The Sri Lanka sevens team that has been relatively successful in the recent past will be leaving to China tomorrow evening for the Asian Games that will take place on the 20th and 21st. The team which will comprise of a 12 man squad will be captained once again by Radhika Hettiarachchi. Two replacements have been made since the team’s last outing to Singapore.
Making his debut is former Royalist and CR&FC player Bilal Hassen, and Kandy’s veteran Mohamed Sheriff who have been infused into the side in place of Romesh Archirige and Dinusha Chaturanga. Bilal earned his selection for his outstanding performance playing for John Keels Holdings at the mercantile 7’s concluded last weekend. He dominated proceedings in the final displaying his skills and heart to a packed rugby audience at the CR & FC on Sunday. His powerful hits and immense lower body strength will give the Lankans some much needed size though questions can be raised on his fitness level as he has not been training with the present sevens squad which is at a peak level of fitness at the moment. Mohamed Sheriff who represented the champions MAS Holdings on the other hand had a mediocre performance at the Mercantile 7’s and has not played to his previous level.
Top players of Sri Lanka sevens opted out of the previous tours sighting various different reasons. Some even had other agendas. Including them in the squad this way would mean that the players who trained hard and made the country proud at the Hong Kong sevens as well as the Dubai sevens will now be gently edged out.
The squad that will be leaving tomorrow is mentioned below;
Radhika Hettiarachchi (prop) Sajith Saranga (prop), Charit Seneviratne (Hooker/ scrum half), Shenal Dias (prop), Bilal Hassen (hooker) Dilan Soysa (half back), Srinath Sooriyabandara (half back/ fly half), Chanaka Chandimal (fly half), Anurudhdha Wilwara (center), Mohamed Sheriff (Center), Vishvamithra Jayasinghe (wing), Saliya Handapangoda (wing)
Inthi Marrikkar will continue his responsibilities as coach along with Christopher Jordashe who will manage the side.
The draw for the Asian games has not been released as yet.
Log on to rugbylanka.blogspot.com for the latest news on the team’s performance.
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