Table Tennis: Udaya rises above the rest to win SMS Challenge Trophy

Sri Lanka’s most accomplished paddler, Udaya Ranasinghe, duly annexed the S.M.S. Challenge Trophy at the Central Province Table Tennis Championships worked off at the Jagath Rajapakse International Stadium in Kandy. Ranasinghe had an easy time of it in the final of the Open event when he disposed of schoolmate Thilina Wijesiri in straight sets.   However, in the Under-18 final, he almost met his waterloo at the hands of Dinesh Kavishka, another Vidyartha College player.   In a tough five-setter, Kavishka was leading 9-2 in the final set.   But Ranasinghe, bringing his vast international experience into play, was able to come through 12-10.   Ranasinghe’s forte was his top spin on both flanks.   He varied that by using a flat kill from close to the table.   In the Women’s Open event, Ridmi Karandanarachchi, who had toppled the experienced Praveens Silva in the quarter-final, was upset by 15-year-old Samadhi Hettiarachchi.   Samadhi won in straight sets, but all three sets were well contested.   Results:   Under-8 Boys: Shafiullah Akram beat Nafeel Hassan 11-5, 11-4   Under-8 Girls: Dineshi Dissanaike beat Moksha Jayasuriya 6-11, 11-6, 11-9   Under-10 Boys: H.I. Rodrigo beat Akash Dimantha 11-9, 9-11, 11-9   Under-10 Girls: Mandini Mohottiarachchi beat Hasini Ikiriwatte 8-11, 11-8, 12-10   Under-12 Boys: Dhanushka Wijesinghe beat Bavendra Srimal 11-9, 11-6, 11-4   Under-12 Girls: Tharani Galaboda beat Samadhi Wedagedara 11-6, 13-11, 11-9   Under-15 Boys: C.M. Gunasekara beat Shakila Karunaratne 11-8, 11-6, 15-13   Under-15 Girls: Thanushi Rodrigo beat Samadhi Hettiarachchi 11-4, 4-11, 11-5   Under-18 Boys: Udaya Ranasinghe beat Dinesh Kavishka 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 4-11, 12-10   Under-18 Girls: Praveena Silva beat Thanushi Rodrigo 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6   Open Men’s: Udaya Ranasinghe beat Thilina Wijesiri 11-9, 11-5, 11-8   Open Women’s: Samadhi Hettiarachchi beat Ridmi Karandanarachchi 14-12, 13-11, 11-7   Lanka Kids Girls: Erandi Dhananjaya (Ambatenns Model School) beat Shanthikumar Sanjana (Mowbray)   Under-8 Boys: Dinindu Ashinsa (Ambatenna Primary) beat Chamika Dhananjaya Kumara (Ambatenna Primary)   Under-12: Udara Madushan (Kurunduwatte Royal) beat Ashen Thivanka (Ambatenna Model School)