Poor showing by Sri Lanka at Junior Davis Cup and Fed-Cup
 

by Lal Gunasekera

Sri Lanka fared disastrously at the Junior Davis Cup (Asia/Oceania qualifying zone) at Kuchin, Sarawak in Malaysia recently by ending up in 20th position out of 20 countries that participated.

Thailand took first place with Australia and Japan as the first and second runners-up, followed by South Korea, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, China, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong, Pakistan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Singapore, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka represented by Michael Siyaguna, Artha Hewacottage and Thangaraja Dineshkantha, lost to Uzbekistan (0-3), Philippines (0-3), Hong Kong (0-3), Singapore (0-3), and Myanmar (0-3). Sri Lanka's non-playing captain was former national champion and a Davis Cup veteran, Jayendra Wijesekera.

Even at the Junior Federation Cup, Sri Lanka, ended in 15th position out of 16 countries that took part and were ahead of only Pakistan whom they beat 3-0.

China took the first place with Australia as the runners-up, followed by Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Sri Lanka represented by Jithmi Jayawickreme, Nilupul Gunasekera and Amritha Muttiah with Mahesha Seneviratne as non-playing captain, lost to Singapore (0-3), Malaysia (0-3), Japan (0-3), and South Korea (0-3).

The Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) must be a disappointed lot after all the finances that have been pumped in for the development of the sport, particularly the juniors, who have let them (the SLTA)down badly.

India's Aishwarya Agrawal and Francis Alcantara of the Philippines won four titles each at two "back to back" Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) under-14 series tournaments worked off on the clay courts of the National Tennis Centre (NTC) in Greenpath recently.

Aishwarya won her first Girls' Singles title beating Shweta Rana also of India 7-5, 6-2 in the first tournament, while partnered by Lihitha Devraj also of India won the Girls' Doubles title in straight sets (6-4, 6-2), over India's Shweta Rana and Sri Lanka's Amritha Muttiah.

Francis Alcantara won the Boys' Singles title at this tournament beating Japan's Kyehhie Komeme 7-5, 6-4 and then partnered by Huan Los Santos of Malaysia won the Boys' Doubles title beating the Indian pair of Arjav Hsnsoti and Vishwesh Sinha in a three setter (6-0, 2-6, 6-2).

India's Aishwarya also won the Girls' Singles title even in the second tournament beating Yamini Reddy also of India in straight sets (6-0, 6-2) and then partnered by Likitha Devraj also of India won the Girls' Doubles title with another straight sets (6-0, 6-3) win over yet another Indian combination of Yamini Reddy and Shweta Rana.

Francis Alcantara of the Philippines won the Boys' Singles title again beating India's Vishwesh Sinha in straight sets (6-1, 6-3) and then partnered by Malaysia's Juan Los Santos won the Boys' Doubles title beating the Indian pair of Sai Teja Paladugu and Vishwesh Sinha in straight sets (6-3, 6-4).

Players from Malaysia, Philippines, India, Japan, Thailand and Sri Lanka played at these two "back to back" tournaments of the ATF conducted by the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA).