Upali, Gamini keep Lankan hopes alive
Anuradha Abeysekara
Upali Rajakaruna and D M Gamini kept Sri Lankan hopes alive in the
first day by entering to the semi finals in men’s singles at the first
Negombo International Wheelchair Tennis Tournament. Upali beat T B
Nadasena (6/1,6/0) to enter the quarter finals and defeated King Hong
Kee (Malaysia) in two sets (6/2,6/2) to enter the semi final with the
South African Player Evans Maripa. Gamini edged out K M S P Perera
(6/3,6/4) to enter the quarter finals and beat Malaysian player Abu
Samah Brohan (6/0,6/2) to step into semi final with Sydwell Mathonsi
(South Africa).
The tournament will continue till Martch 23 at the Negombo Tennis
Course. The Negombo Tennis Club (NTC), the second oldest tennis club in
the country hosts the tournament which offers US $ 2000 prize money for
the winners. The Negambo Open will be followed by two annual ITF Futures
NEC Series events, the Sri Lankan Open and Sinhalees Sports Club Open
Wheelchair Tournaments which will be held in Colombo from March 25-27
and March 29-31 respectively. More than 30 players from Ukraine, India,
Malaysia, South Africa and Sri Lanka, including top world ranking
players vie for honours at the tournament. The 18-member local team
coached by Jagath Welikala comprised of 10 world ranking players. Upali
Rajakaruna, the world number 93 would be a definite hope for a Sri
Lankan victory and will also be able to add some points to his personal
career during the tournament.
Results:
Qualifying matches
Sydwell Mathonsi (SA) beat Zaquan Ariffin (Malaysia) (6/0,6/2)
Marshall Marsh (SA) beat Wasantha Balasooriya (SL) (7/5, 6/3)
D M Gamini (SL) beat K M S P Perera (SL) (6/3,6/4)
Abu Samah Borhan (Malaysia) beat Nishantha Wanninayake (SL) (6/0,6/2)
Kee King Hong (Malaysia) beat Mariappan Durai (India) (6/2,6/2)
Upali Rajakaruna (SL) beat T B Nandasena (SL) (6/1,6/0)
M L Senarathne (SL) beat B Subramanian (India) (6/2, 7/5)
Evans Maripa (SA) beat M Basnayake (SL) (6/1,6/4)
Quarter Finals
Sydwell Mathonsi (SA) beat Marshall Marsh (SA) (6/3,6/1)
D M Gamini (SL) beat Abu Samah Borhan (Malaysia) (6/2,6/0)
Upali Rajakaruna (SL) beat Kee King Hong (Malaysia) (6/2,7/5)
Evans Maripa (SA) beat M L Senarathne (SL) (6/7,6/1,6/1) |
