Lalith Priyantha takes Veterans Table Tennis title

Thushan Jayasuriya

Former National Champion Lalith Priyantha clinched the men’s singles title when he beat Ali Adam Malik from Maldives in the open final of the first international veterans table tennis tournament 2012 concluded at YMCA Courts, Colombo Fort yesterday.

The two day tournament was organized by Sri Lanka Veterans Table Tennis Association (SLVTTA) and sponsored by Cool Planet (Pvt) Ltd.

In the men’s doubles final Lalith Priyantha along with D. Doering from Sri Lanka beat Ibrahim Lathiff and Ahamed Ali Riza from Maldives (10/12, 11/07, 11/05, 11/07). In the men’s quarter finals Gamini Moraes beat Dr.Nimal Lucas (11/8, 11/9, 9/11, 11,8) while Lalith Priyantha beat Hussain Rasheed by 11/8 , 8/11, 11/9, 11/9. Ali Adam Malik from Maldives won the men’s quarters by outplaying M.F.M.Laffir 11/9, 8/11, 16/14, 12/10. In the semi-finals Lalith Priyantha gave a superb display to register a comfortable victory over Gamini Moraes by 11/8, 11/9, 11/7. Ali Adam Malik also played a fine game by restricting his rival Ahamed Lathiff of Maldives (16/14, 13/11, 11/7). The team from Bhutan which was scheduled to take part in this tournament pulled out at the eleventh hour.