Rise in numbers at Masters basketball tournament | Page 2 | Sunday Observer

Rise in numbers at Masters basketball tournament

22 January, 2023
Gaja Sports CEO Gayath Jayasinghe and Gaja Sports Vice President Sahan Randima (left) handing over the sponsorship jersey to MBSL secretary Basil Silva (Pic by Sudath Malaweera)
Gaja Sports CEO Gayath Jayasinghe and Gaja Sports Vice President Sahan Randima (left) handing over the sponsorship jersey to MBSL secretary Basil Silva (Pic by Sudath Malaweera)

The eighth edition of the Masters basketball tournament sponsored for the second time by Gaja Sports will be held in February with the participation of 65 teams that is a big increase in participation.

This tournament, last held in 2021 will be played from February 3, 4, 5 and 10, 11, 12 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.

Teams from Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kandy, Kurunegala, Galle, Ambalangoda, Kegalle, Colombo, Wattala and Moratuwa have entered the competition.

This tournament is held for the age group of 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+ and 55+ for men and women.

A group of veterans that included Malsiri Perera and Jayanthan Jeewaratnam started the Veterans Basketball Association in 1999. It was transformed as Masters Basketball Sri Lanka (MBSL) and affiliated to USA World Masters Basketball Association in 2008. Deshamanya Dr Gayath Jayasinghe raised the profile of MBSL when he took over as president in 2018.

The Masters tournament was successfully held in 2021 despite the pandemic sponsored by Gaja Sports with the participation of 350 veteran players comprising 32 teams.

By seeing the results and enthusiasm of participants in the previous tournament, the MBSL was motivated to conduct another tournament for veterans this year. The number of entries has been doubled this time with 50 men and 15 women teams participating.

MBSL president Dr Jayasinghe expressed his gratitude to Gaja Sports and other co-sponsors for coming forward to support the Masters Basketball Championship amid global economic challenges.

For the first time in the history of veterans basketball in Sri Lanka, the entire tournament will be telecast live by the premier sports channel in Sri Lanka ‘Gaja TV’ on PEO TV channel 116.

Trophies and medals will be awarded to the finalists and Gaja Sports Vice President Sahan Randima said they have been sponsoring basketball and netball.  

Dr Jayasinghe, who is also CEO of Gaja Sports, said their main intention is to bring back players who love the sport and renew friendships and rivalry. In addition, they also aim to help the next generation in developing the sport by conducting coaching camps and clinics all over the island. (AO)

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