Table Tennis: Kandy regains its lost glory

1st Kandy District Table Tennis Championship – 2007

Table Tennis in Kandy which was so dominant over the last two decades has, all of a sudden, nose-dived. Christopher Arnolda, Umesh de Alwis and Tilina Piyadasa among the men and ladies such as Dilmini Direckze, Savika Atapattu, Gazala Muhajireen and Kalpani Herath more than held their own against their counterparts from Colombo, in the 1980s and 1990s.

Boys winners with the Chief Guest Mr. Ajith Gamage (Secretary of Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka), the Secretary of KDTTA (Dilmini Direckze) and the President of KDTTA (Dr. Rohitha Hanangalaarachchi).	Girls winners with the Chief Guest Mr. Ajith Gamage (Secretary of Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka), the Secretary of KDTTA (Dilmini Direckze) and the President of KDTTA (Dr. Rohitha Hanangalaarachchi).

Not any more. Kandy has been replaced by Ambalangoda and Kurunegala as the centres of table-tennis excellence. Inter alia, the lack of well-planned tournaments, the absence of on-going pools and general indifference have contributed to this sad state of affairs.

This disturbing trend had to be halted ere long and in this situation some former national players such as Dilmini Direckze and Manzil Muthalib together with accomplished coaches such as Mahinda Ellepola and LB Dissanaike got together to revive TT in Kandy and, if possible, to bring back former glories.

Their endeavours bore fruit in the formation of the Kandy District Table Tennis Association - last weekend at the Peradeniya University gymnasium, the recently-formed Association conducted its first tournament. There were singles events only, in the under 10,12,15 and 18 age groups. They say that great oaks spring from small across and the KDTTA seems to be thinking on those lines!

Anthonian Prabodhana Rodrigo excelled by winning the under 12 and 15 singles events, while Shanika Silva of Girls High School made off with the award for the most outstanding player. Tiny Krishan Wickremaratne caught the eye with his quick movements and attacking style. He triumphed in the under 10 singles. The under 18 Boys' final was a home and home affair between two Rajans - Sukhita Wickremanayake and Hasitha Bandara. Wickremanayake was two sets up when he dropped his guard and allowed Bandara to achieve parity. However, Wickremanayake bestirred himself sufficiently to win the final set and take the match.

Boys Finals
Under 10 Krishan Wickremaratne (Vidyartha) beat P.C.P. Tennekoon (Dharmaraja) 8/11, 9/11, 11./4, 11/3, 11/7.
Under 12 Prabodhana Rodrigo (St Anthony's) beat Udaya Ranasinghe (Vidyartha) 11/7, 11/9, 15/13.
Under 15 Prabodhana Rodirgo (SACK) beat AMD Athauda (Dharmaraja) 10/12, 11/4, 11/4, 11/7,
Under 18 Sukhita Wickremanayake (DCK) beat Hasitha Bandara (DCK) 11/8, 11/7, 9/11, 8/11, 11/2.

Girls
Under 10 Ridhmi Kandanaarachchi (Mahamaya) beat Praveena Silva (Girls High) 7/11, 11/6, 11/9, 11/5.
Under 12 Chandima Madushani (Mahamaya) beat Vinoli Silva (Girls High) 12/10, 11/7, 11/6.
Under 15 Heshani Wickremasinghe (Mahamaya) beat Nadini Samaraweera (Mahamaya) 8/11, 11/3, 11/7, 11/9.
Under 18 Shanika Silva (Girls High) beat Nadini Samaraweera (Mahamaya) 11/4, 11/5, 11/7.
- AK