Schoolboy prodigy Udaya Ranasinghe National Champ for fifth time in a row
Erandi (L) and Udaya (R) with chief guest Asanga Seneviratne
The Table Tennis sensation from the hill capital, Vidyartha College’s Udaya Ranasinghe clinched his 5th consecutive Men’s National Table Tennis title at the 71st National Table Tennis Championships 2017, concluded at the S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia Indoor Stadium last weekend.
Erandi Warusawithana of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) won her 2nd National title. National Champ Ranasinghe, titleholder since 2013, had an easy passage to the crown with a 4-1 win over schoolmate Krishan Wickremaratne. Warusawithana too didn’t find things difficult as she overcame Visakhian Hansani Piumila with a 4-1 victory. Warusawithana earlier won the National title in 2014.
National TT skipper Rohan Sirisena too enjoyed a successful National Championship with victories in the Open Mixed Doubles, Open Men’s Doubles and the Masters’ Singles events.
Udaya Ranasinghe and Ishara Madurangi were adjudged Most Outstanding Players of the Tournament in the Men’s and Women’s segments respectively.
Results
Open Singles
- Women:
Erandi Warusawithana (SLA) beat Hansani Piumila [Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo (Visakha)] 4-1 (11/4, 11/3, 4/11, 11/7, 11/8);
- Men:
Udaya Ranasinghe [Vidyartha College, Kandy (Vidyartha)] beat Krishan Wickremaratne (Vidyartha) 4-1 (11/6, 11/7, 11/7, 7/11, 11/9)
Open Doubles
- Women:
Ishara Madurangi [Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA)]-Nuwani Navodya (SLA) beat Kavindi Sahabandu (University of Moratuwa)-Thanushi Rodrigo (Mahamaya Girls School, Kandy) 3-1 (6/11, 11/9, 11/6, 11/7);
- Men:
Rohan Sirisena [STAG TT Academy (STAG TT)]-Chameera Ginige (University of Sri J’pura) beat Nimesh Ranchagoda-Thisas Ranchagoda (Royal College, Colombo) 3-2 (9/11, 11/5, 8/11, 11/5, 11/4)
Open Mixed Doubles
Rohan Sirisena (STAG TT)-Ishara Madurangi (SLPA) beat Chamathsara Fernando (Visakha)-Udaya Ranasinghe (Vidyartha) 3-2 (9/11, 11/7, 4/11, 12/10, 11/7)
Under- 21 Singles
- Girls:
Hansani Piumila (Visakha) beat Muthumali Priyadharshani (Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda) 3-1 (11/8, 12/10, 7/11, 11/5);
- Boys:
Prasad J. De Silva (MAS Intimates) beat Krishan Wickremaratne (Vidyartha) 3-2 (14/12, 10/12, 12/10, 9/11, 11/8)
Consolation Singles
- Women:
Nathasha Sandavinee (Visakha) beat Ayle Chitty (Ladies’ College, Colombo) 3-1 (11/8, 7/11, 13/11, 11/9);
- Men:
Isuru Anjana (Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda) beat Chamath Dinoj (Top Champs) 3-0 (12/10, 11/6, 11/8)
- Men’s Masters Singles:
Rohan Sirisena (STAG TT) beat Indika Prasad (Sri Lanka Navy) 3-2 (12/10, 10/12, 11/6, 9/11, 12/10)
- Men’s Veterans Singles:
Lalith Priyantha (Butterfly SC) beat Dr. Nimal Lucas (Veterans TT Assoc.) 3-2 (7/11, 10/12, 11/9, 11/8, 11/7)