Paddler Dinusha Manoji does Ambalangoda proud

Sampath Bandara

Dinusha Manoji of Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda is an outstanding young Table Tennis Player who is among the best women's TT players in the schools.

Dinusha Manoji started playing Table Tenis at the age of six in 1991 with her class-mates.

2006 was a remarkable year in her Table Tennis Career. She emerged champion in the Under 15 Butterfly Open Junior Ranking Table Tennis Tournament and All Island Inter-School Under 18 girls 'A' Division Table Tennis Team Championship and won the Milo Schools Table Tennis Colours Awards that year. She was Ranked Under 15 (Girls) No. 1, Under 18 Girls No. 5 and Open Girls No. 6 (All Island) in the year 2006.

In the next year (2007) young Dinusha and the team emerged All Island Under 18 Girls 'A' Division Team champion and winner of the Under 15 Girls Junior National Championship and also clinched first place in the National Sports Festival.

In 2008 Dinsuha won the All Island Inter-School Under 18 girls 'A' Division Championship and emerged Junior National Ranking Champion in the (Under 18 Girls Championships).

Dinusha clinched the All Island Schools Games Under 19 Girls Championship (2008) in the National Sports Festival in the same year she ended up in second possession.

She paid a glowing tribute to her coaches Anura Lal, Pubudik and Lakshan for taking great pains to make her a champion table tennis player.

What is your next target I asked from Dinsuha.

'My next target is to win a medal in the international event for Sri Lanka".

Dinsuha Manoji is a rising star from the Southern Coastal town of Ambalangoda which is known as the cradle of table tennis in Sri Lanka.