Squash player courted as ‘Crysbro – The Next Champ’

While cricketers have traditionally enjoyed the limelight in Sri Lanka, Crysbro have found a novel and effective way of promoting sportsmen and sportswomen from a wide range of sports, which usually do not enjoy much public attention.

From left: Christopther Sebastian – Head of Sales, MTV Sports, Kalpa Palliyaguru – Chairman, Mindfor Integrated Solutions, Ravindu Hashintha Laksiri – third recipient of ‘Crysbro – The Next Champ’ scholarship, P.S.A.D. Janaka Kumara – Vice Principal,  D.S. Senanayake College, and Amores Sellar – Marketing Manager, Crysbro

Through ‘Crysbro – The Next Champ’, they have been locating and promoting exceptionally talented individuals, while providing them with material as well as moral support, thereby helping them reach higher standards in their chosen sport.

‘Crysbro – The Next Champ’ brings together Crysbro with MTV Sports Channel as the media partner, along with the creative resources of Mindfor Integrated Solutions.

Although Sri Lanka has a rich pool of accomplished sports personalities, very few have made a name for themselves beyond our shores. Lack of adequate training and exposure at the international level has been the greatest impediment to these individuals in maximising their potential.

By supporting such sportsmen and sportswomen, Crysbro is able to help them improve their performance. The total package offered by Crysbro includes a monthly financial package, required sporting gear and equipment, training by top coaches, access to the best of training facilities, as well as sponsorship for participation at overseas events.

Ravindu Hasintha Laksiri, a 16-year-old student of D.S. Senanayake College is the third recipient of ‘Crysbro – The Next Champ’ scholarship. Ravindu is the current number one player in the under 17 and under 19 categories, as well as the reigning national squash champion.

Having won the boys under 19 ‘SSC Open Squash Championship 2012’, he also emerged as the winner of the under 17 and under 19 grouping at the 23rd National Squash Championship organised by the Sri Lanka Squash Federation.

Ravindu won the 2012 Open Championship organised by the Sri Lanka Squash Federation. He is also the winner of the under 19 male and open male titles in the ‘Max Emperor Squash Tournament’ organised by the Sri Lanka Squash Federation.

By unearthing top talent such as Ravindu Hasintha Laksiri through ‘Crysbro –The Next Champ’ , Crysbro is doing the nation’s sports personalities a great service, as they can go now on to the next level and beyond. If more and more such talent is discovered and provided with professional training in world-class facilities, Sri Lanka can earn her rightful place as a world class sporting nation.

Being chosen as ‘Crysbro –The Next Champ’ gives these sportsmen and sportswomen the chance to inspire the younger generations to raise their game to a higher level, even in the international arena.

Crysbro, who celebrate their 40th year as the nation’s ‘chicken specialist’, have chosen ‘Crysbro – The Next Champ’ as their corporate social responsibility project, with a view to elevating the standards of a wide variety of sports in Sri Lanka.

‘Crysbro – The Next Champ’ is aired every Friday at 8 p.m. as part of the popular ‘game changer’ sports program on MTV Sports.