Paddlers off to Indonesia for Asian Championship
Rohan Sirisena will lead the Sri Lanka paddlers
A nine-member Table Tennis contingent comprising four men and women players and an official, left Sri Lanka yesterday, for the Asian Table Tennis Championship to be held in Yogyakartha in Indonesia. The competition will begin today and end on September 22.
Organised by the Asian Table Tennis Union, 33 countries will compete in the Men’s event and 25 countries will be competing in the Women’s events.
Sri Lanka will be represented by Rohan Sirisena (Captain), Chameera Ginige (University of Sri Jayawardenapura), Supuna Warusawithana (University of Moratuwa) and Senura Silva (Ananda College) in the Men’s category while Ishara Madurangi (Sri Lanka Ports Authority), Erandi Warusawithana (Sri Lanka Army), Jithara Warnakulasuriya (Ladies College) and Bimandee Bandara (Hillwood College, Kandy) will be in action in the Women’s events.
On the eve of their departure, the Manager of the Sri Lanka team Chandana Perera revealed that this will be a tough tournament as countries like China–the World Champions, Japan, Singapore, India–the Commonwealth Games champs will battle for supremacy. Perera said that he expects the national team to come into the second round. That will make way for the players to lock horns with world top players.
“We want to give more experience to the players ahead of the South Asian Games,” explained Perera.
At the last South Asian Games, India dominated the tournament, winning the championship while Sri Lanka occupied the second spot.
“This year our aim is to be the SAG TT champions,” he added.
According to reliable information, the players had to purchase their air tickets as the Ministry of Sports had refused to fund them due to financial difficulties. The tournament will be vital as the points they earn in this tournament will be important for the World Cup qualification. This will be the last international event the local paddlers will compete in before the South Asian Games.