Dineshkanthan and Amritha clinch National Titles

by Sajeewa Jayakody

Dineshkanthan Thangaraja and Amritha Muttiah clinched the Men's and Women's Titles of the 98th National Tennis Championship worked off at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association Courts, Colombo 7 yesterday.

Top seed Thangaraja, who was involved in yesterday's Men's Doubles Title, defeated Athukorale by 3-1 in the final. Thangaraja won the first set 7-5 and then grabbed the second set easily 6-3. Athukorale fought hard to win the third set as the sixth seeded tennis player won the set 6-4. Thangaraja emerged victorious winning the fourth set easily by 6-2.

Amritha Muttiah emerged Women's Singles Champion beating Roshenka Fernando by 2-1. The number one ranked Muttiah suffered a shock defeat in the first set as she lost it 5-7 but she managed to win the second and third set 6-3 and 6-2 to take the title. Meanwhile, DM Gamini bagged the Wheelchair Singles Title. Gamini recorded a three straight set win over PJ Wijesiri. It was a close tussle in the first two sets as loser Wijesiri lost them by identical margin of 7-6 and 7-6. Gamini won the last set by 6-4 to emerge Wheelchair Singles Champion.

Today, the Mixed Doubles finals will be played starting at 2pm at the SLTA courts. Heera Ashiq with Amritha Muttiah will clash against Sankha Athukorale and Shailini de Silva.

Yesterday's final results:

Men's Singles: Dineshkanthan Thangaraja beat Sankha Athukorale by 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Women's Singles: Amritha Muttiah beat Roshenka Fernando by 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.

Wheelchair Singles:

DM Gamini beat PJ Wijesiri by 7-6, 7-6, 6-4.