Kandy’s sportsmen and sportswomen are proud of their achievements and they made a name, mainly due to the keenness, the backing they got from parents, schools and coaches. Today the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Sport: Mental Health Implications on sports lovers. Kandy has produced national-level competitors in a wide range of sports, including cricket, rugby, football, swimming, field hockey, athletics, table tennis, boxing, basketball, golf, and even baseball, which has only been introduced to Kandy recently. Kandy has produced national captains of cricket and rugby and athletics that play at the highest level of all sports.
Anyway rugger is the king of local sports, as the speed and intensity of the game increases and the number of phases of play multiplies. Players tend to become somewhat oblivious to their basic roles in retaining possession and maintaining continuity of the game. At club level Kandy Sports Club has been dominating the rugby scene for nearly 29 years, thanks to the players who gave their best. At school level all schools Trinity, Kingswood, St. Anthony’s, Vidyartha, Dharmarajah, St. Sylvester’s, Sri Rahula and Sri Sumangala play the game at the highest level. The game of cricket takes pride of place at school level. The schools that are at the top are: Trinity, St. Anthony’s, Dharmarajah, St. Sylvester’s, Sri Sumangala, Kingswood, Sri Rahula and also clubs in the domestic tournaments are at their best. Kandy should be proud of cricket, produced the best spinner in the game Muttiah Muralitharan and also a world class bat in Kumar Sangakkara. Football at one time was the most popular sport, known as the common man’s game. It has sadly taken a back seat in the recent past. Hockey the game is very popular among the schools both boys and girls and clubs. At swimming schools, especially Mahamaya and Hillwood dominate. Trinity College too are good in the sports, and they have produced several top champion teams, with individuals ranking at the top. Now Dharmaraja and Kingswood too are in the swim. Boxing remains a popular sport among the schools. One time kings of the ring was St. Sylvester’s and they continue the good work. Other schools who took a keen interest in the sport was Peradeniya MMV, Sarasavi Uyana. Now Vidyartha along with Kingswsood and Dharmaraja, they have taken to the sport and are doing well. The first school which donned gloves in Kandy was Trinity in 1906. Netball is also popular and Girls High School doing well. Hillwood, Mahamaya, St Anthony’s Convent, Pushpadana, Swarnamali, Hemamali, and all the International schools take the game seriously. Netball was first played in Sri Lanka in 1921. The first game was played by Ceylon Girl Guide Company at Kandy High School. The first inter-school match was played between Kandy High School and C.M.S. Ladies’ College, Colombo in February 1925.
In Athletics all schools have in their curriculum and are doing very well in this field. Every school promotes it in the correct way and has their annual inter-house athletic meets on a grand scale, but last two years no sports meets were held. Table tennis is also popular; there is a hope as there are many schools and clubs who are capable of giving a hand. There is somewhat a lack of interest in Badminton sport; something must be done to lift the game. Volleyball, at a certain time Volleyball was a popular game, and today the much needed support is not there for the game. Basketball continues to produce talented players. Most of the schools that play basketball have done well and have won many tournaments. Same in the club sector. Chess today is very popular only sport which is played on internet today. Trinity, Dharmaraja, Kingswood, Vidyartha, Sri Sumangala, St. Sylvester’s, Chandrananda Buddhists School, St. Anthony’s doing their best among the boys. Mahamaya, Hillwood, Girls High School, Pushpadana, Swarnamali, Hemamali, Seetha Devi and some of the International schools in girls’ tournaments. Karate youngsters have done well in tournaments held. Softball cricket is very popular and over here only sport which is played by men on and off. Carom is also a popular sport in Kandy. Bodybuilding and Weightlifting is given the best of support by some schools and also by the YMCA and YMBA. Billiards and Snooker at club level has taken a nosedive, only YMBA and Public Services Club give a hand, in early days many clubs promoted but today only at parlors the game is live. Cycling is also popular in Kandy and there had been races on many occasions. Lawn Tennis, which was a popular sport in Kandy, now not so.
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