Mercantile tennis tourney

Richard Dwight

The annual Mercantile Tennis Tournament for employees of the commercial sector, will be held from Saturday December 5 and end on Friday December 18 at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA).

It is being sponsored by the National Development Bank (NDB) for the eighth consecutive year - with a little over 22 companies competing for championship honours.

This was revealed to the members of the media by the President of the SLTA, Maxwell de Silva, at a press conference held on Thursday evening at the SLTA.

Present on the occasion was the Vice President, Consumer Banking and Marketing NDB Indrajit Wickremasinghe, who apart from handing over the sponsorship cheque, endorsed the view expressed by Maxwell, that they mutually could assist in popularising the sport away from the urban areas as well. According to the secretary SLTA, Boshan Dayaratne - players who have played in divisions I and II in both inter-club singles and doubles tournaments this year, can only play in division I of the forthcoming Mercantile Tournament.

Those who have played in a lower division in the two inter-club tournaments can play only in division II while any one who has not taken part in any of the inter-club tournaments this year will be eligible to compete in the mercantile tournaments lowest division ie; division III.

The events are men's singles and doubles (divisions I, II, III) women's singles and doubles. Men's seniors singles and doubles for over 35, 45 and 55 age groups. Entries close on December 1, draw on Dec. 4.