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By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr.

Fifteen year-old Sukkitha Wickremanayake of Dharmaraja College, Kandy, came up with a fine performance to win four titles at the Central Province, Sabaragamuwa Province and North Western Province Triangular table tennis championship organised by the Old Rajans Table Tennis Association and revived after a lapse of twenty years. The tourney was worked off at the Gymnasium of the University of Peradeniya.

Over 300 paddlers participated in this championship which gave an opportunity even those who were under seven years to participate and get the necessary exposure.

Sukkitha Wickremanayake, without any trouble was the star of the meet. Ranked No. 3 in under 15 and ranked No. 2 in under 17, he first won boys under 15 championship and followed up by winning the boys under 17 and the under 19 titles. He put the icing on the cake with victory in the Men's doubles partnered by A. Tillekaratne of Sri Sumangala College, Kandy. He was also adjudged the Best Player among the boys in the championship.

Srimalie Wimalaratne of Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala who won two titles _ the Women's Open Singles and the Women's Doubles was adjudged the Best Player among the girls.

The Men's Open Singles was won by Sri Lanka under 17 rank No. 1 Gihan Liyanage of Dharmaraja College. In the under 19 boys finals, Gihan Liyanage won the first set but lost the next three in-a-row to finish runner-up.

Dharmaraja College and Holy Family Convent won the boys and girls titles.

Srimalie Wimalaratne was the outstanding player among the girls.

She started in an inauspicious manner as she lost the girls under 19 title to Nadini Abeygunawardena in three straight sets, but fought back to win the 'plum' the Women's Open title by defeating Hashani Wickremasinghe of Mahamaya Girls College quite comfortably 11/1, 11/6, and 11/5. Next partnered by Jayamali Udagedera, this duo beat Nadini Abeygunawardena and S. Silva in the Women's Doubles 11/3, 11/8, 11/8.

The big contribution made by Sukkitha Wickremanayake helped Dharmaraja College to lift the championship trophy for boys.

Among the girls there was a lot of consistency among the paddlers from Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala which helped them to win the team championship for girls.

They had three winners in the finals and also several finalists.

Gihan Liyanage ranked high in the under 17, re-couped his earlier loss by snatching the Men's Open Singles title by defeating J. S. Cooray of St. Anthony's College 11/7, 4/11, 11/2 and 11/6.

Though sparkling in patches, he did well in his placements and his control over drop shots.

Most Outstanding Player (Boys): Sukkitha Wickremanayake (Dharmaraja College)

Most Outstanding Player (Girls): Srimalie Wimalaratne (HFC Kurunegala)

Champion School (Boys): Dharmaraja College, Kandy

Champion School (Girls): Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala.

The Principal Dharmaraja College, Kandy S. M. Keerthiratne was the chief quest and he distributed the main awards while Deepika Rodrigo (Lake House) and Tillina Piyadasa both former National Champions who hailed from Kandy were the guests of honour and they were felicitated by the organisers for their achievements in the field of table tennis that brought honour and glory to their hometown, Kandy.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.