Tennis star Oshada going great guns in USA

Leslie Fernando

Oshada Wijemanne, former Royal College and Stafford International School player is one of the 'star' Sri Lanka Tennis players who has participated at several international tennis tournaments and produced outstanding performances in Sri Lanka has made a tremendous impact in the American Circuit by being ranked Number Seven to finish in the Top ten of final NCAA (National College Athlete Association) Rankings in USA.

The 21 year old Oshada Wijemanne who is presently at the Francis Marion University, South Carolina, USA has earned NCAA All-American honours.

Oshada completed the following achievements of division two tennis.

Managed to stay within the top 10 singles rankings in the country throughout the year 2008/2009. Completed the year 2008-2009 as a singles and doubles all American the first to do so in scholarship division one and two since Arjun Fernando, best NCAA singles result - beat the NCAA national champion and the number one ranked player in a match that took over three hours - 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (12-10) also beat players ranked 1, 4, 5, 8 throughout the season 2008-2009, was named the most wanted player 2008-2009 in Francis.

Marion South Carolina was selected to the first team in the conference in doubles and singles 2008-2009, he has been named the 2009 recipient of the Inter-collegiate Tennis Association (ITA), player to win award for the NCAA Division 2, compiled at 16-2 winnings singles record throughout the regular season and a 16-3 winning doubles record in the regular season 2008-2009 and reached the semi finals of the Wilson NCAA regional championships.

In college tennis the most competitive tennis is played in division 1 and 2 because these are the only two divisions that give scholarships, therefore the universities can recruit players from all over the world.

Whereas this is not possible in NCAA division 3 because there are no sports scholarship available. Division one and two are highest and if fare prominently tend to carry on ATP become a full time professional.

Oshada on holiday here told the Daily News, his main aim is to win the NCAA (all college from all over world are in) singles title. I have two more years to continue playing.

The major difference between division 1 and 2 is the fact that there is a age limit in division one therefore players who are over the age of 24 cannot compete in division 1 whereas division 2 has no age limit. However, both these divisions are regarded as the most competitive leagues in college tennis in the United States.

Oshada and another player were recently named to the 2009 Inter-collegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division 11 All-American team. He and Dilshod Sharifi were named to the All-America squad for both singles and doubles play. Oshada a native of Colombo Sri Lanka was 16-2 at the number one singles position and ended the year ranked seventh in division two.

Oshada and Sharifi combined efforts for 16-3 doubles record at the number one position and garnered a top 10 national ranking at the end of the year.

Oshada and Sharifi become the seventh and eight patriot men's tennis players to earn All-American honours.

Singles Ranking: 1. Bonet (Spain) 2. Grubin (Serbia), 3. Rong Ma (China) 4. Svigelj (Sivenia) 5. Carsuzaa (France) 6. Seves (Brazil) 7. Oshada Wijemanne (Sri Lanka) 8. Siqueria (Brazil) 9. Hall (Germany) 10. Ekkenga (Germany)

Oshada started playing tennis at the tender age of 6 years, and was coached by Sylvester Francis at Royal College. He won the junior clay court national under 16 and under 18 and also won the hard court junior nationals under 16 and under 18 in the same year 2004. Four singles titles in the span of two months.

Reached the semi finals and above in over 16 ITF Junior singles and doubles championship reached the highest rank of Sri Lankan junior in the international tennis rankings - 186 in 2005 - just after competing in only seven tournaments that year.

First appearance in the Sri Lanka Davis cup team was in 2002 and 2005, one of the youngest ever in Sri Lanka to take part in the Davis Cup at the age of 14. 2005 - Neway International Junior Tennis championship group 3 - finalist, 2004 ITF Junior Tennis championships tournament one Sri Lanka group 5 - winner, the best results in ITF Junior double. 2004 ITF junior Championships 1 and 2 Sri Lanka group 5 - winner and 2005 Thamrin Cup international junior championships group 3 - winner.