SRI - South Asian Beach Games host 3x3 in Sri Lanka

HAMBANTOTA (3x3) - The first-ever South Asian Beach Games are currently taking place in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, between 8 and 14 October and include 3x3 basketball as an official discipline.

A total of eight countries are competing in the Games, of which Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and India are taking part in the 3x3 tournament.

One of the most notable highlights is the presence of Sri Lanka's Praneeth Udumalage, who featuat the FIBA 3x3 Youth World Championship in Rimini, Italy just last month. Sri Lanka finished eighth in that tournament and one cannot doubt that the experience is on their side.

Hambantota was one of the many remote towns destroyed by the Tsunami in 2004. Rebuilding efforts have changed it into a rising city. The local crowd is still fairly unfamiliar with 3x3 but the Sri Lankan Basketball Federation feels that the Beach Games are a great way to promote the ever rising sport.

"I am sure that the next local event planned to be held in the capital city of Colombo will be an even bigger success." said Chandana Liyanaga, Secretary General of Sri Lanka Basketball Federation.

To give it a unique feeling the organizers decided to lay a court on the beach, even though "leveling became a very tedious job" the result is mesmerizing. 

Mention needs to be made of the support from several local sponsors such as KIK Cola, Bank of Ceylon and Telecommunication Mobitel who have contributed to the Beach Games as well as 3x3 basketball.

FIBA