There's dignity in losing and glory in winning - Peter Hayes

Richard DWIGHT

The British High Commissioner here in Sri Lanka, Dr. Peter Hayes, who was the chief guest at Monday's award ceremony of the Otters Diamond Jubilee Open Ranking Tennis Tournament 2009 at Otters - observed that there is much effort put in by Sri Lanka in the cause of education and the furtherance of sport.

On seeing quite a number of youngsters in the audience, Hayes advice was that the young should learn to achieve excellence by maintaining standards and discipline.

He felt that one should be humble in victory and determined in defeat, to realise that there is dignity in losing and glory in winning.

Since the High Commissioner's office is now a stone's throw away from the Otters, he said that the fine relationship that have existed hitherto will be further strengthened between the two with Hayes joining in as well to play tennis at the Otters.

The Secretary of the SLTA Maxwell de Silva and Otters Tournament Director and Tennis Secretary, Priya Dharmaratne also spoke with the Otters Vice President, Vinod Lalvani conducting proceedings.

Boys under 8 singles: Winner: Dushan Wijetunga. Runner-up: Kaveesha Rajapakse.

Girls under 8 singles: Winner: Piyumi Wickremasinghe. Runner-up: Shehara Abeywickrema.

Boys under 10 singles: Winner: Aadavan Pushparaj. Runner-up: Jerique Rajapakse.

Girls under 10 singles: Winner: Asalya Bandara. Runner-up: Umeshi Ranaweera.

Boys under 12 singles: Winner: Joshua Jayaratne. Runner-up: Naadir Nazar.

Girls under 12 singles: Winner: Kavindya de Silva. Runner-up: Thisuri Molligoda.

Boys under 14 singles: Winner: Nishangan Nadarajah. Runner-up: Aaron Assauw.

Girls under 14 singles: Winner: Dhanya Madugalle. Runner-up: Dinushki Ranasinghe.

Boys under 14 doubles: Winners: Thaaqib Nazar / Aritha Weerasinghe. Runner-up: Dhanushka Abeywardhana / Joshua Moraes.

Girls under 14 doubles: Winners: Thisuri Molligoda / Dinushki Ranasinghe. Runner-up: Samendri de Silva / Vinuri Wickramaratne.

Boys under 16 singles: Winner: Ashan de Silva. Runner-up: Alex Fairbanks.

Girls under 16 singles: Winner: Dhanya Madugalle. Runner-up: Nilushi Fernando.

Boys under 16 doubles: Winners: Ashan de Silva / Akila de Silva. Runner-up: Chinthaka Shaveen / Amantha Weerasinghe.

Girls under 16 doubles: Winners: Nilushi Fernando / Dhanya Madugalle. Runner-up: Sachiko Jayaratne / Ayendri Seneviratne.

Boys under 18 singles: Winner: Shehan Gomesz. Runner-up: Yasas Dewage.

Girls under 18 singles: Winner: Shannelle Abeysekera. Runner-up: Sherene Wijesinghe.

Boys under 18 doubles: Winners: Stephen Martin / M. A. Shaakir. Runner-up: Dhamya de Silva / Nevinda de Silva.

Men's open singles: Winner: Upasamartha Hewacottage. Runner-up: Shehan Gomesz.

Women's open singles: Winner: Amritha Muttiah. Runner-up: Sherene Wijesinghe.

Men's open doubles: Winners: Harshana Godamanne / Rajeev Rajapakse. Runner-up: Upasamartha Hewacottage / Michael Siyaguna.

Women's open doubles: Winners: Shalini de Silva / Thavindra Ekanayake. Runner-up: Kemalie Herath / Nilupul Gunasekara.

Mixed doubles: Winners: Shalini de Silva / Harshana Godamanne. Runner-up: Mahesha Seneviratne / Upasamartha Hewacottege.