Asian Netball Association to try for sport inclusion in Asian Games
23/05/2007 |
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The newly elected President of the Asian Netball Association Tamara Dharmakeerthi Herath promised that she would press with the authorities to introduce the sport to the next Asian Games.
The former President of the Sri Lanka Netball Federation said that her main intention is to develop the sport and to make it one of the most popular indoor games in the region.
Dharmakeerthi Herath was elected uncontested as President at the annual general meeting of the Asian Netball Federation held in Singapore last week. She stressed the importance of popularising and introducing the game into more countries by organising several international tournaments.
The Asian Netball Federation comprises of thirteen countries including World champions Australia. In fact Dharmakeerthi Herath was recently appointed by the World Governing Body as the Development Director for the Asian Region.
She excelled in hockey and athletics at the beginning and represented Ladies College with distinction. She received colours in the high jump and hurdles event at the John Tarbet Public School meet and also captained the Ladies College netball team.
She had the honour of representing the national team at the World netball championships in Scotland in 1987. Dharmakeerthi Herath also functioned as the President of the Mercantile Netball Federation for a long period.
She entered into administration side of the game in 1995 and was the President of the Sri Lanka Netball Federation and the Interim Committee until 2005. Under her supervision Sri Lanka successfully hosted the Asian senior championships in 2001 and the Asian junior championships in 2004.
In addition Sri Lanka also hosted the Central Asian netball tournament and a triangular tournament in 2002.
Dharmakeerthi Herath was appointed as a selection committee member of the National Olympic Committee and also worked as an international co ordinating officer during the South Asian Games worked off in Colombo last year.
She also pioneered a project to provide relief to several families in the tsunami affected areas in the South through the courtesy of the World Netball Federation.
She said that she intend getting help from the World Body for the development of the sport in the Asian region and is also hoping to form a South Asian Netball Federation.
In fact Sri Lanka will conduct a four nation invitation netball tournament next month at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.
Pakistan, Maldives and India have already confirmed their participation and will compete along with the Sri Lanka Development pool. The tournament will be played on a league basis and the best two teams will clash in the final.
In addition the Barbados netball team will be in Sri Lanka to play a series of matches with the Sri Lanka national team in preparation for the World Championships to be held in October in Thailand.
Dharmakeerthi Herath said that she is planning to improve the standard throughout the Asian region by obtaining the services of some qualified coaches from reputed countries like Australia and New Zealand.
(Source: Qatarolympics.org)
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