Sri Lanka take on Hong Kong in decisive match

Richard Dwight

Sri Lanka will meet Hong Kong in a decisive match in the Asia/Oceaniza Zone 11 Davis Cup, which will be held in our own soil in July this year. The matches are due to start from July 9 to 11 at Sri Lanka Tennis Association premises. Having closely lost to New Zealand 3/2 early this year, Sri Lanka needs to ensure they do their utmost to sustain their position by winning against Hong Kong in Group-11 Tie.

Whilst Sri Lanka lost to New Zealand, Hong Kong lost to Pakistan both with a thrilling, exciting, unnerving close finale. Sri Lanka watched proudly how the boys went to the extent beyond their capabilities to give a close fight - most of which were 'well' lost but they will need to put in every effort in the upcoming matches to stay on top.

The sides coming out on top to be front liners are Indonesia pitted against Thailand in Indonesia and New Zealand taking on Pakistan in New Zealand.

Under the usual Davis Cup Group-11 procedure, the losing nations - out of a total of eight, in the first round are to meet each other in a bid to retain their Group-11 position for the ensuing year as well. That means, Sri Lanka has to win the Tie with Hong Kong to remain in Group-11 and President Sri Lanka Tennis Maxwell de Silva is very confident that our Davis Cup Team will come victorious this time, having invested in a very professional training scheme for all players by famous Indian Coach Enrico and his able Team.

Sri Lanka has beaten them only in 1983 in their first meeting which was in Colombo. Thereafter, in 1991 and '92, Hong Kong has defeated Sri Lanka, in Hong Kong (by 3-2) and Colombo (5-0) respectively, in Group-II semi-final encounters. Again in 1996, they beat Sri Lanka 5-0 in a Group-II Round -1 tie.

The last time Sri Lanka met Hong Kong was in 2005 and that was in a Group-III encounter which Sri Lanka lost 3-0. Two members of the present Lankan team, Harshana Godamanna and Rajeev Rajapakse, featured in that 2005 Group-III tie held in the Victoria Park Tennis Centre in Hong Kong.

Sri Lanka's team for the last Tie were veteran campaigners Harshana Godamanna and Rajeev Rajapakse along with Thangarajah Dineshkanthan and Sanka Athukorale.

The trials in choosing the team were played by Rajeev Rajapakse, Thangarajah Dineshkanthan, Guyanga Weerasekera, Amresh Jayawickrema, Amrith Rupasinghe and Rukmal Cooray.

Amrith who is the former Sri Lanka National Champion and Davis Cup representative played the top four qualifying from these trials in a bid to enter the final three of the Sri Lanka team. Amrith played in the Davis Cup in 2006 in the Philippines and at present is playing for Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, USA.

Whilst Harshana Godamanna is an automatic selection, there will be five players including Amrith who is currently here from USA. Hence the Sri Lanka team will comprise of four members i.e. Harshana Godamanna, Rajeev Rajapakse, Thangarajah Dineshkanthan and Amrit Rupasinghe and the non-laying Captain-Asiri Iddamalgoda.