Team of twelve paddlers off to India
A twelve member Table Tennis contingent comprising six men and six women paddlers will take wings shortly to take part in the 12th South Asian Table Tennis Championships 2016 scheduled to take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, Indoor Hall, Shillong in India from February 6 to 10, 2016.
Seated from left to right: Cmdr. Anil Bowatte (Manager), Rohan Sirisena (Men’s captain), Rajiva Wijetunge (President TTSL), Ishara Madurangi (Women’s captain), Jothipala Samaraweera (Coach) 1st row left to right: Imasha De Silva (Standby), Hansani Piumila, Erandhi Warusavithana, Ruvini Kannangara, Chamathsara Fernando 2nd row left to right: Nirmala Jayasinghe, Eranda Kumarathunga (Fitness trainer), Dishantha Tennekoon (Standby), Udaya Ranasinghe, Chameera Ginige, Prasad De Silva (absent)
Led by Rohan Sirisena, a national champion, the men’s team comprises players in the calibre of the young star Udaya Ranasinghe and Nirmala Jayasinghe both being national champions. Ranasinghe is the only gold medal winner at table tennis which he won at the last South Asian Games. Sirisena will have the services of two fine players in Chameera Ginige and Prasad De Silva who are capable of giving a good display of high quality TT in defeating the opposing country players.
Much is expected from schoolboy Ranasinghe as he is the only Sri Lankan to win a gold in the history of Sri Lankan table tennis. Ranasinghe achieved this honour at the last Junior Asian Games in 2015. He defeated Indias No. one player in the semi-finals and beat India’s No. two player in the finals. Apart from Ranasinghe Skipper Sirisena will make use of all his experience to lead from the front to guide his team to be reckoned in the South Asian region.
Women’s team will be led by Ishara Madurangi will have an experienced outfit. Apart from the captain Erandi Warusavithana had won the national crown in so many occasions will combine with Ruvini Kannangara, Hansani Piumila and Chamathsara Fernando to dominate the women’s category in curbing the high riding Indians.
Both Sri Lanka Men’s and Women’s teams who are ranked 7th and 5th respectively in the Commonwealth rankings are looking forward in improving their ranks in the South Asian region as they are confident this time in overcoming India.
India are hot favourites to win Gold in all categories such as in the Men’s Singles, Doubles and in Mixed Double events and their women’s team too are favourite to win the Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles events. The experienced Sri Lankan paddlers are confident of creating a few surprises in defeating the favourites from the South Asian region to win a few golds as the team are in a good shape and form to face international event of this nature.
The Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka along with the Sports Ministry and the National Olympic Council joined hands worked hard and closely with the team in preparation for this major South Asian event.
The team will be managed by Cmdr. Anil Bowatte and will have the services of Jothipala Samaraweera as the coach. Samaraweera is sure to guide this Lankan contingent with the help of the experience he gained represented Sri Lanka in major world events. Samaraweera was ranked No. 9 in Asia and was ranked 33 in the world rankings which was the highest ranking of a Sri Lankan player upto date.