Navin and Saman should provide the sparkle again

by Ranjan Anandappa

SQUASH: For the fifth year in succession, James Finlay Rentokil (Ceylon) Ltd., has come forward to sponsor the 26th Senior National Squash Championship 2006 which will get under way at the Gymkhana Club Squash Courts from December 22 to 30 with a break for Christmas in between.

The men's and women's final will take place on December 30 under the patronage of Kumar Jayasuriya, Chairman James Finlay as Chief Guest and Chairman Gymkhana Club Shammi Silva as the Guest of Honour.

Ten times national champion Saman Tillekeratne and young Navin Samarasinghe, are expected to provide the sparkle of the competition. Tillekeratne has returned back home from a stint in France where he plays as a professional. Navin Samarasinghe, the defending champion has also returned from Australia and both should fight gallantly to maintain their supremacy. Samarasinghe has fared well at the Qatar Asian Games although losing to World Junior champion Atlas Khan of Pakistan in the second round.

Besides Samarasinghe and Tillekeratne, there are other promising players in the calibre of Anura Hewage and Eranga Alwis who was awarded the 'Thomian Blue' status for squash, that should provide stiff opposition.

In the women's category, Nirasha Guruge the youngest to become the national champion at the age of 14, will strive to defend her title from her cousin Tehani Guruge, Vidushi Gurunada and Kushani Daluwatte.

This year, too, the winner and the runner-up of the men's and women's categories will receive trophies and cash prizes.

The winner of the men's and the runner-up will receive a sum of Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 20,000 respectively. The winner and the runner-up of the women's category will be presented with Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 15,000 respectively.

The President of the Squash Federation Rohan Anthonisz said at a press briefing held at the James Finlay Auditorium, at Vauxshall Street, that he was extremely grateful for the company in coming forward to sponsor the event for the fifth successive year. He further said that with squash courts, like the one at the Gymkhana Club, where the last SAG squash competition was held, is no doubt up to International class, and an improved infrastructure for the game with the assistance of sponsors like James Finlays, the future for squash should be very good.

The events to be worked out are: Men's and Women's Open, Men's and Women's Novices, Men's over 35 and 45 years of age. Entry forms could be obtained from the Gymkhana Club and all entries close on Monday December 18, 2006 at 6.00 p.m. The draw will be held on Wednesday December 20.

The others who were associated at the press conference were, Air Vice Marshal A. B. Soza - Immediate Past President SLSF, Ravi Gooneratne (Secretary SLSF), Romesh Moraes (Director James Finlay & Co.), Ravindra Ratnayake (Director Finlay Rentokil Ceylon Ltd.)