Ishara clinches three titles at Junior TT Nationals

Sanjaya Ariyaratne

Shara Madurangi (Sri Devanada College, Ambalangoda) was the cynosure of all eyes as she bagged three titles at the 61st Junior National Table Tennis Championships concluded at the S. Thomas' College, Indoor Stadium, Mount Lavinia on Saturday.

She took the girls under 18 singles, girls doubles and mixed doubles events. The tournament was conducted by the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka and sponsored by Finance and Guarantee Group.

It was smooth sailing for Sahanaka Ganegoda (Royal College) as he coasted to a straight sets win over Sajith Kavinda (St. Benedict's College, Kotehena) 11/7, 11/8, 11/5 to win the under 18 Boys Singles title for the first time.

Ishara beat her home town rival Pavithra Gimhani (Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda) in a four setter final to retain her crown 11/8, 9/11, 11/3, 11/9 and she teamed up with Dinusha Manoji to defeat Nirmani Silva and Shanika Silva (Girls' High School, Kandy) 8/11,11/9,11/8,11/4 to lift the girls doubles.

Ishara partnered by her school mate Chathura Viskam got the better of the pair of Malith Dilusha and Tharunya Shashini also from the same school in a closely contested encounter to take the mixed doubles event 10/12, 15/13, 12/10, 11/8.