Dr. Lucas: Sri Lanka's pride of international veterans' TT

Dr. Nimal Lucas, who captained the Sri Lanka national table tennis team from 1966 to 1971, brought honour and glory to Sri Lanka by winning three gold medals and four silver medals at the New Zealand Masters Games held in Wanganui, New Zealand earlier this year.

He won gold medals in the over 70 men's singles, over 70 men's doubles and over 65 men's doubles events.

He won silver medals in the over 55 team event, over 45 team event, over 70 mixed doubles and over 55 men's singles. As Dr. Lucas was the sole participant from Sri Lanka, he was partnered by New Zealand players in the doubles and team events.

Dr. Lucas has also done well in previous New Zealand Masters Games.

In 2007 he won a gold medal, a silver medal and four bronze medals. In 2009 he won three gold medals and a bronze medal and in 2011 he won a record seven gold medals and two bronze medals. In the New Zealand Masters' Games a player is allowed to play not only in his or her age group but also in age groups below as well.

Dr. Lucas has also won medals in other international tournaments.

In July 2005, Dr. Lucas partnered by M.M.M. Laffeer won the over 55 men's doubles silver medal at the World Masters Table Tennis Championship held in Edmonton, Canada. He won a bronze medal in the over 50 men's singles at the South African Masters Table Tennis Championship held in Nelson Mandela Bay in April 2006.

At the Veteran TT Championship held in Stockholm, Sweden (in May 2010), he won a bronze medal in the over 65 men's singles. At the International Veterans' TT tournament held in Antalya, Turkey in September 2010, he won a bronze medal in the over 60 men's doubles, partnered by M.M.M. Laffeer. At the Australian Masters Games held in Adelaide in October, 2011 he won a gold medal in the over 70 men's singles, a silver medal in the over 60 men's doubles, partnered by M.M.M. Laffeer and a silver medal in the over 50 Team Event.

He has won 33 international table tennis medals up to date.