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| Monday, 9 February 2004 |
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National champ loses, but Indian slicers still win by Winston Rajudeen It was all an exciting third and final test to witness at the exclusive "Fingara" Town and Country Club at Rattanapitiya, Borelasgamuwa, Sri Lanka's No. 3 Nishantha Fernando became the second Sri Lankan Slicer to defeat an Indian Slicer in the 7th Indo-Lanka Test Series. On this occasion it was India's National Champion Sandeep Deorukhkar at the receiving end beaten with scores of 25/18, 0/25, 25/19. Indian Slicers under pressure The Indian Slicers who won the men's singles events in the first and second Tests 2/1, 3/0 respectively were put under pressure for the first time in the third test series when all Sri Lankan men slicers won their first set match in style in the men's singles event. Viraj Fernando (SL No. 2) defeated Kubendra Babu (Ind. No. 2) 25/20, Chamil Cooray (SL No. 1) defeated R. M. Shankara (Ind. No. 3) 25/22, while Nishantha Fernando (SL No. 3) defeated Sandeep Deorukkhar (Ind. No. 1) 25/18, to win their first set matches, which created a moment of uncertainty and stunned the Indians as to what would become the outcome of the next match. Indian slicers fight back The Indian Slicers had to fight their hearts out for survival and go through the second set. Chamil with the first set win gave Shankara a rude shock when the score read 23 points each at the penultimate frame, in the second set, Shankara with a superb break managed to squeeze through the last frame and obtain the 2 points making the total 25/23 in his favour. Suhas Kambli, (5 times India's National Champ) who was behind Shankara watching the game carefully infused a few tips at the breather and then Shankara came back gaining momentum blazed through to finish the third set with an attacking 25/02 to win the game. Kubendra Babu also had to fight hard to win the second set with Viraj Fernando (who scored a win against R. M. Shankara in the first test) with the score at 25/17. Viraj playing steady in the third set held Shankara 19/23 at the end of the 7th frame. Shankara was relieved finally to wrap up the third set with the score reading 25/19 in his favour, to end the game. The victory for Nishantha over Sandeep (mentioned earlier) was highly commended by Bangaru Babu (the advisor to the ICF) for it was not an easy task for a player to be beaten with a nil game in the second set and return fighting back to win the final set (with the score 25/19) specially in the third set, where the Indians go fighting hell for leather. The Indian team (men) won finally by 2/1 over Sri Lankan team. Indian women slicers supreme The Indian women slicers played extremely well and won their matches in straight sets. K. Suvarna a successful slicer having given two nil games to two Sri Lankan women slicers in the first and the second Test, scored her third with a 'hat trick' which included a nil game to Amitha. The final score with Amitha Wickemasinghe read 25/2 25/0. I. Ilavazhaki from Tamil Nadu played very tactfully and won against Nayana Wickremasinghe 25/7, 25/3. P. Nirmala, a cool player with load of experiences timed her shots perfectly, pocketing the carrom men with ease. Her opponent this time, Leela de Silva who was able only to score 12 points in the first set. The final scores between them read 25/12, 25/01. The Indian women team won their final match 3/0 against the Sri Lankan women slicers. Sports Minister impressed Sports Minister Johnston Fernando who was the chief guest at the third Test award ceremony was highly impressed, in the manner, in which all three Tests had been conducted and the performances of the players though Sri Lanka couldn't win a Test. He spoke with enthusiasm and ensured that the next World Cup Carrom Tournament hopefully to be held in Sri Lanka may materialise and encouraged all players to do well in the forthcoming world championships. The Minister extended a word of thanks to Mevyn Jayasinghe (the Vice President of CFSL and Deputy Chairman of Fingara Town and Country Club) for hosting and organising the 3rd Test at Fingara. He also thanked the Hony Secretary Rohini Mathiasz, Langley Mathiasz (Vice President CFSL) and officials of CFSL. The manager of the Indian team Pradeep Jadav and Bangaru Babu (advisor to the International Carrom Federation) addressed the audience. Babu known as the 'father of carrom' made an appeal to hold the World Championship in Sri Lanka which would benefit to take the game to far height and benefit the Sri Lankan carrom enthusiasts. Guest of honours were Milton Amarasinghe, Director of Sports, Pinnawala and the Auditor General S. C. Mayadunne. |
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