Janith Batugedara of Royal College and Shenalie Mendis of Musaeus College, were adjudged the most outstanding paddlers of the Western Province Junior Ranking Table Tennis Championship which concluded at S. Thomas’ Indoor Stadium, Mt. Lavinia on Saturday. The tournament was organised to celebrate the 107th year of St John’s College, Nugegoda.
Janith the 13-year-old promising paddler defeated Himeth Hewasinghe of Ananda College, Colombo in a four-setter game (11/09, 11/03, 09/11, 11/04) to clinch the boys under 15 title and had a hard-fought five-setter win over Thisum Gamage of Ananda College, Colombo (09/11, 11/07, 05/11, 11/02, 11/09) to clinch under 17 title. Young Batugedera lost his first game 9/11 but he had an 11/7 win in the second set to equal the game. In the third set once again Thisum won by 11/5 but Janith controlled the game by winning back to back two sets on 11/2, and 11/9 to complete the double by winning both under 15 and under 17 boys finals to take Dhanaraj Ramaratnam challenge trophy which was presented for the boys most outstanding player.
Meanwhile, Shenalie Mendis won both under 15 and under 17 titles to take MLK Table Tennis Academy Challenge Trophy as the most outstanding player in the girls’ section.
She beat Shamalsha Dewmi of Holy Cross College, Gampaha 11/07, 07/11, 12/10, and 11/05 in the girls under 15 final and also bagged the girls under 17 title defeating the same opponent Shamalsha Dewmi with a five-setter game ( 11/08, 11/07, 09/11, 10/12, 11/02 to take the girls under 17 title.
Rehan Senanayake of Ananda College, Colombo beat Thisum Gamage 12/10, 09/11, 11/07, 05/11, 11/05 to win the boys under 19 title while Tharindi Perera of Viharamahadevi Balika
Vidyalaya , Kiribathgoda beat Selini Herath Anula Vidyalaya , Nugegoda 09/11, 11/02, 11/07, 11/03 to win the girls under 19 title.
Taavi Samaraweera of S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia beat Gaius Sri Thejus Jayasinghe of Gateway College, Rajagiriya to win the boys under 7 final while Thinuli Jayasuriya of Holy Cross College, Gampaha beat Nevee Fernando of Loyola College, Bopitiya to win the boys under 7 title.
Kenura Silva of Nalanda College, Colombo (the younger brother of National champion Senura Silva) beat his college mate Rometh Weerasekara while Sanuthi Weerasinghe of
Horizon College International, Malabe beat Sithuki Sinelya of Sumeda College, Gampaha to take boys and girls under 9 titles.
Yenul Abeywickrama of Ananda College, Colombo beat his college mate Rusath Wickramasinghe Ranuki Senarathne of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo beat Shenela Shashindri of Holy Cross College, Gampaha to win the boys and girls under 11 finals.
Ihsaan Faleel of Wesley College, Colombo beat Sandith Hendahewa of Royal College while Mekayla Fernando of Musaeus College beat Risali Senanayake of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo to clinch the boys and girls under 13 titles.
310 competitors participated in this two-day event which was sponsored by Bertram Ekenaike and the Past Pupils Association of St. John’s College Nugegoda Australian Branch. Bertram is the President of the St. John’s Past Pupils Association’s Australia branch and a keen sports promoter who helped to make this tournament a success.
Dhanaraj Ramarathnam, the President of the Old Boys Association of St. John’s College, Nugegoda was the Chief Guest and distributed the awards while former Table Tennis President Chandana Perera and the senior officials of St. John’s OBA graced this occasion.