Transitioning from the traditional indoor sport, beach volleyball has become a globally acclaimed and well-challenged sport. Volleyball being the national sport in Sri Lanka, it shows no surprise that our talented individuals have competed for a spot for the title at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
Overview of Beach Volleyball
“Beach volleyball is a team sport played by two teams of two or more players on a sand court divided by a net. Similar to indoor volleyball, the objective of the game is to send the ball over the net and to ground it on the opponent's side of the court. Each team works in unison to prevent the opposing team from grounding the ball on their side of the court.”
The Outrigger Canoe Club near Waikiki Beach in Hawaii is where beach volleyball most likely had its start in 1915. According to a 1978 interview, a net was installed there, and the first known game of beach volleyball was played there. Beach volleyball made its official Summer Olympic debut in the men's and women's divisions at the Atlanta 1996 Games after first being offered as a demonstration sport at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
The Sri Lankan Aspect
Sri Lanka qualified for both the men's and women's tournaments on 19th March 2022. Sri Lanka beat Maldives 2-0 (21-13, 21-31) in the men’s final, while in the women’s final, Sri Lanka beat Singapore 2-0 (21-18, 22-20) to emerge champions at the recent Asian Qualifiers 2022 in Negombo, Sri Lanka. To mark history, this will be the first time Sri Lanka will be competing in the women's event, with the teams that were officially deemed qualified on April 26, 2022.
"The most important was both Sri Lanka teams were unbeaten throughout the competition and won the finals comprehensively against Maldives (Men) and Singapore (Women).”
Birmingham 2022 will mark beach volleyball’s second appearance at the Commonwealth Games after the sport made its successful debut at Gold Coast, Australia. The Sri Lankan beach volleyball squad will be represented by Malintha Yapa and Ashen Rashmika for the Men’s events alongside Deepika Bandara and Chaturika Weerasinghe for the Women’s events.
PLAYER PROFILES
Malintha Yapa
LAC Malintha Yapa, born 7th May 1983, is a talented beach volleyball player in association with the Sri Lankan Air Force. Malintha Yapa holds several achievements in beach volleyball since the junior level. Malintha Yapa and Sergeant Asanka Pradeep of the SLAF won the Bronze medal at the Thailand Open Asian Beach volleyball Tour held at Trat in Thailand on 05 April 2012. This was the maiden international tour of the Leading Aircraftman Malintha. Men’s third-place playoff was claimed by the pairing of Malintha Yapa and W.L.S. Chinthaka at the National Beach Volleyball Championship held at Arugam in 2013.
Sri Lanka’s Asanka Pradeep Kumara and Malintha Yapa finished 3rd in Pool B in the Men’s Beach Volleyball competition at the 18th Asian Games Jakarta 2018. With the recent victory in Asian Qualifiers 2022, Negombo, Malintha Yapa is a confident sign of victory for Sri Lanka at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Birmingham.
Ashen Rashmika
22nd Aug 1997 born Ashen Rashmika is from the Sri Lankan Air Force. The Sunquick National Beach Volleyball Championships at the Sugathadasa New Beach Volleyball Courts on Saturday was one of the many accomplishments of Ashen Rashmika. The event was conducted by the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation. The Under-21 Men’s finals Sri Lanka Air Force (Ashen Rashmika and Kavindu Malinda) beat Davisamara Sports Club (Rehan Madusanka and Mihiranga Udayakumara) by 3 sets to 1. Scores: 21-12, 19-21, 15-10 and 17-15. The most interesting game was the Open final between Gold and Silver medallists at the SAG Games in Nepal, 2019, Air Force duo Asanka Kumara and Ashen Rashmika going down to Indika Tyronne and Jayan Sandu of the Army in a thrilling encounter. The Airmen duo kept the momentum to attain victory.
With the victory at the Asian Qualifiers 2022, Negombo Ashen Rashmika has secured a mark on the squad representing Sri Lanka at the international level. Ashen Rashmika is determined to achieve the best at Birmingham.
Deepika Bandara
MG Deepika Bandara(February 21, 1995) studied at National College, Trincomalee. Her interest to pursue volleyball since 2001 and deep love for the game from the beginning was her driving force for her selection to the national volleyball pool in 2017. Deepika Bandara is the only gold medal winner retained from the Central Asian Beach Volleyball tournament held in Negombo recently. Living in Kantale, Deepika works at MAS Casualline in Mawathagama. Sri Lanka’s Deepika Bandara and Dinesha Prasadani emerged champions when they beat Shehani Asanga and Sulochana Jayawardane in two straight sets (21-15, 21-10) in a home affair to bag the women’s gold medal at the inaugural Central Asian Beach Volleyball Championships. Deepika Bandara will vie for Sri Lanka to secure slots in the Commonwealth Games Beach Volleyball competition at Birmingham 2022.
Chaturika Weerasinghe
K.G Chathurika Madushani Weerasinghe(20th Jul 1991) is from the Sri Lankan Army who has qualified her talent to earn a spot on the National Beach Volleyball Pool. The Sri Lanka Beach Volleyball team took part in the Rio Olympics Beach Volleyball qualifying third round(016 AVC Continental Cup semi-finals). This is the first time that a Sri Lanka Beach Volleyball team is taking part in the Rio Olympics qualifying round. Chathurika Weerasinghe was part of the Sri Lanka team that qualified as the runners-up of the tournament held in India. Chathurika Weerasinghe was amongst Kasuni Tharuka, Deepika Bandara and Dinesha Prasadini of the women’s representative team at the 20th Asian Beach Tour Samila Open 2019 Songkla, Thailand organized by the Asian Volleyball Confederation.
Chathurika Weerasinghe and Hashini Malsha outplayed Maldives Aminath Rudhaina and Hawwa Nazima 21-04, 21-09 to clinch the bronze medal. The tournament where Sri Lanka women’s dominated this tournament by winning gold, silver and bronze medals. She is very talented and the wishes of the nation are with her throughout.
Final Thoughts
Sri Lanka’s beach volleyball players both, men and women, who made history at the Asian Qualifiers 2022 commenced their training in preparation for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games partnered by more players at the training session. Securing the continental berth at the Commonwealth Games Association our most qualified representatives are fueled up to bring recognition and fame to Sri Lanka.
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