|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 15 September 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Amrit creates tennis history by DINESH WEERAWANSA Fifth seed Amrit Rupasinghe of Sri Lanka created local tennis history when he became the first Sri Lankan junior ever to win an ITF Junior International tournament. He achieved this feat when he beat sixth seed Wu Yu Chang of Taiwan 7-6 (5), 6-1 in the final to emerge boys singles champion at the ITF Under-18 Junior International Tournament worked off at the National Tennis Centre courts, Colombo on Friday. Arjan Perera, Vice President of the SLTA, said this is the first time that a Lankan has won a ITF Junior International tournament, though Umesh Waaloopillai has emerged champion at the Asian Junior tournament. Fifteen-year-old Rupasinghe, a student of St. Thomas Kollupitiya, prevailed over the third seed Royalist, Godamanne, 6/3, 2/6, 6/2 in the semi-finals. Chang, who toppled the top seed and compatriot, Hsieh Wang Cheng, 54th in world junior ranking, 6/4, 6/4 in 90 minutes lost the first set to Rupasinghe 6-7 after a keen tussle. But the lad from Taipei failed to maintain the same form and lost the second set without much fight 1-6 and with it the final tie. Rupasinghe, who created history by winning the International Tennis Federation's junior circuit tournament that was hosted by the Sri Lanka Tennis Association Courts, earned 30 ITF ranking points for his yesterday's title win. Players from Taiwan, Maldives, India, Thailand and China participated in this tournament along with the Sri Lankan juniors. 21 Sri Lankan boys figured in the main draw in the boy's event and 9girls in the Girls event. In the Girls event the Thai girls stopped the Sri Lankan challenge. Mahesha Senaviratne lost to Prim Buralee 6/2 7/5 and Jancy Paramanathan who was the second seed lost to the less fancied and unseeded R. Chaichanachaicharn 6/3 6/3. Rupasinghe, by winning this tournament, will improve on his world ranking and also makes Sri Lankan tennis take its first big step into international competitions. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
