|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 9 August 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Sports | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Franklyn, Thiyumi and Shalini win tennis doubles Teenagers gave a clear indication that Sri Lanka has plenty of talent to groom for the future at the Colombo Tennis Championships, conducted by the Playing Section of the Sri Lanka Tennis Asssociation and worked off at the National Tennis Centre courts at Green Path, Colombo recently. The performance of the youngsters are set to come even better at the forthcoming national championships. Two 15-year-olds took the prized titles of the Colombo Championships, which has a history of nearly 50 years and is considered the most prestigious event to the Nationals. Royalist Franklin Emmanuel won the Men's Singles, defeating fellow-teenager Oshada Wijemanne, 6/4, 6/2. He went on to complete a double when he took the Men's Doubles, partnered by Rajeev Rajapakse. The Davis Cup pair, however, had to sweat for their win over veterans Arjun Fernando and Rohan de Silva, 7/5, 7/5. The domination of Emmanuel, who is the defending National Singles champion, wasn't half as surprising as the triple successes of 16-year-old Thiyumi Abeysinghe of Visakaha Vidyalaya. She won her first major senior title by defeating 17-year Mahesha Seneviratne of Bishops College in the Women's Singles final, 6/3, 6/7(2), 7/5. Abeysinghe repeated that feat in the Girls under 18 singles final, defeating Seneviratne, 3/6, 6/1,7/5. She wound up a glorious tournament by pocketing the Girls under 16 singles title, defeating Ruchika Alahakoon, 6/3,6/0. Veteran Shalini de Silva too did well to win a double _ the Mixed Doubles and the Women's Doubles partnered respectively by her husband Rohan and Chaya Beiling. S. Nishenderan, the 15-year Thomian, also claimed a double, winning the Boy's under 16 singles and doubles events, the latter in partnerships with Sashivaran. In the veterans' events Sanenderam Subramainiam won a double in the Men's over 35 competition, as did Sindrakumar Gananathan in the Men's over 45 events. Vice Presdient SLTA, Tryphon Mirando was the chief guest while Mrs. Mirando distributed the awards. The top players are now gearing up for the National Championships, which promises mouthwatering fare. Renouk Wijemanne is due to return from the US in an attempt to take back the Singles title he surrendered to Emmanuel in the final of last year. Amrit Rupasinghe is also back in time for the Nationals after playing in the junior European circuit. Strengthening the challenge of teenagers will be strengthened with the presence of Oshada Wijemanne and Nishendran. Rajeev Rajapakse, who gave the singles event a miss at the Colombo Championships will spearhead the seniors challenge, though, the chances of others from his brigade cannot be ruled out, notably Wijemanne and Rohan de Silva. The Junior National Championships, from August 23-31, will precede the 88th National Championships. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
