Lakshitha (Air Force) and 15-year-old Chamathsara of Visakha best
among men and women at open TT Ranking Tourney
by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.
Lakshitha Milinda of Sri Lanka Air Force and 15-year-old Chamathara
Fernando of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo were adjudged the Best Players in
the men and women categories at the Annual Western Province Open Ranking
Table Tennis Championships organised by the I and D Table Tennis Academy
and worked off at the S. Thomas' College Indoor Stadium, Mount Lavinia
over the weekend.
Millinda Lakshitha had a dream championship by winning a double and
he was also awarded a Special Challenge Trophy for his fine effort.
His first title win was in the men's doubles and partnered by Rohan
Sirisena also from Sri Lanka Air Force beat Rasika Manoj and Sajith
Kavinda from Sri Lanka Army. The Air Force pair won the first set 11/7
but the Army pair levelled by winning the second set 6/11. But the
airmen hit back strongly and won the next two sets to complete a 3-1
win.
In the men's open singles, Millinda Lakshitha scored a 3-1 win over
team mate and former National Champion Rohan Sirisena. Millinda
Lakshitha won the first two sets 11/5 and 11/8 but Rohan Sirisena staged
a recovery in the third set winning 6/11 to reduce the lead to 1-2. But
Millinda Lakshitha did not allow the game to stretch to the fifth set by
winning the fourth set 11/7.
Little school girl from Visakha Vidyalaya Chamathsara Fernando
continued her winning streak and maintained the promise she had been
displaying this year by winning two titles and also emerged runner-up in
two other events to lift the trophy for the Best player in the women's
category.
Chamathsara Fernando won twice in the under-15 girls singles and in
the Open Women's Doubles. She finished runner up in the under-18 girls
singles and in the Open women's singles which is quite an achievement
for a 15-year-old schoolgirl.
In the under-15 girls singles finals, Chamathsara Fernando beat her
schoolmate Thanuri Gayara 2-1 in a three setter. Next partnered by
another schoolmate Honani Kapugeekiyana they beat Dewini Veerasena and
Denethi Wijegunawardena of Museaus College by the close margin of 3-2.
The pair from Visakha won the first two sets 11/9, 12/10. But the pair
from Museaus College fought back strongly to win the third and fourth
sets 9/11, and 5/11 to level the scores and the game went into the
deciding fifth set which the two Visakhians won 11/5 with ease.
The main event for the girls the under-18 singles was won by Dewmene
Weerasena of Museaus College who beat Chamathsara Fernando of Visakha
Vidyalaya 2-1. Chamathsara Fernando won the first set quite easily 11/1
but Dewmini Weerasena with some brilliant smashes and spin won the next
two sets 11/1, 11/8.
Paddlers from Royal College and Visakha Vidyalaya figured in most of
the finals and often it turned cut to be a home and home affair.
Ushini Perera of Girls High School, Mount Lavinia did well in
defeating Ayla Chitty 2-1 win the girls under-10 singles title.
Another Visakhian to excel was Natasha Sandivini who won the girls
under-12 title by defeating Senuri Amandi de Silva of Holy Family
Convent, Kalutara 2-0. the scores being 11/1, 11/4.
Deepika Rodrigo = one of the king pins behind this tournament said
that over 400 paddlers participated in this championship which saw some
stirring performances.
Dr. Lal Ekanayake from the Department of Sports Medicine of the
Ministry of Sports was the Chief Guest.
The results of the finals:
Under-8 boys singles: Senara Silva (Isipathan College) beat
Sandin Mothmal (Royal College) 11/6, 12/10.
Under-8 girls singles: Senaya Buddhadasa (Visakha vidyalaya)
beat Savithri Lochana (Holy Cross Convent, Gampaha) 11/8, 11/6.
Under-10 boys singles: Thisas Ranabagoda (Royal College) beat
Soyura Munasinghe Anura Central College Yakkala) 12/10, 11/5.
Under-10 girls singles: Ishini Perera (Girls High School,
Mount Lavina) beat Ayla Chitty (Ladies College, Colombo) 11/9, 6/11,
11/3.
Under-12 boys singles: Dewnith Weerasena (Lyceum International
School, Nugegoda) beat J. Michael Perera (Lyceum International School,
Wattal) 6/11, 11/8, 11/4.
Under-12 girls singles: Natasha Sandivinee (Visakha Vidyalaya)
beat Senuri Amandi de Silva (Holy Family convent, Kalutara) 11/1, 11/4.
Under-15 boys single: Mirunaka Sendaheva (Royal) beat Nimesh
Ranchigoda (Royal College) 11/3, 12/10.
Under-15 girls singles: Chamathara Fernando (visakha Vidyalaya)
beat Thanari Gayara (Visakha Vidyalaya) 11/9, 8/11, 11/6.
Under-18 boys singles: Rumal Inthikhat (Royal College) beat
Virunaka Hendahewa (Royal College) 11/9, 11/9.
Under-18 girls singles: Dewmini Weerasena (Museaus College,
Colombo) beat Chamathara Fernando (Visakha Vidyalaya) 1/11, 11/8, 11/9.
Under-12 boys doubles: Dewnith Weerasena (Lyceum, Wattala) and
Thieas Ranchagoda (Royal College) beat Zavarch Chitty (St. Thomas
College, Mout Lavina) 3/11, 12/10, 11/5.
Under-12 girls doubles: Senuri Perera (Anula Vidyalaya) and
Senuri Amandi de Silva (Holy Family Convent, Kalutara) beat Natasha
Sandavinee and Vilanya Dulmini (Visakha Vidyalaya) 11/7, 14/12.
Open Mens doubles: Rohan Sirisena and Milinda Lakshitha (Sri
Lanka Air Force) beat Rasika Manoj and Sanith Kavinda (Sri lanka Army)
11/7, 6/11, 11/5, 11/6.
Open Women's doubles: Chamathsara Fernando and Hanasani
Kapugeekiyana (Visakha Vidyalaya) beat Dewmini Weerasena and Denethi
Wijegunawardena (Museaus Collge) 11/9, 12/10, 9/11, 5/11, 11/5.
Open Men's Singles: Milindu Lakshitha (Sri lanka Air Force)
beat Rohan Sirisena (Sri Lanka Air Force) 11/5, 11/8, 6/11, 11/7.
Open Women's singles: Hansani Kapukeekiyana (Visakha Vidyalaya)
beat Chamathsara Fernando (Visakah Vidyalaya) 11/2, 7/11, 11/9, 11/3.
Most outstanding players of tournaments:
Men's Category : Milinda Lakshitha (Sri Lanka Air Force)
Women's Category: Chamathsara Fernando (Visakha Vidyalaya)
Special Awards:
Men's Category: Milinda Lakshitha (Sri Lanka Air Force)
Women's Category: Hansani Kapugeekiyana (Visakha Vidyalaya) |
