Junior Open TT Championships:

Kavindi creates major upset

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN- Kandy Sports correspondent

Shashindi Kavindi of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda created one of the biggest upsets in recent years when she beat the top seed Ruwini Kannangara of Musaeus College, Colombo in the semi-finals of the girls under 15 Singles and went to win the title at the All Island Junior Open Table Tennis Championship for the Jagath Rajapakse Challenge Trophy organised by the Sri Lanka Table Tennis Association and the Jagath Rajapakse TT Academy and worked off at the Jagath Rajapakse International Table Tennis Academy at Ganegoda, Kalugamuwa off Peradeniya recently.

Shashindi Kavindi was ranked low and was among the first 32 in the under 15 rankings. But she put up a Marvellous display in the semi-finals to beat the top favourite and rank No 1 Ruvini Kannangara who recently won the Girls Open Championship at the National School Games.

In the finals of Girls Under 15 Singles Shashindi Kavinidi met strong opposition from Muthumali Priyadarshani of Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda before winning 3-2 to left the title.

In fact Muthumali Priyadharshani displaying a whipping back hand drive stunned the giant killer Shashindi Kavindi by winning the first two sets in style 9/11 and 9/11 and only needed another win to complete the rout.

But Shashindi Kavindi displaying great fighting qualities fought back to win the crucial third set 11/7 to keep herself in contention and later regained her composure to win the next two sets 11/7 and 11/6.

Another game which rose to great heights was the girls under 10 singles top seed Himasha de Silva of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda was made to fight all the way before overcoming the low ranked Thamishi Rodrigo of Mahamaya College, Kandy winning 3-2.

Himasha de Silva started off well winning the first set 11/6 but Thanushi Rodrigo displaying excellent fighting qualities won the next two sets 7/11 and 4/11 sending shivers to the top seed. But the top ranked Himasha de Silva won the next two sets 11/5, 11/7 to romp home winner.

The results of other finals:

Under 10 boys Halitha Hendawitharane (Dharmasoka) beat Thanusha Dilmitch Hansika (Dharmasoka) 11/9, 11/9, 9/11, 12/10.

Under 10 girls singles: Himasha de Silva (Dharmasoka) beat Thanushi Rodrigo (Mahamaya) 11/6, 7/11, 4/11, 11/5, 11/7.

Under 12 Boys Singles: Dissanka Tennakoon (Dharmaraja College) beat Krishan Nimesh (Dharmasoka) 10/12, 11/4, 12/10, 11/6.

Under 12 girls Singles: Kavindya Sheshadi (Dharmasoka) beat Sathya Udayangani (Dharmasoka) 11/7, 8/11, 12/12, 11/9, 11/8.

Under 15 boys Singles: Udaya Ranasinghe (Vidyartha College) beat Randula Warusawitharane (Dharmasoka) 11/6, 11/7, 11/7.

Under 15 Girls Singles: Shashindi Kavindi (Dharmasoka) beat Muthumali Priyadharshani (Sri Devananda College) 9/11, 9/11, 11/7, 11/6, 13/17.

Palitha Abeyratne of Udapalatha Pradeshiya Sabha was the Chief Guest and he distributed the main awards along with Jagath Rajapakse (National Coach, SLTTA).