Aim to break Indian TT dominance at SAG
Men’s skipper Rohan Sirisena Pix by M.D.Nissanka
A strong combination of twelve Sri Lanka table tennis players are ready to take wings to India to participate in the 12th South Asian Table Tennis championship 2016 scheduled to be worked-off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex Indoor Hall in Shillong from February 6 to 10.
A confident looking Sri Lanka squad consisting of six Men and six Women are at hard practice at the S. Thomas’s College Indoor Stadium tables under the watchful eyes of former national player and Champion Jothipala Samaraweera, rankled 33rd in the world.
This strong and experienced paddlers are determined to put up a good show to finish at the top in every event at this edition’s South Asian Games. Their aim is to topple the high riding Indians as Sri Lanka had to be the bridesmaid in every South Asian Games where the Indians occupied the bride’s position defeating the Lankans in several games in the past.
Both Sri Lanka Women’s and Men’s teams were ranked 5th and 7th respectively in the Commonwealth rankings and will make every effort to improve their position making a start from this games. Sri Lanka had never won the South Asian crown and they came very close at the last edition but went down to India after a hectic battle. Apart from Sri Lanka and India teams from Pakistan, India, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal and Afghanistan too will be making a desperate attempt to win the South Asian supremacy.
Ishara Madurangi will lead the Women’s side
The Sri Lanka Table Tennis Association along with the Ministry of Sports headed by the Minister and the Director General and the National Olympic Council with the hardworking President of the SLTTA have joined hands to work closely with the team in preparation for the games. It was a commendable action by the Ministry to accommodate the team into a hotel with all facilities which will help the team to sit together and plan their strategies for the games, to gain better understanding and team work rather than assemble at the departure lounge at the airport on the departure.
When requested for his views coach Jothipala Samaraweera said: “Practice started on January 9 and his first task was to make them mentally fit and two fitness coaches were in-charge of the players’ physical fitness. The squad practices hard for six days a week.” The coach said that he is confident that this squad will give a good run for the favourites Indians. Samaraweera had instructed the players to never think of the strength of the opposition and just to play to the best of their ability.
The teenage table tennis star Udaya Ranasinghe, skipper Rohan Sirisena and Nirmala Jayasinghe of the men’s team and Ruweeni Kannangara and Ishara Madurangi from the women’s squad would be able to stand high in this games as they along with the other members of the team are in good shape to bring the much awaited South Asian TT Championship to Sri Lanka.
A confident looking Ishara Madurangi, the captain of the women’s team speaking to the Sunday Times said that she is leading an experienced team as most of them had played with her in international events. In the 2010 South Asian Games Sri Lanka won two silver medals and seven bronze medals and would go all-out to win mostly gold medals. She said that she counts every game a challenge as she had noticed that most teams apart from India looked improved than when they met at the last outing. The skipper along with Ruwani Kannangara, Erandi Warusawithana, Hansani Piumila and Chamatsara Fernando are in best of touch and are sure to fly the Lion flag high at this year’s games.
Coach Jothipala Samaraweera
With over 20 years in the national table tennis team Rohan Sirisena who leads the Men’s team is very confident that the experienced men’s side consisting of three national champions along with two runners-up will go all out to show their prowess by winning gold medals in every single event they take part.
Occupying the 7th position in the Commonwealth rankings had paved the way for his team to come out with remarkable performances. The skipper said as all members of his team are in good touch and everyone will take this opportunity to carry forward the good work which they showed at the commonwealth games.
Sirisena said that Sri Lanka has the edge in the Men’s and Women’s Doubles events and in the Mixed Doubles and the single events too the Sri Lankans will no way allow the high riding South Asian favourite Indians to have a plain sail to the championship.