Lankan paddlers out to clinch gold and silver medals at SAG

Sanjaya Ariyaratne

TABLE TENNIS: Ten top paddlers will represent the country at the 10th South Asian Games Table Tennis Championships which is to be worked off from August 18 to 23 commencing at the S. Thomas College, Indoor Stadium, Mount Lavinia.

Most of the Sri Lankan paddlers are fresh after taking part in tourneys in India and Japan, recently.

The ten paddlers selected to participate in the South Asian Games are:

The reigning National champion Thilina Piyadasa (the National champion for the last seven years), Rohana Sirisena (two times National runner-up), Indika Prasad (two times National runner-up), Gihan Liyanage (Junior National champion), Tharindu Samaraweera (Junior Notional champion, National runner-up).

Deepika Rodrigo (eight times National champion), Ishara Madurangi (National champion, Junior National champion), Kalpani Herath (three times National champion), Ruhansi Wijekoon (Junior National champion), Srimali Wimalaratne (Junior National runner-up), P.D. Ratnasiri (National Coach), Jagath Rajapakse (Foreign Coach), Mahinda Ellepola (Manager), Dilmini Direckze (Manageress). The Men's team will be led by Tilina Piyadasa while Deepika Rodrigo is the Women's captain.

The Sri Lanka Table Tennis team was able to win only bronze medal at the previous South Asian Games held in Pakistan where the Indian team won the gold medal.

But this time the Sri Lankan Table Tennis team is determined to win five silver medals and one gold medal at the championship.

The gold medal prospect will be in the Women's category.The S. Thomas College indoor stadium, Mt. Lavinia has been upgraded with special lighting systems in preparation for the South Asian Games.