Top golfer Thuhashini not available for Queen Sirikit Cup

By Lal Gunesekera

GOLF: Sri Lanka’s best amateur golfer, Thuhashini Selvaratnam, will not be able to represent her country at the 30th Asia Pacific Ladies Invitational Team and Individual Golf Championship for the Queen Sirikit Cup to be staged in Japan on May 28, 29 and 30.

A spokesman for the Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU) told the Sunday Observer that Selvaratnam had informed them (the SLGU) that she is unable to play in this prestigious amateur tournament due to her programme is the USA. She is employed in the State of Arizona and is the State’s top amateur too.

“She was available if the original tournament was to be held in March at the Victoria Golf and Country Resort in Kandy. But unfortunately, the venue was shifted to Japan and the dates had to be changed as well due to security reasons.

The change was indicated to the SLGU by the secretariat based in Bangkok, Thailand in January” said the SLGU spokesman.

Another top amateur, Niloo Jayatilleke, has spinal problems and may not be fit enough to play in Japan, but the SLGU are hoping that she will recover in time.

Two players who are assured of berths are teenagers Dhanushki Senadhira and Maleena Awn. Sri Lanka hosted this prestigious event at the Nuwara-Eliya Golf Club (NEGC) in 1982 and were represented by Tiru Fernando, Yvonne Abhayaratne and Mira Lobo.

The inaugural tournament was held in 1979 and Sri Lanka played regularly upto 1984, but did not play from 1995 to 2003 due to the lack of “good” women players.

The 14 countries who will vie for honours in Japan will be: Australia, New Zealand, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, India, Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Japan.

Sri Lanka managed to finish fifth in the Team event at the 48th Amateur Golf Championship of Pakistan held earlier this month. Pakistan emerged champions with Bangladesh as the runners-up. Tissa Chandradasa and K. Prabagaran represented the Sri Lanka ‘A’ side that finished fifth, while the Sri Lanka ‘B’ team comprising Mithun Perera and Rakitha finished in seventh position.

In the gross event, Mithun Perera was second, Tissa Chandradasa fifth and Prabagaran 11th.