Kandy Blues and President’s Ladies Vidyalaya, Sri Jayewardenepura became the champions in the highly contested encounters at the Masters Nationals 11-a side Iconic Phase II hockey showpiece worked off at the Astro Turf ground on Friday.
Kandy Blues beat Colombo Yellows in the Masters Women’s final by one goal to nil to grab the Masters Women championship as Ayesha Serasinghe scored in the fifth minute off a penalty corner and won the most outstanding player of this division.
Rupika de Silva of Colombo Yellows took the best goal keeper’s award. It was exciting to see most of the National lasses of yesteryear taking part in this tournament and some of them proved that they had not lost their skills with age no barrier.
The Masters Women’s tournament was held to select the preliminary pool of players for the Masters Women’s Hockey World Cup tournament to be held in England in July next year. President’s Ladies Vidayalaya, Sri Jayewardenepura scored a hard fought one nil win over the Jaffna District Combined Schools team to emerge champions in the Invitation Schools Hockey tournament. The winning goal was scored by Piyumi Rajapakse off a penalty corner in the 12th minute of the game.
In the schools section Vinotharaj Jesmina of Jaffna District Combined Schools team won the best goal keeper’s award while Sandunika Chaturangani went away with the Most Outstanding player award.
Shiranthi Rajapaksa the wife of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa graced the occasion as the chief guest and presented the main awards.