Over 550 junior paddlers from all parts of the island competed against each other at Junior National Table Tennis championship held 04th and 05th January 2013 at the Jagath Rajapakse International Table Tennis Stadium, at Ganegoda Peradeniya.
The tournament was conducted by the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka and sponsored by Serendib Medicals and New Sriyani Dress Point.
This was a great opportunity for all the paddlers from leading schools in Sri Lanka to come up with their best performance and the two days consisted of very exciting play from the upcoming generation. Most of the favorites’ of the championship were given a great fight including the outstanding player Udaya Ranasinghe who was top favorite of the national championship.
Udaya Ranasinghe –most outstanding player
Udaya Ranasinghe of Vidyartha college Kandy became the most outstanding player of the Junior National Table Tennis championship 2013 being the winner of under 15 & 18 boys titles and winning the under 18 boys doubles along with his school mate Krishan Wickramarathne and he grabbed the triple crown as most of them predicted. At the chat ThePapare had with Udaya he stated that his aim was to keep up his hard work and to build up a strong future in his table tennis career and he also thanked all his coaches and team mates for being the driving force behind this achievement. Further Udaya stated that he aims to represent Sri Lanka in future and bring glory to his motherland and will also work hard to develop his skills with much more commitment for that.
Ranasinghe had to face a stranger from Ambalnagoda Dharmashoka College at the under15 boys finals. He was Nuwntha Niroshana who came up defeating Chintaka of Vidyartha at the semifinals.
Ridhmi Karadanaarachchi – best upcoming player for girls
Ridhmi of Mahamaya Girls College put up a great display at the tournament during the two days where she grabbed the under 15 girls single title defeating Chamathsara Fernando and became the runner up at the mixed doubles along with Udaya Ranasinghe. It was her stunning performance and victories brought her the title of best upcoming player.
The most exciting competition was for the junior national title (under 18 girls singles), where there were 3 favorites Umaya Tharaki ,Erandi Warusawitarana, and 14 year old Ruvini Kannangara of Museaus College but all 3 national players were given a surprise by Nuwani Navodya of Ambalangoda Dharmashoka college who clinched the Junior National title –girls defeating the experienced school mate Erandi Warusawitarana.
The day ended up with the award ceremony appreciating all the players who showed an excellent performance with the racket. The chief guest of the award ceremony was Kegalle district minister of parliament, and the vice president of Sri Lanka Table Tennis Association Mr.M.P.Kanakahearth.
The organizers were amazed to see the dedication of the teams, and at the conversation ThePapare had with the chief organizers they said that they can see a great future in table tennis in Sri Lanka from these bunch of juniors from all parts of the county.
Final Results
Under 10 Girl’s Singles : Dilmi Hirushika Kolombage of Prajapathi BMV, Ambalangoda beat Lavangi Rajapaksha of Maliyadeva BMV, Kurunegala 11/07, 11/09,11/07
Under 10 Boy’s Singles : Dewmith Weerasena of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda beat Hiruna Warusavithana of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda 11/03, 11/05,11/07
Under 12 Girl’s Singles : Hansani Piyumila of Anula Vidyalaya,Nugegoda beat Nathasha Sandavini of Maliyadeva BMV, Kurunegala 11/06, 11/02, 06/11,11/04
Under 12 Boy’s Singles : Chathura Gunasekara of Ceylinco Sussex College, Kandy beat P D U Thennakoon of Dharmaraja College, Kandy 11/06, 11/09,11/03
Under 15 Girl’s Singles : Ridhmi Karadanaarachchi of Mahamaya College, Kandy beat Chamathsara Fernando of Girls High School, Mt Lavinia 11/07, 07/11,13/11,12/10
Under 15 Boy’s Singles : Udaya Ranasinghe of Vidyartha College, Kandy beat Nuwantha Niroshana of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda 14/12, 11/09, 11/09
Under 18 Girl’s Singles : Nuwani Navodya of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda beat Erandi Warusavithana of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda 02/11, 08/11,11/08,11/01,11/08
Under 18 Boy’s Singles : Udaya Ranasinghe of Vidyartha College, Kandy beat Prasad J de Silva of Vidyartha College, Kandy 11/09, 14/12, 11/08
Under 18 Girl’s Doubles : Nuwani Navodya / Umaya Tharakie of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda beat Kithmadi Ranawaka of Visakha Vidyalaya,Colombo and RuvinI Kannangara of Musaeus College, Colombo 11/07, 11/03, 08/11, 11/09
Under 18 Boy’s Doubles : Udaya Ranasinghe / Krishan Wickkramarathne of Vidyartha College, Kandy beat Chinthaka Ekanayaka / Thilina Wijesiri of Vidyartha College, Kandy 15/17 , 15/13, 11/06, 11/05
Under 18 Mixed Doubles: Prasad J de Silva of Vidyartha College, Kandy / Buddeepani Rajaguru of Maliyadeva BMV, Kurunegala beat Udaya Ranasinghe of Vidyartha College, Kandy / Ridhmi Karadanaarachchi of Mahamaya College, Kandy 07/11, 11/09, 06/11,13/11, 12/10
