Roshita and Nishantha slice through the South
Carrom enthusiasts in the Southern Town of Akuressa witnessed Sri Lanka’s top ranked slicers in action at the Nisala Hall when the 16th President’s Cup Carrom National Finals were worked off last weekend.
Action on the 16th President's Cup Carrom Tournament. Pic by Priyantha Dasanayake - Akuressa
It was a rare opportunity for the southern province carrom lovers see the finals of both men’s and women’s singles played exhibiting a high standard of carrom right throughout to the conclusion. Favourite women slicer Joseph Roshita and Nishantha Fernando, an internationally ranked player proved their prowess to emerge winners in the Women’s and Men’s segments respectively.
Joseph Roshita locked horns with Chalani Lakmali in the Singles final with Chalani Lakmali showing a glimpse of her former touch to win the first set. Losing her way in the other sets where experienced Roshita playing her normal cool game dominated to win the last two sets to be crowned champion at the 16th edition of the President’s Cup. In the Men’s finals Nishantha Fernando met Chamil Cooray and as expected Fernando exhibiting his class made use of the mistakes Cooray made as he missed so many easy shots which would have given the champ some challenge. Chamil Cooray who had been dominating the carrom world for sometime didn’t play his usual game with confidence. Cooray who normally stretches his opponent to three sets but was completely off colour to go down in straight sets. Nishantha on the other hand played some excellent shots with precision to win this year’s championship.
For the first time a carrom tournament moved away from Colombo to a province was due to the great efforts of Dr. Sunil Gamage of Habaraduwa Hospital. A keen follower of the game Dr. Gamage joined hands with some Principals of schools in the area, Doctors and Businessmen in organising this event which gave a chance for the people and players of the area to witness top class men and women players being pitted against each other and how the game was played.
The next event in the Carrom calendar is the Mid Year Novices Carrom Tournament which is be worked off on May 9th, 2015.
Results:
Women’s Singles
Semi-finals: (1) Joseph Roshita beat Arosha Wickremasinghe 25/22, 16/25, 25/00; (2) Chalani Lakmali beat Madushika Kanchanamala 25/24, 25/4
Finals: Joseph Roshita bt Chalani Lakmali 16/25, 25/13, 25/9
Third place playoff: Arosha Wickremasinghe beat Madushika Kanchanamala 25/22, 25/18
Fifth place playoff: Yasika Rahubaddha beat Detuni Nomaya 25/6, 25/6
Seventh place playoff: Buddhini Dias beat Kusalya Vidanagama 15/11, 18/15
Men’s Singles
Semi-finals: (1) Chamil Cooray beat Dimal Senaratne 25/19, 25/00; (2) Nishantha Fernando beat Anas Ahamed 25/13, 25/7
Finals: W.D. Nishantha Fernando beat Chamil Cooray 25/11, 25/16
Third place playoff: Anas Ahamed beat Dimal Senaratne 25/4, 25/20
Fifth place playoff: Udesh Chandima beat Prabath Yatawara 20/5, 24/9
Seventh place playoff: Charith Madusanka beat M.T.M. Hilmy 5/25, 25/11, 25/13