Udaya eyeing TT top spot
View(s):It is almost inconceivable that a slim, shy fourteen-year-old can be the third best player in the country in his chosen sport. What is more, he’s only a top spin loop or two from the number one ranking.
Udaya Ranasinghe
Vidyartha’s Udaya Ranasinghe is too precious a commodity to be kept under wraps. He should be given much more exposure, and soon. Another table tennis player from the same stable, Tilina Piyadasa, conquered everyone in Sri Lanka, and even some beyond. Udaya bids fair to better Piyadasa’s record over a ten year period.
Udaya took to the sport in 2004 at the age of six and, ever since, it has been an all-consuming passion. Even the multi-talented have to hone their skills and eliminate the rough edges through constant hours of practice. In that sense, the lad is a coach’s dream as he never skips a session. CP Liyanage was his first coach, but Buddika Dikkumbura, the present coach of the school, has had the greater influence on the young prodigy.
Success and titles started coming his way in a matter of years. Udaya and his teammates won gold at the National School Games in 2010 and 2011. They settled for silver last year. He went through the whole of 2012 without dropping a match in both the under 15 and 18 age groups.
Udaya helped the Sri Lanka team win silver in the South Asian Junior TT Championships held in Assam. He was good enough to win a bronze medal in the individual event. Silver medals also came Sri Lanka’s way in the 2009 and 2010 championships held in India. His other exposure in the big league came at the Asian Junior Championships in Thailand.
At the recent Junior Nationals, Udaya annexed the under 15, 18 and under 18 doubles crowns. He partnered Mahamaya’s Ridmi Kanadanarachchi to reach the final of the mixed event.
The Senior Nationals, held a day, later saw Udaya lose the final to Nirmala Jayasinghe, who is ranked number 2 to Udaya’s 3.
Opposition to his dominance has come in the main from schoolmate Prasad de Silva. One of his mentors, Nirmala Jayasinghe, feels that Udaya’s success is largely due to the fact that he is very relaxed, controls the ball well and has a very good service. Udaya confesses that the foreshand top spin is his chief weapon. Asked to name an opponent who can give him a good run, Udaya shyly says, “no one”.
Vidyartha dominates the schools scene in Kandy with the likes of Udaya, Prasad de Silva and Tilina Wijesiri.
His undoubted talent has been recognized and he was the recipient of a one year scholarship from Thibbar. His equipment will be provided during that period. This came about due to the good offices of Jagath Rajapakse, the national coach.
For Imesh Udaya Ranasinghe, the only way is up. Here’s hoping that he emulates the feats of predecessors such as Tilina Piyadasa, Christopher Arnolda and Malinda Dandeniya and brings credit to Kandy and Sri Lanka.
- Aubrey Kuruppu
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus