Two new teams, the Prisons Department and Kotelaawala Defence University (KDU) are expected to take part in the National Baseball Championship for the first time which will commence tomorrow at Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex grounds. The final will be held on January 21.
The President of the Sri Lanka Baseball Association Asanga Seneviratne said there are 19 teams which will take part in this major tournament and hope to see good competition among these teams.
Three Forces teams and a few old boys teams of Royal, Richmond, Ananda, Nalanda and Ranabima Royal College Peradeniya will compete in this tournament, which is the first tournament for 2024.
Baseball is a very popular game in Japan and the USA, and it brings in good tourist income. We want to popularise this game, especially in outstation areas and at school level. Despite the National Olympic Committee cancelling our Baseball Association membership, stating that it is not an Olympic sport, and we find this decision unfair. We want to get support from the new Sports Minister Harin Fernando Sports Director General Dr. Shemal Fernando and Secretary K. Mahesan to uplift Baseball.
Earlier, the Sport Ministry agreed to give land from Kotte but it did not work out and we hope a new Minister who is also Lands Minister to get support to build up this sport said Asanga.
Today I had got this new post of Baseball to promote the game as it is an expensive game like Basketball and we hope to give much exposure for our local players added Seneviratne.
Meanwhile, apart from the champion and runners-up trophies the special award of most valuable player, best batter, best fielder, and best pitcher will receive awards at the awards ceremony.
Mark Fonseka the Secretary of the Baseball Association said so many players from rural areas have taken to this sport and few players already play in the foreign leagues and this is a good move.
Theekshana Gammanpila the Chief Executive Officer of Baseball said that baseball players have limited opportunities to get exposure, while school players and four University players will take part in the National Championship and hope to conduct more domestic tournaments to promote this sport.
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