Carrom: Heavyweights shocked at 47th National Singles

Schoolboys and girls continued creating upsets in this year’s carrom Nationals as at the 47th National Carrom Singles.   In a huge upset, the present World Men’s Singles title holder and Sri Lanka No.2 Nishantha Fernando was beaten by a schoolboy from Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa -- Pramedha Mendis in a three set battle.   Last week two schoolgirls from Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya Kusalya Vidanagama and Detuni Nomaya dethroned two ranked players.   Pramedha was halted in his advance as he was beaten by Tharanga Kelum (No.10) in the pre-quarter finals in spite of the youngster fought all the way as the game went to the last wire.   Another youngster Udesh Chandima of the SLAF -- an upcoming player beat Tharanga Kelum and will meet another schoolboy Anas Ahamed from Royal College.   This battle expected to be a ding dong battle in the quarter-finals.   In the first semi-final Chamil Cooray will meet Mohammed Shaheed and Anas Ahamed meets Udesh Chandima in the 2nd semi-finals.   All Men’s and Women’s Single semi-finals and finals along with the position matches will take place at the Sri Lanka Carrom Federation headquarters at Maharagama this weekend.   Pre-quarter-final results:   Chamil Cooray beat Charith Madusanka 19/15, 23/12   M. Sheriffdeen (No.11) beat Viraj Fernando (No.7) 25/6, 25/8   Prabath Yatawara (No.9) beat M.T.M. Hilmy (No.5) 25/00, 21/7   Mohomad Shaheed (No.3) beat Brindly Wickramasinghe (No.12) 24/12, 20/7   Anas Ahmed (No.4) beat Ishan Kannangara 24/16, 20/2   Dimal Senaratne (No.6) beat Lahiru Eshan (No.13) 25/6, 24/5   Udesh Chandima (No.8) beat Joseph Dilan 25/4, 25/5   Tharanga Kelum (No.10) beat Pramedha Mendis 13/12, 14/25, 18/4   Quarter-final results:   Chamil Cooray beat M. Sheriffdeen 25/10, 25/23   Mohammed Shaheed beat Prabath Yatawara 25/18, 25/12   Anas Ahamed beat Dimal Senaratne 18/25, 25/19, 25/15   Udesh Chandima beat Tharanga Kelum 25/02, 11/25, 25/5