Dr. Nimal Lucas - three Golds and a Bronze in Masters TT

Dr. Nimal Lucas - still a champion TT player

TABLE TENNIS: The former captain of the Sri Lanka National Table Tennis team from 1966 to 1971, Dr. Nimal Lucas, brought honour and glory to Sri Lanka by winning four medals, three gold and one bronze at the New Zealand Masters Games Table Tennis Championships held in Wanganui, New Zealand. The tournament was held from January 30 to February 8.

He won gold medals in the 55 men's singles, over 65 men's singles event and over 65 men's doubles event partnered by Robert Dunn. He won a bronze medal in the over 35 team event comprising G. N. Lucas, V. Scarr, J. Williams and R. Thomson. This is the first time that any veteran table tennis player from Sri Lanka has won a gold medal in either a single or doubles event.

In July 2005, Dr. Lucas partnered by M. M. M. Laffeer won the over 55 men's doubles silver medal at the World Masters Games Table Tennis Championships held in Edmonton, Canada. He also won a bronze medal in the men's singles over 50 category at the South African Masters Table Tennis Championships held in Nelson Mandela Bay in April 2006.

During the New Zealand Masters Games TT Championships held in Wanganui, New Zealand in February 2007, Dr. Lucas excelled winning a gold medal in the over 55 team event comprising Lucas, S. S. de Silva and M. M. M. Laffeer, a silver medals in the over 65 men's doubles partnered by R. A. Wimalasena and four bronze medals in over 65 and over 35 mixed doubles, over 65 men's doubles and over 35 men's singles events.

Locally in 2008-2009, Dr. Lucas won the Masters Singles (over 35) event at the All-Island TT Championships conducted by the Kandy District TT Association in September 2008, the veterans' Singles over 45 at the 62nd National Table Tennis Championships in November 2008 and the Veterans' Singles over 45 at the Chrys Gunaratne Memorial Open All Island TT Championships in January 2009. L.F.