Lankans aim high in Davis Cup

The Sri Lanka team for the Davis Cup (Asia/Oceania Zone Group III) to be staged in Manila, Philippines from July 19 to 23 are presently undergoing final preparations at the Asian Tennis Academy in Bangkok, Thailand. They left for Manila yesterday from Bangkok.

According to team sources, youngsters Harshana Godamanne and Amrith Rupasinghe will play in the Singles, while the Doubles combination will be veteran Rohan de Silva and Rajiv Rajapakse.

The Sri Lanka team is managed by Vasantha Wijesekera with former national champion Jayendra Wijesekera, himself a former Davis Cup veteran, as non-playing captain.

The Sri Lankans are aiming high - finish among the top two, and secure promotion to Group II next year (2007) and the other countries vying for honours in Manila are Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Myanmar.

The draw takes place in Manila on Tuesday (July 18) with the eight countries drawn into two groups with the top two sides in each group qualifying for the final play-off to decide the sides to gain promotion.

Sri Lanka were fourth last year (2005), and the toughest opposition for them will be from the Philippines and Vietnam who will field their US based players.

(L.G.)