On September 11, 2022, the Sri Lanka National Netball Team asserted their continental supremacy by defeating host nation Singapore 63–53 at the OCBC Arena to win the 2022 Asian Netball Championship. Completing an emphatic, undefeated tournament run, this victory marked Sri Lanka’s record sixth Asian crown (following titles in 1989, 1997, 2001, 2009, and 2018) and secured direct qualification for the 2023 Netball World Cup in South Africa. After trailing in the opening quarter, Sri Lanka mounted a commanding tactical comeback rallied by captain Gayanjali Amarawansa, resolute circle defending, and the extraordinary accuracy of iconic goal shooter Tharjini Sivalingam, who was crowned the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Masterminded by legendary head coach Hyacinth Wijesinghe—who led the nation to Asian netball titles across four separate decades—the triumph became part of an unforgettable ‘Golden Sunday’ for Sri Lanka. Within hours of the netball final, the Sri Lankan men’s cricket team captured the Asia Cup title in Dubai, producing a rare and joyous double continental victory. Overcoming significant national challenges and resource constraints, the team’s resilience, teamwork, and sportsmanship provided an enduring source of pride and inspiration for school students across the nation.