Triple crown for Naveed

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Sixteen-year-old Naveed Mohamed put up a sparkling display to win a triple crown in the competition for boys while Hiruni Weerasekera won a double in the championship for girls at the second annual Mahaweli Reach Hotel Junior Tennis Championship worked off at hotel courts in Kandy over the weekend.

Naveed Mohamed an enormously talented schoolboy from Zahira College, Matale used the forehand as his strong point occasionally with a dazzling drop to bemuse his opponent. He first won the top under 17 singles title by defeating Uvin Jayalath by the comfortable margin of 6-0. His next win in the under 19 event was a closely contested battle with his opponent M. Fahd putting up a brave fight.

Fahd in fact exploited the tiredness of Naveed with smashes followed by drops, which nearly brought his success. Naveed won this 9/7. Naveed completed the triple crown partnered by AMRI Muhajireen defeated Yasaswin Palihawadana and Akeel Salahudeen 9/2. Here again Naveed was the dominant partner. Fourteen-year-old Uvin Jayalath held a lot of promise for the future when he clinched a double. He started off by winning the boys under 15 single, registering a convincing 9/2 win over M.R. Aalam.

It was a clean wash out when he partnered by Vimukthi Bowattage to over run Dammika Dananjaya and Yasith Ratnayake 9/0. But fell short of a triple when he lost the under 17 title to Naveed. Uvin's younger brother Mihin Jayalath snapped up the under 13 title by defeating Banura Pahan Jayawardena 7/3 and also the under 13 double title.

Sixteen-year-old Hiruni Weerasekera put up a scintillating display to win two titles with ease. Hiruni Weerasekera reading her opponents weakness first and beat Nimaya Ganhewa 9/3 to bag U-17 singles title.

Partnered by Nimaya Ganhewa to vanquish Tithmi Galappathige and Anuki Jayawardena 9/2 in U-17 doubles final.

Managing Director of Mahaweli Reach Hotel Jayantha Panabokke was the chief guest and he distributed the main awards.

This championship which attracted 105 entries from Kandy, Kurunegala and Matale was a roaring success.

This tournament was worked off in a single court belonging to the hotel and spread over four days.

The results of the finals

Under 11 boys singles: M.A. Shamil beat Nipuna Nuwan 7/3.
Under 13 singles: Banura Pahan Jayawardena beat M.A.M. Shamil 7/5.
Under 15 singles: Uvin Jayalath beat M.R. Aalam 9/2.
Under 17 singles: Naveed Mohamed beat Uvin Jayalath 6/0.
Under 19 singles: Naveed Mohamed beat M. Fahd 9/7.
Under 13 doubles: Mihin Jayalath and Banura Jayawardena beat M.A.M. Shamil and M.I.
Hussain 7/3.
Under 15 doubles: Uvin Jayalath and Vimukthi Bowattage beat Dammika Dananjaya and Yasith Ratnayake 9/0.
Under 19 doubles: Naveed Mohamed and Amri Muhajireen beat Yasaswin Pallihawadana and Akeel Salahudeen 9/2.

Girls:
Under 11 singles: Oshini Herath beat Tiara Beneragama 7/2.
Under 13 singles: Kaveesha Supunsara beat Oshini Herath 7/7.
Under 15 singles: Ayomi Perera beat Kaveesha Supunsara 7/2.
Under 17 singles: Hiruni Weerasekera beat Nimaya Ganhewa 9/3.
Under 17 doubles: Hiruni Weerasekera and Nimaya Ganhewa beat Tithmi Galappathige and Anuki Jayawardena 9/2.