By Indrajith Subasinghe

[caption id="attachment_149903" align="alignnone" width="729"] Sri Lanka beat fancied Uzbekistan 3-0 on Wednesday (14) at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo and thus booked a berth in the Asian Volleyball Championship, slated to be held in Japan in September[/caption]

Sri Lanka’s national volleyball team beat strong Uzbekistan 3-0 on Wednesday (14) at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo to qualify for the 21st Asian Volleyball Championship, which is to be held in Japan in September.

Significantly, Sri Lanka who were hampered by the absence of their three key players, including the main ‘setter’, had to take on a fancied Uzbek side which included much taller spikers who had invaluable European and Turkish Leagues experience.

Uzbekistan were 21-20 up in the first round but the hosts advanced by two straight points that moment, a one-point lead which they maintained till the end of that round winning it 25-23.

The second round saw the Lankans gaining total control of the proceedings, once enjoying a 11-4 lead in that round. By the time of the second technical time-out, they led 16-8 and ended up winning that round with relative ease by 25-13.

[caption id="attachment_149904" align="alignnone" width="458"] A stunning attack by the Lankans over taller, stronger, and much experienced Uzbeks[/caption]

Complacency almost took its toll for the Lankans in the third round. Whenever their Captain Janith Surath moved to the back court, the Uzbeks advanced and took the lead.

By the time the second technical time-out was taken in the third round, the Lankans were trailing 8-16. Then they scored four straight points and narrowed the score-line gap to 18-20.

In that moment, Tharusha Chamath’s fine serves gave Sri Lanka another four-in-a row and also the win in the third round by 25-22.

The victory gave Sri Lanka a place in the September Asiad from the central Asian region. But for a few noticeable shortcomings in the serving department, the Lankans showed a good all-round display in the match. Their defence in particular looked markedly impressive.

Sri Lanka’s Captain Surath used in the game his valuable experience gained in the Thailand professional volleyball circuit while the 21-year-old Mahela Indeewara and 17-year-old schoolboy player Tharusha Chamath excelled in the match to give the hosts control over the strong Uzbeks from the first round itself.

That is only to show promise and hope for the local volleyball fans for the future.