The Sri Lankan Wheelchair Tennis Team had a quite successful World Cup campaign when they topped Group II in the championship that concluded in Japan last week.
The Lankan trio, Upali Rajakaruna, Gamini Dissanayake and Lasantha Ranaweera, were successful in the Japanese courts winning 3 out of the 4 ties they played. Their wins came against the European heavyweights Switzerland, Poland and Hungary. Their only loss was to Thailand in the opening fixture.
Sri Lanka were put in alien conditions in the first tie when they faced Thailand and lost 3-0. The Lankan uprising started from the tie against Poland which Sri Lanka won 2-1. The draw that consists of two singles and a doubles encounter saw Upali Rajakaruna winning the single and teaming up with his partner Gamini Dissanayaka to win the doubles game.
With a win and a loss under their name in the World Group II Pool B, Sri Lanka didn’t unfortunately advance to the top tier but were tied up in the World Group 9-12 play off tie with two more European giants; Hungary and Switzerland.
Progressing forward, the Sri Lankans first faced the Switzerland team where they recorded a whitewash winning all three games. Upali Rajakaurna won his single against Daniele Pellegrina 7(3)-6, 6-1, 0-1 and Gamini Dissanayaka won his game against Raphael Gremion. Gamini and Lasantha Ranaweera teamed up to win the doubles game.
Facing their final opponent Hungary was a piece of cake for Sri Lanka having already beaten two heavyweights. Hungary was defeated by Sri Lanka 3-0 and thus Sri Lanka finished 9th in the overall world championship winning the 9-12th Play Off tie.
It was a successful stint for the Lankans with a 75% win record together with the record of defeating the top notch players who are ranked in the top 100 of the ITF World Rankings.
The campaign for Sri Lanka does not end from here and the team is currently in South Korea for the Korea Open followed by the Busan Open.
