Top seeds Gihan and Nirasha are U.19 boys and girls champs

By Chris DHAMBARAGE

SQUASH: Top seeds Gihan Suwaris and Nirasha Guruge clinched the boys and girls under 19 titles respectively at the Sri Lanka Squash Federation junior national championships concluded at the Tamil Union courts at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium yesterday. Suwaris lived upto expectations as the tournament favourite by knocking off Kasun Weerasuriya in straight sets 9-5, 9-2, 9-2 in the final encounter.

Suwaris always looked comfortable against his opponent except for a brief period in the opening set where he conceded five match points. However Suwaris made amends during the remaining two sets by dropping just a couple of points before adding the finishing touches in style. Suwaris in fact completed a successful tournament having earlier won the boys under 17 title in a similar manner.

The top seed powered his way to register a rousing straight set 9-0, 9-1, 9-2 victory over H. S. Udayasiri in the boys under 17 final encounter which helped him to complete a fine double. Meanwhile Nirasha Guruge produced a spectacular performance to win the girls under 19 title while overcoming Randima Ranaweera also in straight sets 9-2, 9-2, 9-0.

The top seed continued with her excellent form in this tournament and completely rattled her opponent with a combination of power and science. In contrast Sharya Guruge was stretched to the maximum before winning the girls under 17 title with a hard fought victory over Nadini Udangawa in a thrilling final encounter. Guruge dropped the opening set (5-9) and the third set (3-9) but took the vital last two sets 9-4 and 9-6 respectively to complete a successful outing.

Udangawa made amends for her setback by winning the girls under 15 title with a straight set 9-7, 9-0, 9-0 victory over Kavini Amarasekera in the final. The boys under 15 title went to Y. Weerasuriya who beat H. R. Laksiri in a four setter 9-7, 10-5, 7-9, 9-1 in the final.