The second I & D Table Tennis Junior Ranking tournament concluded this week after two successful days (13th and 14th) at the S. Thomas’ College, indoor stadium in Mount Lavinia.
Initiated in 2017, the All Island Junior Ranking tournament is conducted by legendary National Table Tennis veterans Indika Prasad and Deepika Rodrigo. The tournament saw a total of 460 young paddlers, spread across 8 age groups, starting from the Girls’ and Boys’ under 10 singles categories, all the way up to the Under 18s.
The most outstanding player of the tournament went to Dewmeth Weerasena of Lyceum International School Nugegoda in the Boys’ Category while Bimandee Bandara of Hillwood College was named the most outstanding player in the Girls’ category.
In the U-10 age group where the youngest paddlers took the table saw Sadinthie Jayasinghe of Musaeus College, Colombo win the girls’ championship followed up by Tamadi Kavindya of Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda as runner up.
In the Boys’ category Shafiullah Akram of Al-Hudha International School, Kandy won the category defeating Dewmeth Weerasena of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda.
Chameesha Thushadi of Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya, Kegalle won the final against Navindi Senevirathne of Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya, Kegalle in the girls’ U-12 age group. Dewmeth Weerasena – Lyceum Internationla School, Nugegoda and Kakeru Hennayake of Ananda College, Colombo met in the Boys’ final of the U-12 age group with Dewmeth Weerasena managing to edge out Kakeru.
The much more competitive age groups U-15 and U-18 were held in the afternoon sessions in the latter part of the tournament. Kavishka Kavindi won against Jithara Warnakulasooriya in the Girls’ category while Thisas Ranchagoda won the Boys’ category of the U15 age group defeating Sri Lanka’s No.1 rank, Senura Silva in the final.
The top category which was the U-18’s was won by Bimandee Bandara of Hillwood College, Kandy, defeating Jithara Warnakulasooriya of Ladies’ College in the final. Chandupa Alahakoon defeated Virunaka Hendahewa in two sets to take the Boy’s U18 championship.
The Mix doubles were won by Hiruna Warusawithana and Sayuri Ranmini of Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda defeating Senura Silva of Ananda College, Colombo and Jithara Warnakulasooriya of Ladies’ College, Colombo in the final.
The doubles were played for only the U-18 age groups where paddlers from much younger age groups participated to play alongside their senior counter-parts.
Kavishka Kavindi and Imasha De Silva of Dharmashoka won the title after a close battle with Bimandee Bandara of Hillwood College, Kandy and Dinithi Dissanayake of Mahamaya Girls College, Kandy
The Boys’ category was won by the Kingswood pair of paddlers, Chandupa Alahakoon and Dhanushka Wijesinghe. They managed to defeat Hiruna Wasuwitharana and Lahiru Thanujage of Dharmashoka College.
 at the S. Thomas’ College, indoor stadium in Mount Lavinia.){kind=link}