talented athletes, Janashakthi is sponsoring the 33rd National Squash Championships, the showcase sporting event of the year.
The Championships will be held from 20 December, 2013 at the Air Force Squash Complex in Ratmalana. This is the 11th consecutive time that Janashakthi Insurance has sponsored the event.
Organised by the Sri Lanka Squash Federation, the Squash Championships provides a vital platform the country’s top squash players, including those who have excelled in tournaments both locally and overseas.
Janashakthi Insurance Managing Director Prakash Schaffter said that it was an honour to sponsor the standout event in a sport which is rapidly gaining popularity in Sri Lanka.
“Squash is a relatively new sport to Sri Lanka, but is rapidly gaining in popularity. We have supported several sporting events over the years- from test cricket, to hockey, athletics, rowing and sailing at a national level, as part of our commitment to help develop the talented youth of Sri Lanka, while promoting the fair-dealing, camaraderie and teamwork which comes from participating in sport,” he added.
Defending men’s champion Navin Samarasinghe and women’s champion Mihiliya Methsarani who was the Bronze medalist at the 2nd Asian Youth Games in Nanjin, China is expected to shine at the tournament. Other favourites are Mihiliya Methsarani (who is also last year’s winner) and Naduni Gunawardane in the women’s category, and Dilshan Gunawardena, Gihan Suwaris and Ravindu Laksiri in the men’s category.
Over 110 front-line athletes will be participating in the national event, in the Men’s, Women’s Novice, and Veteran (for over 35, 45, 50 and 55 years) categories.
President of the Sri Lanka Squash Federation Commodore Palitha Weerasinghe while thanking Janashakthi Insurance for its continued support said that the Federation had seen a great deal of enthusiasm about the event, not only in terms of entries but also an increasing number of enthusiasts arriving to watch the event Commodore Weerasinghe added that Asian Squash Federation Director of Referees Munir Shah would be assessing Sri Lanka’s top referees, to ensure impartiality and high quality. The finals and award ceremony will be held on 23 December at 5 p.m., at the same venue.
