Sri Lanka fields a strong tennis team for the South Asian Games
From left: Shamal, Yasitha, Harshana and Dinesh Kanthan,
For the 12th South Asian Games in India, Sri Lanka fields a strong Tennis team comprising eight players inclusive of four girls and four boys.
The team will be led by Sri Lanka’s most experienced and Davis Cup player Harshana Godamanne. The 12th South Asian Games will be held in Guwahati and Shillong from Feb 5 to 16.
The Tennis singles, doubles and mixed doubles’ events are scheduled to be held from Feb 7 to 11 at Guwahati on plexipave (synthetic surface) hard courts.
The interesting point is Sri Lanka is fielding a tennis team in the South Asian Games after 21 long years.
According to the coach Shalini De Silva. “The final team has been selected from the local tournaments conducted and the best players have been included. The major challenge for these players will definitely come from India”
The captain of the team Godamanne mentioned that “ India will be of course the main threat not forgetting Pakistan as well.
Medhira, Nethmi, Amritha and Thisuri - Pix by Amila Gamage
India will of course field the players such as Yuki Bhambri, Somdev Devvarman, Rohan Bopanna and up and coming new women’s player Ankita Raina.
The members of the touring Sri Lankan tennis contingent as below: Harshana Godamanne (captain), Shamal Dissanayake, Yasitha De Silva, T. Dinesh Kanthan, Amritha Muttiah, Medhira Samarasinghe, Thisuri Molligoda, Nethmi Waduge, Shalini De Silva (Coach ), Sujani Bogollagama(Manager)
Skipper Harshana Godamanne
