Passion for tennis re-ignites at Royal
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Royal College received a state-of-the-art tennis complex on November 11, the first of its kind here in Sri Lanka. Equipped with a Laykold cushion court, the all-weather hard-court top surface built to the same standards as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, the home of the US Open.The BayLed purpose designed flood lighting using dilux simulation was designed and manufactured in Turkey to ITF standards. The manufacturer of this lighting system had done similar work for the World Cup in Qatar this year.
This was made a reality by the magnanimous donation from Dr. Suku Nagendren, a distinguished old boy of Royal College and former coloursman in tennis in the early 1980s. This project was facilitated by the Royal College Old Boys East Coast Foundation (RCOBECF), an active group in the recent past.
Under a glittering ceremony, the P. Nagendran Tennis Complex, dedicated in memory of his father, was declared open in the presence of the school authorities, the RCU leadership, SDS and many old boys who had flown in especially for the event and well as parents and well-wishers.
This entire project from conception to planning, supervision and execution was undertaken by the Group of 96, who took it upon themselves to complete a significant infrastructure activity in celebration of the completion of 25 years of graduating from the place they will always call home.
The meticulous planning, attention to detail, careful selection of suppliers and weathering all storms both economic and political was aptly showcased in a short video by the group led by its chief architect.
“The need of the hour for our country to unite under one banner of being Sri Lankan, putting aside the cultural and societal boundaries of race and religion,” Dr. Suku in his inspiring address recalled.
The courts were inaugurated formally with the playing of a few rallies between Dr. Suku and the head prefect of college, after which many were at the edge of their seats keen to try out the facilities themselves.
The event was brought to a rousing conclusion by the present players who chanted the ever deafenin ‘R-O-Y-A-L’ cheer and showcasing the silverware which has been won by the players in the current season sans much facilities, giving a renewed hope that tennis at Royal is now destined for greater heights in the seasons to come.
A dream has now become a reality because a few royalists made it their mission to repay their debt .
