24th December 2023 23:55:12 Hours
The final match of the 'Army Commander’s Challenge Trophy – Inter club Basketball Tournament 2023' kicked off at Panagoda Army Indoor Stadium on Friday (22 December). Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Commander of the Army was there as the Chief Guest to witness the finals.
In order to revitalize and grant a new lease of life to Basketball game at national level, the first-ever ‘Army Commander’s Challenge Trophy Basketball Tournament’ began at Panagoda Army Cantonment on 15 December, following an initiative taken by Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army.
A total of 9 island-wide basketball teams, including teams of the Colombo Basketball Club, Baffaloes Basketball Club, Moratuwa Basketball Club, Wattala Basketball Club, Gaja TV Basketball Club, RBC Basketball Club, the Army, Navy and Air Force joined the tournament at Panagoda. The Sri Lanka Army Basketball team and Colombo Basketball Club got selected for the final tussle.
Major General S.A Kulatunge RWP RSP VSV USP, Chairman, Army Basketball Committee warmly welcomed the Commander of the Army on his arrival at the Indoor Stadium. Afterwards, both team captains introduced their team players to the Commander of the Army before the commencement of the match.
After the competitive tussle, the Colombo Basketball Club won the championship while the Sri Lanka Army Basketball team secured the runner-up slot in the 'Army Commander’s Challenge Trophy – Inter Club Basketball Tournament 2023'.
Amid cheers and applause, the Commander of the Army was invited to present the trophies to the winning teams.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Brigadier M.P.S.P Kulasekara WWV RWP RSP Secretary of the Army Basketball Committee. At the end of the day’s event, Major General S.A Kulatunge RWP RSP VSV USP, Chairman, Army Basketball Committee presented a memento to the Commander of the Army.
The ‘Army Commander’s Challenge Trophy Basketball Tournament’ which will be an annual event hereafter also aims to identify talented and potential basketball players who could be absorbed into the national pool in the long run and elevate the game to high standards across the country in time to come.
The tournament, organized by Sri Lanka Army Basketball Committee under the close supervision of Major General S.A Kulatunge RWP RSP VSV USP, Chairman, Army Basketball Committee and Brigadier M.P.S.P Kulasekara WWV RWP RSP, Secretary of the Army Basketball Committee would usher in a complete revival of the game at national level.
Mrs. Janaki Liyanage, President of Army Seva Vanitha Unit, Senior Officers, Officers and Other Ranks witnessed the final match.
