Guyanga clinches ITF Boys’ singles Title

Richard DWIGHT

After a gruelling three setter semi-final win against No. 1 seed, Royoto Tachi of Japan the previous day, Guyanga Weerasekera, the No. 3 seed went on to defeat with ease Thailand’s P. Sornjaratsuwan yesterday in the final, to emerge the boys’ singles tennis champion of the International Tennis Federation tournament, that concludes at the SSC Courts today.

Sornjaratsuwan, made his way into the final through a hard fought match against Sri Lanka’s Amresh Jayawickreme, which went onto three sets.

The boys’ singles final between Sornjaratsuwan and Guyanga turned out to be a tame affair with Guyanga dominating to dictate terms, in a one sided match for Guyanga to win the title.

Guyanga has done well for himself by maintaining consistent form in this tournament. Evidence of this was seen, in his winning all his preliminary matches leading upto the finals, in straight sets.

Guyanga, having won the title last year, and this year as well, has created history by being the only Sri Lankan to have won an event in the ITF Tournament for two consecutive years.

In the semifinals of the Girls’ Singles Event, Jithmie Jayawickreme, did well to get the better of Japan’s Kana Higashihara while in the other, Kanami Tsuji of Japan beat Japan’s, Yoko Nagai. The final now is between Jayawickreme and Tsuji and will take place today.

The boys’ doubles finals is between N. Luesantia and T. Suwansang of Thailand against A. Jayawickreme and D. Thangarajah of Sri Lanka. The girls’ doubles finals will be between Y. Nagai and E. Okazaki of Japan against Japan’s E. Fukukawa and K. Tsuji.

Results

Boys Singles Finals

G. Jayawickreme (SL) bt: P. Sornjaratsuwan (Thai) 6/0, 6/2

Girls Singles Semi Finals

J. Jayawickreme (SL) bt: K. Higashihara (Jap) 6/1, 6/1,

K. Tsuji (Jap) bt: Y. Nagai (Jap) 6/0, 6/1.

Boys Doubles Semi Finals

N. Luesanthia and T. Suwanasang (Thai) bt: R. Kishi and R. Tachi (Japan) 3/6, 6/1 (10-4)

A. Jayawickreme and D. Thangarajah (SL) bt: H. Bava and S.T. Paladugu (Ind) 6/3, 3/6 (10-6)

Girls Doubles Semi Finals

Y. Nagai and E. Okazaki (Jap) bt: J. Jayawickreme and A. Muttiah (SL) 6/2, 5/7 (10-4)

E. Fukukawa and K. Tsuji (Jap) bt: A. Bhatia (Ind) and K. Herath (SL) 6/1, 6/1