Royal College and Visakha Vidyalaya emerged as the champions in the Junior National Water Polo Championship held on Friday at the Sri Lanka Air Force Swimming Pool Complex.
In the boys’ category, Royal College secured a resounding victory by defeating their arch rivals, S Thomas’ College, with a scoreline of 14-6 in the final. The battle for the third-place spot saw DS Senanayake Vidyalaya outplaying Nalanda College with a decisive 10-2 win.
The girls’ segment saw Visakha Vidyalaya dominating the competition, clinching the championship title after an impressive 8-0 victory against Viharamahadevi Balika Vidyalaya Kiribathgoda. The Visakha Vidyalaya team, featuring the skills of two Sri Lanka Junior players, Rohansa Vidyaratne and Poojani Sankalpana, demonstrated exceptional teamwork.
In the third-place match, Bishop’s College secured a 4-1 win against Gothami Balika Vidyalaya. The championship commenced with gripping first-round matches, where Royal College defeated St John’s College Nugegoda by a substantial 21-3, and Nalanda College triumphed over Ananda College with a close score of 7-6. S Thomas’ College showcased their strength with an 11-4 victory over Thurstan College.
The subsequent rounds intensified the competition, with Royal College overpowering Nalanda College by an impressive 17-1, and S Thomas’ College dominating DS Senanayake College with an overwhelming 26-2 margin.
In the girls’ segment, Viharamahadevi Balika Vidyalaya secured a 7-3 win against Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Bishop’s College triumphed over Ladies’ College with a score of 7-2, and Visakha Vidyalaya emerged victorious against Bishop’s College with a commanding 17-7 win.
SAJEEWA JAYAKODY