Sri Lankan women paddlers lose to Uzbekistan

Sanjaya Ariyaratne

Sri Lanka women’s team lost to Uzbekistan (3-1) in the first fixture of their second stage in the ongoing World Team Table Tennis Championships in Guangzhou Gymnasium in Guangzhou, China. The tournament will come to an end on March 2.

Deepika Rodrigo was the only player to win a match against Uzbekistan but could not win her reverse single. The other two Lankan players Ishara and Ruhansi also suffered shock defeats at the hands of Uzbekistanis.

Results: Ishara Madurangi lost to Rimma Gufranova 5-11, 5-11, 6-11, Deepika Rodrigo beat Aliye Ismailova 11-7, 11-2, 8-11, 11-9, Ruhansi Wijekoon was beaten by Saida Makhmudova 4-11, 9-11, 3-11 and Deepika Rodrigo went down to Rimma Gufranova 11-9, 5-11, 9-11, 6-11. Sri Lankan men cleared another hurdle in their division four match by beating Kyrgyzstan in a three setter (3-0) as they take on Tanzania in the next fixture.

Results: K.S.T.Chalitha Ranjana beat Alisher Iakupbaev 11-13, 11-1, 11-4, 7-11, 11-8, Rohan Sirisena beat Azamat Talasbaev 10-12, 6-11, 12-10, 11-2, 11-9, Yohan Deshapriya beat Talgat Sagyndykov 11-13, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7. Sri Lanka will earn a place in the second stage if they win against Tanzania.