Upeksha - the TT sensation

Sanjaya ARIYARATNE

TABLE TENNIS: Upeksha Fernando a product of Girls’ High School, Mount Lavinia is the latest sensation in the local table tennis scene.

The Junior paddler clinched a triple crown in a spectacular manner having made a tremendous impact at the recently concluded Western Province Table Tennis Championships at the S. Thomas’ College, Indoor Stadium, Mount Lavinia organised by the Nugegoda Table Tennis Club.

Fernando bagged three major titles after having won the girl’s under 18 singles, girl’s under 21 singles event along with the open women’s singles event respectively.

In the under 18 girl’s singles final match she beat Vidushini Malavige of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo in two sets by margins of 12/10, 11/08.

In the under 21 girl’s singles event Fernando routed Savindya Nipuni who is also from Girls’ High School, Mount Lavinia in a two setter final 11/09, 11/04 and in the open women’s final Upeksha had the better of Mavulee Peiris in two sets 13/11, 11/04.

Earlier, Fernando won women’s singles title at the 10th Milady All Island Open Table Tennis championships which was worked off at the S. Thomas’ College, Indoor Stadium, Mount Lavinia, recently. She defeated the same paddler Mavulee Peiris (Three Star Sports Club) in a four setter final to emerge champion (5/11, 11/5, 11/5, 11/9).

She continued her dominance by winning another triple at the Western Province Individual Table Tennis Championships which was organised by the Western Province Table Tennis Association and worked off at the S. Thomas’ College, Indoor Stadium, Mount Lavinia, recently.

Upeksha collected her triple by winning the Open women’s singles, Girls under 18 singles and girl’s under 21 singles events. In the women’s open final Upeksha beat Chaushalya de Silva (Musaeus College, Colombo) by five sets (11/7,7/11,11/7,8/11,11/3).

Fernando took her other title in Girl’s under 21 singles where she again beat the same paddler by four sets (10/12,11/8,11/8,11/6).

She won the girl’s under 18 final by beating the same paddler in straight sets (11/9,13/11,12/10).

Led by Upeksha Fernando Colombo Combined Table Tennis Club reigned supreme by emerging `A’ division women’s champions at the 10th Milady All Island Open Table Tennis team championship which was worked off at the S.Thomas’ College, Indoor Stadium, Mount Lavinia, recently and was organised by the Old Sokians Table Tennis Club and sponsored by the Daintee private Limited. Kusali Ranmini and Kasuni Dilshani were the other players for her team.

In the final they beat Three Star Sports Club in four matches which included Mavulee Peiris, Nuwangi Aponso and Sadisi Nirosha.

Fernando does her training under the guidance of Sarath Gunaratne a former national table tennis player and ex president of the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka who has taken great pains to bring her up to the present standard.

Her intention is to represent the country and bring honour and fame to her alma mater and motherland and she is grateful to her coach for his dedication towards making her a champion paddler and also to her parents who always encourage and support her in all her endeavours.

She also paid a glowing tribute to her teachers and principal for encouraging her to pursue her career.