Dr. Nimal Lucas wins 7 Golds in TT at New Zealand Masters Games

Table Tennis: To win nine medals (seven golds and two bronze) at one tournament calls for sheer dedication to that particular sport. In Sri Lanka there is one such dedicated person and he happens to be a doctor - Dr. Gerard Nimal Lucas whose life outside the stethoscope and possible medicinal cures has been to widen his knowledge and establish himself as a table tennis player of repute. He won all the medals at the New Zealand Masters Games T.T. in Wanganui 9 in February.

The mere mention of the name Dr. Nimal Lucas will bring many stories related to the game of table tennis and this has been made possible due to his perseverance in taking the game forward. Though he is now catching up on his age, he is still keen on the game and ever willing to teach the up-and-coming youngsters the finer points of the game.

That Dr. Lucas captained Sri Lanka in table tennis is known to all and sundry and in the good old days when he was young (1966-71) and having learnt the rudiments at an early age, brought out the best in him. To recall all his early victories is just not possible, but the recent good showing by him at the New Zealand Masters Games Table Tennis Championships held in Wanganui in February this year, speaks well about the skills he has mastered all these years.

Take the New Zealand Masters Games, Dr. Lucas participated in the over 55 years (55 to 64 years), over 65 (65 to 69 years), and over 70 (70 and over) categories.

In the over 55 years category, he won gold medals in the men's singles event and in the mixed doubles event (partnered Annice Robottom). In the men's doubles event he won a bronze medal (partnered by Jim Jarmin). In the two person team event he combined with Paul Johnston to win a bronze medal.

Came the over 65 age category, Nimal Lucas won gold medals in the men's singles event, men's doubles event (partnered by Robert Dunn) and in the mixed doubles event. (partnered by Ngaire Garett). This is the first time that a veteran Sri Lankan table tennis player has won so many medals in a single international tournament.

As a veteran table tennis player Dr. Lucas has a very encouraging international record. In July 2005, Dr. Lucas partnered by Mohamed Lafeer won the over 55 age group men's doubles silver medal at the World Masters Games Table Tennis Championships held in Edmonton, Canada. He won a bronze medal in the men's singles over 50 category at the South African Masters Games Championships held in Nelson Mandela Bay in April 2006. Then in 2007 in the New Zealand Masters Games TT in Wanganui, he won a gold medal in the over 55 team event (partnered by S. S. de Silva and M.M.M. Lafeer), a silver in the over 65 men's doubles (partnered by R. A. Wimalasena) and 4 bronze medals (over 65 years men's doubles, over 65 years mixed doubles, over 35 years men's singles and over 65 men's mixed doubles).

In 2009 in February, he won gold in the over 55 men's singles, over 65 men's singles and over 65 men's doubles event and bronze medal in the over 35 years team event.

May 2010, he was a semifinalist in men's singles (65 to 69 age group) and in the Open Handicap Singles at Stockholm, Sweden 2010 Veteran Open TT he won cash awards instead of medals.

Then in September 2010 partnered by Mohamed Lafeer, Dr. Lucas won the 60-64 age group men's doubles bronze medal at the 16th International Veteran TT Yourney held in Antalya, Turkey.