Buddhika, Madurangi win National TT titles

Richard Dwight

In the 62nd Table Tennis Nationals conducted by the Sri Lanka Table Tennis Association and sponsored by Serendib Medicals Pvt Ltd., which began on Friday at the S. Thomas' College, Indoor Sports Complex concluded yesterday on a victorious note for two senior students in Ishara Madurangi from Devananda Ambalangoda and Budhika Walgampola of Royal College.

In the women's singles semifinals Ishra Madurangi got the better of Ruwansi Wijekoon (Maliyadeva) 4 sets to 2. Ishara's rival Deepika Rodrigo (Lake House) beat Suranga de Silva (Commercial Bank) 4 sets to nil.

Deepika who had won the women's singles title on 9 separate occasions and being the current champion was fancied to retain the little against Ishara. But things were not easy for Deepika with a tense battle on with Ishara holding her own in this tensely fought seven setter. Deepika at crucial moments kept smashing, that were off the mark, which gave the initiative to the calm and composed Ishara who won 11/9, 7/11, 11/13, 11/8, 7/11, 11/4, 11/8.

In the men's singles semifinals Indika Prasad (I D TT Academy) got the better of Sujitha Wickremanayake (Dharmaraja, Kandy) whilst Buddhika Walgampola (Roya College) beat K.S.T. Chalitha (Seylan Bank).

Indika Prasad has for quite some years has been at striking distance of the final and everything pointed to his being lucky this time. But it was not so, with the Royalist screaming and shouting at every point he scored won the five setter 6/11, 12/10, 11/8, 11/5, 11/7.

Finals Results -

Open Men's Doubles: K S T Chalitha/Rohan Sirisena Bt Yohan Deshappriya/B N B Jayasinghe (MAS Intimates) 11/03, 11/13, 11/07, 07/11, 11/07

Open Women's Doubles: Nirmani Silva/Shanika Silva Bt Ishara Rodrigo/Ruhansi Wijekoon 15/17, 11/07, 11/08, 11/08.

Open Mixed Doubles: Deepika Rodrigo/India Prasad bt Ishara Madurangi/G P H Sajith Priyadarshana 11/04, 11/07, 09/11, 11/07.

Veterans Men's Singles: (Over 45 & Above) Dr G N Lucas (Veterans TT Associatoin) bt Dietmar Doering (Aquarious Beat Club) 11/07, 09/11, 10/12, 11/06, 11/05.

Veterans Women's Singles: (Over 45 & Above) Namal Gunaskera (Tibar TT Club) bt Ama Suraweera (Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd) 11/05, 11/08, 11/03.

Master's Men's Singles (Over 35/44): Chaminda Rodrigo (T.H. Table Tennis Academy) bt Lalith Priyantha (Butterfly T T Club) 09/11, 11/09, 05/11, 13/11, 12/10.

Master's Women's Singles (Over 35/44): Udayangani Aluvihare (Matale Table Tennis Academy) bt Nilmini Swarnakanthi (Auditor General Department) 11/06, 09/11, 11/01, 11/01.

Men's Consolation Singles: Dushan Ranathunga (Isipathana - Colombo) Bt Suresh Pushapakumara (Anura CC Yakkala) 05/11, 11/07, 06/11, 11/08, 11/09.

Women's Consolation Singles: Yonali Dullewa (Mahamaya - Kandy) Bt Iresha Kawshani (Girls High School - Mt. Lavinia) 11/06, 12/10, 07/11, 07/11, 11/08.

Disable Men's Singles (Sitting): J A Athula (SL Army) bt K Raja Rajeswaran (Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd) 11/08, 05/11, 14/12, 11/08.

Veterans Women's Doubles: Namal Gunasekera/Champa Wimalawardana Bt U Aluvihare/ S Mihindukulasooriya 11/02, 11/03, 11/08.

Veterans Men's Doubles: Lalith Priyantha/Deitmar Doering bt Major Heshan Bulanawewa/Chaminda Rodrigo 11/04, 11/07, 11/06.