Stiff Competition at Table Tennis Nationals As Players Turn
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Saturday 8th January, 2011 15 Vidyartha win Stiff competition at table tennis by 7 wickets BY RUKSHAN RAZAK Vidayartha College, Kandy, a formidable nationals as players turn pro unit, with a fine all-round feat claimed a seven-wicket win over Thakshila Central BY RAVI NAGAHAWATTE can concentrate on sport,” he said, seed/SLAF), Nirmala Jayasinghe (MAS College, Horana in their inter-school cricket referring to the end of the north and Intimates Pvt. Ltd.), Dinesh Deshapriya tournament match that concluded at Horana The table tennis nationals for 2010, east civil war which ended in 2009. (SL Navy), Buddhika Walagampola and yesterday. which will commence today, will be Sirisena said that he was in the same teenager Udaya Ranasinghe. Set a victory target of 81 runs in 18 overs, fiercely contested with most of the top group with players in the likes of reign- All eyes in the women’s open singles Vidyartha cruised to win in just 11.3 overs for players now turning professionals. ing champion Chalitha Ranjana, Indika will be on Dharmasoka, Ambalangoda the loss of three wickets with Niluksha The Sri Lanka Table Tennis Prasad and junior sensation Hasintha schoolgirl Nuwani Nawodya who is Galapitage top-scoring with 38 runs while hit- Association (TTASL) has played it safe Shashiranga. rated as the top-seed. The 16-year-old ting four boundaries. and says there are no favourites. This “Table tennis is an indoor game and Nawodya told ‘The Island’ that she Earlier, Vidyartha replied with 183 runs in opinion is also shared by the majority isn’t one of the most popular sports in hoped to do her best at the nationals response to a paltry 113 all out by Thakshila of the top seed and bottom seed players the country. But I believe this year the and added, “this is the last tournament before reducing the home team for 150 in contesting the tournament, which will nationals will draw large crowds for the year and all players try to be at their second essay. commence today and conclude on because the games will be very competi- their best. Scores: Sunday (Dec. 9) at the S. Thomas’ tive,” he said. “I am aiming at the championships All eyes will be on the 16-year-old Nuwani Thakshila Central College 113 all out in 50.5 overs College, Mount Lavinia gymnasium. Reigning champ Ranjana has recov- and also hope to retain my slot as the Nawodya who is rated as the top-seed in (Bandujith Chathuranga 65, Roshan Sampath 11, Isuru The organisers of the table tennis ered from a wrist injury and is expect- number-one seeded player in the coun- open women’s singles at the 2010 Senior Weerasinghe 3 for 6, Samitha Attanayake 2 for 13, Ushan nationals, the 64th in the series, have ed to make a comeback to the sport try. I am not unnerved being rated so Table Tennis Nationals which is expected Wickramasinghe 2 for 31, Chanaka Ratnayake 2 for 40) and received 239 entries. after a layoff. “I have trained hard and high at such a young age, but hope to 150 all out in 71.4 overs (Chinthaka Udana 31, D. to begin at the S. Thomas’ College Mount Chathuranga 13, M. Tharanga 17, U. Pradeep 17, E. The top-seed in the men’s open sin- believe I can defend the title at 2010 face stiff opposition from the seniors Lavinia gymnasium today. nationals. “The only point of concern is who are all talented players and carry Madhawa 29, Chanaka Ratnayake 3 for 23, Ushan gles, number one ranked Rohan related that loss to being ranked as that I don’t know where I stand as a loads of experience,” said Nawodya Wickramasinghe 2 for 53, Keshan Gamage 2 for 8) Sirisena, told ‘The Island’ that it would- number two. She is the reigning cham- Vidyartha College 183 all out in 53.3 overs (Tharindu player because I was out of competition who has already represented the Sri n’t be easy for him, but added, “There is pion and three times national champi- Ranaweera 25, Ruwan Bandara 17, N. Galapitage 17, for a few months,” said Chalitha who Lanka senior team at many interna- going to be severe competition, but I on, and said that she was grateful to the Keshan Gamage 31, Ushan Wickramasinghe 26, Ravindu will represent Seylan Bank. Chalitha tional tournaments. She said she was think there is a chance for me to win.” authorities at SLAF including Air Chief Dissanayake 25, Nipuna Ranaweera 16, R.P. Sampath 4 for also said he had trained hard and sure her friends at school would be The 29-year-old Sirisena is one of the Marshall Roshan Gunatilake for giving 32, M. Madushanka 4 for 51) and 81 for 3 wkts in 18 overs believed he could win the table tennis there to cheer her despite them having few table tennis players who have been her the opportunity to play full-time (Tharindu Ranaweera 23, N. Galapitage 38, Keshan crown for the fifth time and equal for- to travel about 2½ hours from recruited by the Sri Lanka Air Force table tennis. Gamage 17 n.o.; U. Pradeep 2 for 26). mer champ Jothipala Samaraweera’s Ambalangoda to the venue, which is at (SLAF) and gets to concentrate on sport The 2010 table tennis nationals will record. Mount Lavinia. full time. “I must thank the authorities also comprise of the men’s doubles, In the other group, there will be a Bottom seed Ishara Madurangi rues at the SLAF for giving me employment. women’s doubles, mixed doubles and stiff battle for supremacy between play- the fact that she lost in the first round SLTA announces Inter-club Now all those who play table tennis at the veterans’ tournament. the SLAF have trouble free minds and ers like Milinda Lakshitha (bottom of a ranking tournament last year and Doubles Tennis BY REVATA S. SILVA Under-19 School Cricket The Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) announced yesterday this year’s first all-island In-form Deshan in tournament, the Inter-club Doubles. The entries for the tournament will close on quick-fire century January 10 and the draw will be on January 12. The preliminary rounds of the tournament REEMUS FERNANDO BY will be worked off from January 29 and match- In-form opener Deshan Dias scored a quick- es will be held every weekend and on the fire century (101) in just 76 balls inclusive of 14 Mercantile Holidays thereafter. fours and two sixes for St. Sebastian’s College to The competition this year is to be played in post 219 for six wickets at close, in reply to sixteen (16) Divisions, namely: Nine (9) Regular Thurstan College’s 210, on the first day of their Divisions, two (2) Women and five (5) Senior Under-19 inter-school cricket match at Moratuwa Divisions (Over-35, 45, 55, 65 and 70). yesterday. The Tournament Referee is K. It was Deshan’s second century in three match- Subramaniam. es. Scores: Thurstan 210 all out in 49.5 overs (Sajeewa Salgado 68, Ranga ‘Stone Way’ owned by Mrs. Chamari Jayaratne, ridden by Jockey P. Dinesh Kumar and trained by Jayantha Wijesinghe Wijewickrama 35, Kavindu Kulasekara 22; Marlon Fernando won the “K.C.C. Cup” for thoroughbred horses Class III, at the X’Mas race meet held at Nuwara-Eliya, Race course on 2/23, Wishwa Fernando 2/41) Trinity-Wesley cricket St. Sebastian’s 219 for 6 wkts at close in 41 overs (Deshan Dias December 26. Chairman of Kandy City Centre Thusitha Wijesena, presents the thophy to the owner Mrs. Chamari 101, Oshada Fernando 34, Marlon Fernando 23, Anuk de Alwis Jayaratne. President, SLTC, Gamin Jayaratne, Secretary, Raj Weeraratne, Committee member S. Mannaperuma are also 28; Sachintha Wijesinghe 2/38, Sachith Dias 2/75) in the picture. encounter third oldest in St. Benedict’s 167, S. Thomas’ 109/1 Trinity’s cricket fixtures S. Thomas’ College were 109 for one wicket at Under-19 School Cricket close in reply to St. Benedict’s College’s 167 as BY SHARM DE ALWIS Asiri Wickramanayake scored an unbeaten 60 runs inclusive of seven fours on the first day of De Mazenod romp to massive win I did not wear my Trinity cap in deference to their U-19 match at Kotahena yesterday. my one year stint at Wesley wherein, together Scores: BY REEMUS FERNANDO paceman Anjana Kudahetti complet- Wanniarachchi excels at Uyanwatte with Baboo Ahamath, I agitated with the St. Benedict’s 167 all out in 43.2 overs (Waruna Fernando 40, ed a match-bag of 11 wickets in A four-wicket haul and a top-score authorities to re-introduce boxing to the extra- Rukshan Weerasinghe 44, Shannon Paterson 23; Chamod De Mazenod College romped what turned out to be his debut of 64 runs by Chathura curricular format of the college. Here it was Pathirana 6/63, Madushan Ravichandrakumara 3/45) home to a huge innings and 146 First-XI match for Royal. Wanniarachchi was the highlight as that I had my head thumped three times on the S. Thomas’ 109 for 1 wkt in 32 overs (Asiri Wickramanayake 60 runs victory over Holy Cross Mahanama College, Colombo scored a desk for having suggested “brassiere” when we n.o., Sachin Peiris 19 n.o.) College as spinner Shaluka Scores: first innings victory over St. Servatius’ were asked by Harold ‘Pappa’ for the adjective Deemantha picked up six wickets Royal 222 and 149 for 7 wkts decl in 35.3 overs College, Matara in their U-19 of brass.