Lankan team boosted by EPSI

Davis Cup Tennis:

Bernard Perera

The Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group III Tennis tie 2008 is to be held from April 7th -13 in Teheran, Iran. The Sri Lankan team comprising of four players are leave for Iran on April 5.

The team has already undergone training in Thailand and returned to the Island. They were under the guidance of Swiss coach Dominic Utzinger during their stay in Thailand.

The comprising of Harshana Godamanne, Rajeev Rajapakse, Dinusha Wijesuriya, H. Upasama Artha and Guyanga Weerasekera are lucky this year as EPSI Computers have taken the full responsibility of sponsoring the team for the Davis Cup tie.

These details were disclosed at a press briefing held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel recently.

Guyanga Weerasekera is the reserve player. The team is led by non Playing captain Rohan de Silva who has represented the country at earlier ties is a player with lot of experience on the event.

The other participating countries at this years tie are Malaysia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and the host country Iran. The winners are to be promoted to the Group II along with the runner up.

The last occasion Sri Lanka played in this category failed reach the higher class as they were placed at third slot. This year the team is confident that they are capable of moving a step forward so much of support and having played lot of international tournaments before the this event.

Niranjan Canagey the Chief Executive Officer EPSI Computers speaking said that they came forward to sponsor the Tennis squad as they think that the sport deserves promotion in the country.

The team that represent the country will not only play to keep tennis moving but also bring pride to our motherland. He further added that sport helps build mental and physic while, promoting the team spirit while competing in highly competitive tournaments.

These points are very useful for an organization to come forward to sponsor sport as it helps teaches collective responsibility which is of vital importance for every one to serve the society at large.

Janaka Bogollagama the president of the Tennis Association said that tennis is played in few parts of the country and highly essential to introduce the sport to schools in all parts of the country.

He added that the Association very keen in taking the sport rural schools too.

Already his team of officials are working hard to prepare programs to conduct coaching clinics for teachers and coaches who are interested in following the game of tennis.