Sri Lanka sends 18-member team for Thailand Junior TT tourneys

by Upananda JAYASUNDERA - Kandy Sports Special Cor.

TABLE TENNIS: Sri Lanka Junior National Table Tennis Team is participating in the Thailand Junior & Cadet Open International Table Tennis championship and ITTF World Junior Circuit Table Tennis championship that started yesterday and goes on till 9 May 2012 in Pattaya, Thailand.

The 18-member team dominating outstation schools have to compete in under 12, 15 & 18 age categories.

W.A. Buddhasiri - former National player & Vice President of TTASL (Manager/Coach), former National Champion Namal Gunasekara (Coach - Under 15 Team), Thushara Sampath (Coach - Under 12 Team) and Mrs. M.A.R. Pathirana (Lady in charge) are accompanying with the team.

Girls Team

Chandima Madushani (Mahamaya College, Kandy)

Represented Sri Lanka: 1. Junior team for Indian cadet & Junior Championship 2009 U-15 Doubles (Bronze), 2. South Asian Junior TT Championship in India 2010 U-15 team (Silver), 3. Asian Junior TT Championship, Thailand 2010, 4. Asian Junior TT Championship, India 2011.

Kasuani Pitigala (Southland College/Galle)

Junior National Champion 2009

Represented Sri Lanka: 1. Junior Circuit Championship 2005/2006 China, 2. Junior Circuit Championship 2009 India (Bronze), 3. South Asian Junior Championship 2010 India (Team Silver/Single Bronze), 4. Asian Junior Championship 2010 Thailand.

Avindi Nisansala (Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda)

1. All Island Inter School U-16 ‘A’ Division Champion 2011, 2. Junior National Championship 2006 U-10 Champion, 3. All Island Inter School U-14 ‘A’ Division Champion 2009/2011.

Muthumali Priyadarshani (Devananda College, Ambalangoda)

1. Junior National Championship 2012 U-12 Champion, 2. Inter School Championship 2010 U-12 ‘A’ Division Champion, 3. Represented Sri Lanka for the Asian Junior Championship 2011 India.

Pavani Sirisena (Maliyadewa College, Kurunegala)

1. Chrys Gunaratna Memorial Championship 2010 U-12 Champion, 2. National Sports Games 2011 Champion Team.

Praveena Silva (Girls High School, Kandy)

Hansani Piumila (Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda)

1. U-12 Girls Sri Lanka Rank No. 1, 2. Western Province Open Ranking Championship 2012.

Represented Sri Lanka for the ITTF Hopes Championship in Vianna 2011 (Place No. 09 at the Tournament)

Imasha de Silva (Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda)

1. U-10 Girls Sri Lanka Rank No. 1, 2011, 2. Chrys Gunaratna Memorial Championship 2011, U-10 Champion, 3. NWP Junior Ranking Championship 2011, U-10 Champion, 4. Inter School Tournament U-10 ‘A’ Division Champion 2010/2011, 5. Inter School Tournament U-12 ‘A’ Division Champion 2011

Roshini Dahanaka (Holy Family Vidyalaya, Kurunegala)

1. U-12 Girls Rank No. 2, 2. Represented Sri Lanka for ITTF Hopes Challenge 2011 in Vianna, Austria.

Boys Team

Nuwan Jayasundara (Maliyadewa College, Kurunegala):

1. Represented Sri Lanka Junior Team China 2006, 2. India 2009/2010/2011.

International Championship

Shehan Shanaka (Devananada College, Ambalangoda)

1. Inter School U-19 ‘A’ Division Champion Team 2012.

Chamidu Tennekoon (Dharmaraja College, Kandy):

1. 1st International Championship

P.D.U. Tennekoon (Dharmaraja College, Kandy)

1. Current Rank No. 1, U-12, 2. Represented Sri Lanka ITTF Hopes Championship Vianna 2011, 3. U-12 Champion 2011 - Central Province Ranking / NWP Ranking / All Island Open Ranking

Lithmina Mahanama (Wesley College, Colombo - Penhold player)

1. Represented Sri Lanka ITTF Hopes Championship Vianna 2011, 2. U-12 Rank No. 3

Chathura Gunasekara (Sussex College, Kandy)

1. Junior National Champion U-12, 2011, 2. Rank No. 2, 2011 U-12.

Officials

W.A. Buddhasiri (Manager/Coach)

1. Represented Sri Lanka for the World Championships in Sweden 1985/Germany, 1989, Asian Championship India 1979, SAF Games 1989, German Open 1990/1991, 2. Represented Sri Lanka as a Coach/Manager for the World TT Championship Sweden 1993, German Open - Germany 1993, South Asian Junior C’ship - India 2005/2006, Asian Junior Championship - Thailand 2010.

Namal Gunasekera (Coach - Under 15 Team):

1. Former National Champion & Sri Lanka Captain, 2. Represented Sri Lanka from 1978 to 2002 for the World Asian Commonwealth Championship & South Asian Games several times, 3. Silver Medallist of the South Asian Games in 1993 & Bronze Medallist in 1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 4. Represented Sri Lanka as a Manager/Coach for the Taiwan TT Championship in China, 15th Asian Games in Qatar 2006 & 19th, Asian TT Championship in India 2009.

Thushara Sampath (Coach - Under 12 Team)

1. Old Boy of Kularatna Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda, 2. Asst. Treasurer, TTASL, 3. Coach Maliyadewa College, Kurunegala.

Mrs. M.A.R. Pathirana (Lady Chaperone of the Team - Alakoladeniya Vidyalaya, Kurunegala.)