Tennis: International Wheelchair Tournament begins

The Sri Lanka Tennis Association did a yeoman service by hosting three back to back International Wheelchair Tennis futures and a World Cup qualifying Asia region tournament. 

It was a shot in the arm especially for the local players by participating and further improving their rankings.

The tournaments are: the concluded 5th Negombo Open that was held from February 15 to 17, the already commenced 9th Sri Lanka Open from February 19 to 21 at the SLTA courts and the 7th SSC Open from February 23 to 25 at SSC courts.

Finally the World Team Cup Regional Qualifiers – Asia from February 27 to March 1 at the SLTA courts.

These futures tournaments would be a USD 2,500 prize money and one of the highest price money tournament in Sri Lanka tennis and a significant tennis tournament on the ITF NEC series on the calendar.

The three futures tournament indeed attracted overseas players apart from the Sri Lankans (12), South Korea(8), France (2), Russia (1), India (3), South Africa (2), Japan (3), Spain (2), Hungary(2), Iran(3)Malaysia (6) and China ( 14).

There are high ranking players in the 20’s from South Korea and Japan who will participate.

The Sri Lankan players are coached by Jagath Welikala and overlooked by P.S. Kumara, a total of two draws including players like Rajakaruna, Gamini, Dharmaratne and Wijesiri. 

Majority of the Sri Lankan players are from the Army. The interesting fact is Sri Lanka wheel chair tennis players have higher rankings than the Sri Lanka tennis players.