World Champion Nishantha Fernando sliced by Hilmy
View(s):45th National Carrom Championship
By Naushad Amit
Former four-time national champion M.T.M. Hilmy created a sensational upset when he thrashed the reigning world champion Nishantha Fernando in straight sets in the Men’s Singles at the 45th National Carrom Championship played at Maharagama yesterday. Hilmy showed Fernando the door in the quarterfinal clash of the Men’s Singles winning a gruesome battle in straight sets 25/21 and 25/24.
World champion Nishantha Fernando’s glory was brought to square one in just two months by M.T.M. Hilmy who recorded a thrilling win yesterday. - Pic by Susantha Liyanawatte.
Fernando was one of the hot favourites in the Men’s Singles after his feat at the 6th World Championships held in Colombo last November, but his pride was rattled by Hilmy who is fighting back to regain his once lost prestige as the top gun.
Hilmy’s intention of regaining the national championship is now within his grasp but he will have to clear off the challenge of Bringly Wickremasinghe in the semi-final clash today.
Wickremasinghe effortlessly galloped to the semi-finals beating giant killer Charith Madushanka in straight sets 25/14 and 25/7. Madushanka created the first upset of the day when he outclassed top seed Mohamed Sherriffdeen, Hilmy’s doubles partner, by two sets to one in the first round of the knockout stage. The other semi-final will be between Dimal Senaratne and former champion Chamil Cooray who will be also setting eyes to win this year’s nationals after Fernando’s departure. Senaratne beat Pramedha Mendis in the third quarterfinal by 25/12 and 25/13 while Cooray had the better of Ajith Chandrasoma who succumbed to a 25/18 and 25/13 defeat.
In the Women’s Singles Joseph Roshita, Yashika Rahubadda, Chalani Lakmali and Madushika Kanchanamala recorded victories in the quarter-finals to advance to the semis. Accordingly Roshita will meet Rahubadda in the first semi-final while in the second clash Lakmali and Kanchanamala will face off in battles to determine the finalists. Yesterday Roshita easily beat Sachika Sandamali 25/0 and 25/9 while Rahubadda brushed off Upekshila Shyamali by 25/0 and 25/12. Lakmali thrashed Joseph Dilka 25/0 and 25/0 before Kanchanamala hopped pas Rebecca Darleen 25/4 ad 25/0 in the respective quarterfinal matches.
Earlier in the competition Sherriffdeen and Hilmy clinched the Men’s Double title beating the pairing of national and world singles champion Fernando and Lahiru Eshan while Roshita and Kanchanamala won the Women’s Double championship beating Lakmali and Arosha Wickremasinghe. The Mixed Doubles title was won by Dimal Senaratne and Lakmali who went on to beat Eshan and Roshita while Kaviranga Perera emerged as the Veteran’s Singles champion beating Merrill Nanayakkara. After the fourth weekend’s play, the tournament will come to an end today with the semi-final matches of Men’s and Women’s Singles set to kick off from 10.00am. The finals will be played from 2.00pm followed by the awards ceremony.
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