Singer Asiad promises a week of exciting rugby

Rugby mania creeps into the city as the much anticipated Singer Rugby Asiad 2007 kicks off in Colombo on November 3rd, inciting a week of exciting rugby for the passionate crowd that follow the game dearly. The tournament draw took place on Thursday (11th ) in a media briefing at Colombo Galadari Hotel.

Ten countries had confirmed their participation for the long awaited event. Sri Lanka, the hosts, after a lot of speculation with regard to security matters had finally managed to convince the respective nations, though despondently failing to add the giants of Asian Rugby - Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, Arabian Gulf and Singapore to the tournament. The absence of fancied teams leaves a huge vacuum that cannot be filled with countries like Iran and Qatar.

DIG Nimal Lewke, President, SLRFU, speaking at the media briefing emphasized the amount of hard work that his committee has put on to make this event a reality as once it was slipping through their hands making lives difficult for them. He also thanked Palitha Kohona, the Secretary to the Foreign Ministry, for the yeoman service he rendered to meet the foreign diplomats to discuss the issues that once hampered the progress of the tournament. He also thanked Milinda Moragoda, the Tourism Minister, for his helping hand. He, however admitted that although the big names of Asian Rugby are missing in the tourney, the big six nations in the tournament at the moment are evenly matched and spectators could expect nail biting finishes and exciting rugby over the week.

The top six ranked countries in the tournament had been drawn into 2 groups in the division 1 segment leaving relative new comers Iran, Qatar, Pakistan and India in Division II. The top seed Kazakhstan is in the Group A while the second seed Sri Lanka heads Group B. Malaysia and China are being drawn with Sri Lanka in Group B while Chinese Taipei and Thailand are with Kazakhstan in Group A. The winners of Group A and B would play for the Cup Championship while the runners up of each group would play for the Plate Championship leaving the losers to lock horns for the Bowl Championship. Division II countries India, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar would play each other for the Shield Championship.

Asitha Abeysekara, Marketing Director of Singer Sri Lanka, speaking on behalf of the title sponsor expressed his keenness to see a packed stadium for each match. He further emphasized that rugby is one sport that is run in a professional manner in this country and therefore have no hesitation whatsoever to sponsor the mega event.

Suren Amarasekara, CEO of Mobitel Sri Lanka, the co-sponsor of the tournament said that they intended sponsoring this event due to three reasons. Firstly, as the National Mobile Service Provider they too intend to take their name into the international level sponsoring such a big event which draws international attention. Secondly, they as the co-sponsors feel that Sri Lanka Rugby is in safe and professional hands with the caliber of men like DIG Nimal Lewke, President of the SLRFU, Dilroy Fernando, Executive Director of SLRFU and their professional committee. Thirdly, because of the title sponsor Singer Sri Lanka who indeed invited Mobitel Sri Lanka to sponsor the event. He also pledged that they would continue their association with Sri Lankan Rugby in the years to come.