Kandy School Blues team and Galle School Golds team were declared joint boys’ champions while Puttalam Schools team emerged girls champions at the 55th inter district Combined Schools under- 20 hockey championship at the Astro turf at Reid Avenue last Friday.
The boys’ final between Kandy Blues and Galle Golds ended in a 1-1 draw to be declared joint champions after a thrilling contest.
Kushan Ratnasooriya of Galle and Bhanuka Ranasinghe of Kandy scored the goals.
According to the secretary of the Schools Hockey Association, Anuradha Herath Bandara, after four years this tourney saw a very competitive standard among the school district teams indicating a good sign for the future.
“Our aim is the promote hockey through schools which is the launching platform of any type of sport.
“We the Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association together with the Education Ministry put in a lot of effort for success of this tournament all over the country.
Our intention is very clear as we wanted to promote this game among the schools and not limit it to Kandy, Matale, Galle and Colombo schools,” said Bandara who was the former National coach with more than 30 years experience.
At the girls’ final, Puttalam Schools team defeated Kandy Blues while Matale schools Gold team and Colombo Red teams won the girls and boys third places respectively.
Tharusha Pallewatte of Kandy Blues team and Nipuni Ishara Fernando of Puttalam Schools team were adjudged best player at the boys and girls category.
Avishka Maduwantha of Galle Gold team and Neeliya Kaushani of the Puttalam team were named best Goal Keepers of this tournament.
This was the first time the Puttalam Schools team reached the final of this tournament and were lucky to win the title defeating Kandy Blues (2-0).