National Women’s Team depart for WWC17 campaign
Colombo, 12th June 2017
The Sri Lanka Women’s National Team (WNT) will depart the island tomorrow (13) to engage in a 5-day conditioning & acclimatization programme ahead of their Women’s World Cup 2017 campaign which commences with a game against New Zealand on the 24th of June.
The Women’s National team, led by Captain Inoka Ranaweera, have been engaged in an intensive training schedule under Head Coach Hemantha Devapriya over the past 45 days, most recently concluding a five-day residential camp at the recently opened SLC Centre of Excellence in Kandy.
The WWC squad consists of;
Inoka Ranaweera (Captain) Prasadani Weerakkodi (Vice Captain) Shashikala Sriwardena, Chamari Athapaththu, Eshani Lokusooriya, Dilani Manodara, Sripali Weerakkody, Udeshika Prabodani Nipuni Hansika, Hasini Perera, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Harshitha Madawi, Ama Kanchana, Chamari Polgampola and Chandima Gunarathne.
Head Coach Hemantha Devapriya was confident in the preparations undertaken by the team ahead of the tournament;
“The team have worked really hard in preparation and have been a 100% committed in every way. It is really great to see how much effort and preparation has gone in, and this is not only on the field – the ladies have spent time in psychological motivation, etiquette, language, grooming and deportment sessions as well. They are as prepared as we can make them in every way. It’s now up to them to go out there and perform in the middle, the way I know they will.” (Hemantha Devapriya)
National Captain Inoka Ranaweera thanked the Board for its unprecedented support stating;
“This is the first time we have been given this type of support from the board. We have been given the best coaches and facilities. Mr. Devapriya has worked with us on areas of our batting that we didn’t even know we were weak in, and our specialist coaches have really put us through our paces.
The training camp in Kandy and the opportunity to visit the Sri Dalada Maligawa on Poson poya day were a great thing for us as a team – it really helped us to come together as a unit and I know that will make a big difference to how we play together.” (Inoka Ranaweera)
The five-day high intensity residential camp in Kandy saw the ladies undertake strenuous sessions with batting being overseen by Head Coach Hemantha Devapriya, Spin Bowling by Asst. Coach Oshadee Weerasingha, Fast Bowling by Ravindra Pushpakumara and Fielding by Lanka de Silva who have prepared intensive schedules based on individual requirements of each player.
