Sharmal bags a double in ITF Junior Circuit

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Sharmal Dissanayake has entered Sri Lanka tennis record books by becoming the first Sri Lankan to win a double crown in ITF Junior Circuit ranking championship as he clinched boy's under-18 singles and doubles titles of the Asia Oceania Zone's group five when the first week of the ITF Junior Circuit concluded at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) hard courts over the week end.

Third seed Sharmal created a major upset by beating top seeded Taipei player Shao-Yu in easy straight sets 6/2, 6/0 in the singles semi final tie and continued his winning spree by defeating second seed German player Torben Hornung in same fashion 6/3, 6/1 in the final.

Sharmal partnered the under-18 boys’ doubles crown with Torben Hornung against Korian duo Jinwoo Bae and Yong Seak Jang 6/1, 7/5.

Sharmal registered an unbeaten record in the singles event and earlier trounced Thai opponent Nattiwut Pattananawapong 6/2, 6/3 in the second round and beat British player Mason Recci in the quarter-final tie in easy straight sets 6/2, 6/1.

Meanwhile girls’ top seed India's Riya Bhatia won the under-18 singles title taming Thailand's Pornpawee Premthong 7/6(4), 6/4.

Indian pair Riya and Vasanti Shinde had to satisfied with the runner-up position in the girls’ under-18 doubles event as Japanese player Miyo Kobayashi and Singaporean Ria Vaidya bagged the title by beating them in the final 6/0, 7/5.

ITF Junior Circuit second week for the group four will start today and will continue during the week at the SLTA clay courts.