Naveed, Nipuna and Thomas in the limelight
Mohamed Naveed, Nipuna Nuwan and Jason Thomas continued in the limelight on the third day of the fourth Mahaweli Reach Junior Tennis Championships held in Kandy yesterday. Naveed, who annexed the Senior Boys Singles and Doubles over the last two years, looks set to repeat the feat. Naveed a lad from Zahira College Matale now turns out in Trinity College colours. He easily disposed of college mate Uvin Jayalath on his way to the final.
Nipuna Nuwan, a slip of a lad from Mawathagama, has been making waves. He played a good all-court game to beat the much bigger-made Uvindu Handapangoda 6-2. Not satisfied, he partnered Shamil Akbar to win the Under-13 Boys Doubles final at the expense of Shakya Jayawardena and Uvindu Handapangoda, 6-2.
Jason Thomas in tandem with Vimukthi Bowattage combined well to oust Samitha Wijewardena and Binsara Palugaswewa 6-1 in the semi-final of the Under-19 Boys Doubles event. The winners served well and, overall, were much stronger than the Dharmaraja College pairing of Samitha and Binsara. Thomas is also in the final of the Under-19 Boys Singles even where he will meet the formidable Naveed. This will be a good test of his competence and competitiveness.
The Jayalath brothers, Mihin and Radin, who were comfortable winners in the Under-15 Boys Singles, are on the course for a showdown. The third Jayalath – Uvin – partnered Naehrath Aalam to get the better of Udan Hettiarachchi and Ainuju Palihawardena 6-3 in the Under-17 Boys Doubles.
Partnered by Savindu Wannigama, Vimukthi Bowattage was able to enter the final of the Under-17 Boys Doubles. They beat Thanu Rukshan and Imeshka Weeraratne 6-1. Hillwood College’s Dilsha Dissanaike had a comfortable 6-0 win over pint-sized Ruvini Lewke Bandara. However, the latter, who conceded riches to a much taller opponent, showed by her presence on court and mannerism that she is one for the future. Ruvini, a product of Gateway International School, did well to enter the final of the Under-13 Girls Singles event.
The finals will be worked off today and the Managing Director of the Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Jayantha Panabokke will distribute the awards.