The 37th ‘National Squash Championship - 2017’ organized by Sri Lanka Army for the commenced yesterday at the Sugathadasa Squash complex and will come to an end on 19 Tuesday. This was disclosed to the media at press briefing held at the Media Centre, Ministry of Defence on Monday.
For the first time Sri Lanka army has come forward to conduct the championship said the Army Squash Committee Chairman Brigadier Indrajith Vidyananda.
The Army has taken the decision with the view of encouraging the sport lovers to develop this sport on a big way.
The national championship organized by Sri Lanka Squash Association in association with Ministry of Sports and Army Squash Committee will take played under eight categories. The Men’s and Women’s open titles will be the most interesting and most competitive events that are to be worked off on the final day of the Championship.
Over 100 national level squash players have entered the fray to battle it out for supremacy while showcasing their talents during these three days of the championship.
On the final day Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, will attend as the chief guest and will give away the awards to winners.
Squash was introduced to the country in 1906 by the Britishers and it was only in 1981 that the sport was recognized as a professional sport in the country patronized under the Ministry of Sports and accredited under the Asian Squash Federation.
Major General Roshan Senevirathne, Military Spokesperson and Director General Media at the Army Headquarters, Brigadier H.G.I Vidyananda, Chairman, Sri Lanka Army Squash Committee, Brigadier Anura Sudasinghe, Director Sports at the Army Headquarters, Air Commodore A. Abeysekara (Rtd), Chairman, National Squash Association, Commander, W.S.P Jayawardene (Rtd), Secretary, National Squash Association, Lance Corporal H.M.W.I Chathuranga, Army Squash Player and a few more Officers of the Peoples Bank head office were also associated with the press briefing.