The Sri Lanka Squash Federation (SLSF) announces that the initial preparations are currently underway to host the 30th National Senior Squash Championships in Colombo, this year.
Since the emergence of the Senior Nationals in 1981, it has been regarded as one of the premier squash battles to get underway amongst the local sporting kind.
According to the SLSF, the tournament would be worked off from 18th to 23rd December, 2010 at the Gymkhana Squash Courts in Colombo 07. The tournament is also categorized as a National Ranking tournament.
Tournament Structure
The SLSF announces, the six day long tournament would include six events such as Open, Masters over 45, Intermediate Over 35 & a National Novices event for Men & Women and a new event for Boys Under 23.
Running parallel to the 30th Senior Nationals would be the newly introduced 1st James Finlay Juvenile Championships for the age groups of Under 09, 11, 13 & 15s.
“This year we have introduced a Juvenile Championships with a view to the future! We have observed that Under 17s are involved with the GCE OL Exams & the Under 19s are senior enough to take part at the Open events with almost the senior national team being from amongst them”, the President of the SLSF, Oliver Guruge noted.
Commenting on the high enthusiasm of the racket game in Sri Lanka, Guruge added “We expect a record number of youngsters to take part in this year’s tournament”.
While thanking the sponsors Guruge noted, “We are happy to welcome Finlay Rentokil, a Subsidiary of ‘James Finlay & Co Ltd who has been sponsoring the senior nationals for the last 7 years as its Principal Sponsor.”
Director of Finlay Rentokil, Ms.Thushara Agus who was present at the Press Conference said that they were proud to partner the SLSF on the 30th Senior Nationals, a sporting event they had associated themselves with for the 7th consecutive year.
This year’s tournament is billed to feature great squash and performances of a very high standard, especially with the participation of top ranked players who have been in top form after the recently concluded Commonwealth & Asian Games held in October & November respectively.
Five times champion Navin Samarasinghe, who won in 2009, is expected to defend his title but will have to battle it out with the junior & upcoming players in the caliber of Gihan Suwaris & Binura Jayasuriya. Former national champion, Saman Tilekeratne, who has announced his intentions to take part at this year’s championships hoping to arrive in time from France where he is domiciled, will also pose a challenge in the Men’s category.
In the Women’s category defending champion Nirasha Guruge, who has won the national title for 6 years will have to fight it out with fresh favourites such as Damindi Udangawa, Sharya Guruge, Nadindi Udangawa.
Entry Criteria
Entries for the 30th Senior National Squash Championships will be accepted only at the SLSF Secretariat, Tamil Union C&A Club, Colombo 08 up to 5.00 pm on Tuesday, 14th December 2010.
The SLSF informs, the age cut-off date for registration is as at 23rd December 2010.
Please contact the following officials at the SLSF to learn more about the tournament:
President Sri Lanka Squash Federation – Oliver Guruge – 0777 777 997
Secretary Sri Lanka Squash Federation Wg.Cmdr.Jaliya Jayasekera – 0717 310026
SLSF Secretariat – Ms.Rajapakse -0115735359
