Junior and Cadet TT teams return after sterling performances
Sri Lanka Junior and Cadet table tennis teams returned to the island after a well performed Asian Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship 2018, held in Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from August 13 to 18. The championship was participated by all regional qualified Asian giants. Only Sri Lanka and India qualified to participate from the South Asian region. Sri Lanka secured six silver medals and six bronze medals in the regional qualifications, securing the second spot in the region.
Under-18 and 15 Team, Under-18 and 15 Singles, Under-18 Doubles and Under -18 Mixed Doubles events were worked off at this mega event during the six days. The youngsters showed great potential at the event even despite without the services of a coach due to financial constraints.
Despite the fact of a lack of a coach in the team, Sri Lankan players have shown a great courage and achieved good progressive results. The highlights of the results were the Sri Lankan captain pair Nimesh Ranchagoda and Hansani Kapugeekiyana managed to enter the quarter finals of the mixed doubles event by beating Kazakhstan and Indian mixed doubles pairs in a very competitive finishes. The Indian duo has won the first two sets comprehensively but the Sri Lankans were well up to the task and came back strongly with a superb finish by gaining the victory in the rest of the three sets. The scores were 4/11, 7/11, 11/6, 13/11, 11/9.
Jithara (Cadet Girls Captain)
Then they met the world junior circuit mixed doubles champions Li shin yang and Cheng tin tin from Chinese Taipei. First set was won by the Taipei pair with ease but despite the fact of being the under dogs, the second set was dominated by the Sri Lankan pair and managed to claim the victory. In the third and fourth sets Sri Lankan pair was leading the sets with 8/6 and 5/2 with a heavy shock to the Taipei team but, eventually ended up the sets with 3/11, 11/7, 11/13 and 9/11. The commentators heavily praised the Sri Lankan achievement in the live telecast with remarks that Sri Lanka is not heard of in the arena and also commended on the technique and talents of the players. The Sri Lankan experts who have watched the live telecast of the match advocated that if there was a coach on site the match could have won with ease earning a much wanted Bronze medal in the Asian Junior Table Tennis Championship after 11 years of medal drought. The last Bronze medal was won for Sri Lanka by Ishara Madurangi in the Cadet Girls category in year 2007.
Hansani (Junior Girls Captain)
The other performance which can be highlighted as a remarkable achievement is the match of Hiruna Warusawithana of Cadet Boys’ against the Shinozuka Hiroto of Japan in the group 12. Hiruna managed to outperform the Japan player with a stunning win. The match scores are 12/10, 11/9, 8/11, 1/11, 11/9. Hiruna showed brilliant results in his singles by challenging the world ranked players of Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Japan in the toughest group that he had to take part.
Also the performances of Hansani Kapugeekiyana and Jithara Warnakulasuriya were admirable as they gave a tough fight to the top seeded Chinese and Korean players and lost the matches in nail biting finishes 2-3 in each case. The results show that Sri Lanka is not that far in the junior arena of the sport but we have to nurture them with the necessary infrastructure for the development. Also Chandupa Alahakoon, Isuru Anjana, Senura Silva, Sanaya Buddhadasa and Ayla Chitty showed a good sign of progress by winning some matches in the tournament.
Altogether it was super performance by the Sri Lankan Juniors under the given circumstances and there is a very good hope for a brighter future if the authorities provide the young paddlers with the necessary resources required.
Nimesh (Junior Boys Captain)
Hiruna (Cadet Boys Captain)
Teams:
Junior Boys Team
Under-18: Nimesh Ranchagoda (Captain, Royal College), CHandupa Alahakoon (Kingswood College, Kandy), Isuru Anjana (Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda)
Junior Girls Team
Under-18: Hansani Piyumila (Captain, Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo), D.H. Kolambage (Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda), Imasha De Silva (Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda), Ayia Chitty (Ladies’College, Colombo)
Cadet Boys Team
Under-15: Hiruna Warusawithana (Captain, Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda), CHanul Dulsen (Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda), Senura Silva (Ananda College, Colombo)
Cadet Girls Team
Under-15: Jithara Warnakulasuriya (Captain, Ladies’ College, Colombo), Sanaya Buddhadasa (Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo), Kavishka Kavindi (Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda)
Team Manager: Rahal Abeyrathne, Lady Chaperon: Ms. U.P.D.D. Udagedara
– Lakshman Ranasinghe