Ananda-under 17 tennis champions

Ananda College Colombo’s Under 17 tennis team emerged champions of the All Island Inter-School Tennis Tournament by beating the defending champions Royal College, Colombo by three matches to one in the final. Played at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts.

Madusha Wijesuriya gave Ananda College one superb beginning in their quest of beating the defending champions as he beat Inzaam Irfan of Royal College 6/4, 2/6, 6/2, during the 1st singles followed by an easy win for the 1st doubles with Aneesha Weragoda and Dinuka Sumithrarachchi cruising through to victory 6/0, 6/3 in just 30 minutes.

Naveendra Liyanarachchi showed great Spirit and fought hard in the 2nd singles for Ananda College against M. A. Shakir of Royal College which ended in favour of Royal College Nevinda De Silva and Rashan Wickramarathne playing the 2nd doubles for Ananda College came up with one emphatic performance beating the Royalists 6/0, 6/3 bringing the tie to an end with a superb victory for Ananda.

Ananda entered the semi finals without any difficulty beating Trinity College Kandy, St. Benedict’s College, St. Thomas College - Matale, St. Thomas Mt. Lavinia all with 5 Matches to Nil. St. Peter’s College was beaten by 4 Matches to 1 and St. Thomas preparatory School by 3 matches to 2 in their first round matches.

In the Semifinals it was an easy win over D. S. Senanayake College Colombo by 3 matches to 1. Thisal Gamage showed great courage and spirit for Ananda as he came up after the first set down 2/6 recovered with 6/2, 6/4, at the 1st singles.

Aneesha Weragoda and Dinuke Sumithrarachchi won the 1st doubles for Ananda 6/1, 6/1 with ease and comfort. Nevinda De Silva and Rashan Wickramaratne won the 2nd doubles 6/0, 6/0 showing, what the Anandians are truly made of Ananda College was never tested during this tie against D. S. Senanayake boys as they crushed them and cruised through to victory which paved the way to enter the finals.

Anandians proved to be too good for all schools at the Under 17 age group this year as not a single school managed to show much resistance against them.