8th Mahaweli Reach Tennis Tournament continues despite showers
Tennis is not a sport that has taken firm root in Kandy. Yet for the past eight years, the Mahaweli Reach Hotel, by patronizing and staging the Mahaweli Reach open tournament has done its bit to keep the game going. It has not thrown up a Nadal or a Williams. But youngsters in Kandy and its environs, consider this tournament a big boost as it allows them to expose their talent. The tournament’s popularity is such that the number of participants keeps increasing. At this year’s event, there were almost 250 taking part.
Given the limitations of time and space, and the weather factor, matches are reduced to one set affairs. But that has not interfered with the keenness of the players, and the quality of the play.
Naveed Mohamed, of Matale, won this tournament four years in a row and became the talk of the town. However, after leaving school and taking up coaching duties, his practice has been limited. Thus, unsurprisingly, he was beaten in the final of the open event this year.
A small-made lad, rich in tennis talent – Nipuna Nuwan bids fair to take-over Naveed’s mantle. Having won the Under-17 event, at the time of writing, he is poised to bag the double by winning the Under-19 Singles as well.
On the girls’ side, Shavika Kavindi Bandara, Sasinduni Wijeweera and Epsida Sashikumar have been among the winners. Eshana Sudeshkumar has excelled in the Under-13 events. The General Manager, Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Jayantha Panabokke gave away the Awards.
Results
Girls
Under-13 Singles: Eshana Sudeshkumar beat Senuki Weerasekera 6-3
Under-13 Doubles: Eshana Sudeshkumar and Senuki Weerasekera beat Shanmugaraja Maheesha beat Shantha Sanjana 5-0
Under-15 Singles: Sashikumar Sherin beat Stephen Lenora 5-2
Under-15 Doubles: Sashikumar and Lenora beat Dineshini and Madushika 5-3
Under-17 Doubles: Kavindi Bandara and Kiruni Gamage beat Sasinduni Wijeweera and Selmini Nimalka 6-4
Under-19 Doubles: Wijeweera and Kavindini beat Joseph Mary Veronica and S. Sahini 6-3
Women’s Singles: D.R. Karunaratne beat G.D. de Silva 6-5
Mixed Doubles: W.M. Wasala and D.R. Karunaratne beat K. Sutharsan and Vishni Uduwela 6-3
Women’s Doubles: G.D. de Silva and D. Rajapakse beat D.R. Karunaratne and Vishni Uduwela 6-4
Boys
Under-10 Singes: Sethum Tennekoon beat Gayindu Lakmal 5-0
Under-10 Doubles: Sethum Tennkoon and Ayyash Abubakkar beat S. Keshan and R Heshan 5-1
Under-17: Nipuna Nuwan beat Akmal Thariqdeen 6-1
Men’s Open (semi-finals): Dilshan Wasala beat Naveed Mohamed 7-4; Pavitha Abeykoon beat Ravi Ramanathan 7-2
Under-19 Doubles: Chamod Samaraweera and Malik Senanayake beat Akmal Farikdeen and Banura Jayawardena 7-1