Lankan paddlers for South Asian TT Tourney
Sri Lanka Table Tennis team with officials: Standing -Prasad de Silva (Emjay International (PVT) Ltd), Nirmala Jayasinghe (MAS Group), Bimandi Bandara – (Hilwood, Kandy), Kasuni Pitigala (SL Army), Maneesha Shalindi (Darmashoka,Ambalangoda), Oneli Lehansa – (Musaeus), Tamadi Kawindya (Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda). Seated: Kumudi De Silva (Manager), Dr Tharinda Werakoon (President TTASL), Dr Srinath Wijethunga (Secretary TTASL)
A Seven member Sri Lanka team left for Kathmandu Nepal yesterday to take part in the South Asian Table Tennis championship which will be held from 8 to 11 December.
According to the President of the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL), two men’s paddlers Prasad de Silva and Nirmala Jayasinghe are in the team while five women paddlers Bimandi Bandara, Kasuni Pitigala, Maneesha Shalindi, Oneli Lehansa, and Tamadi Kawindya will also take part at this event.
This is a good opportunity for local paddlers while the best 15 players of the tournament will get a chance to play in the Asian championships said TTASL President. This event is a selection tournament and all players can qualify for the next Asian level.
All South Asian region countries India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka will take part in this tournament and this is going to be a good exposure for the Sri Lanka paddlers.
TTASL already tried to give more match exposure while many domestic level tournaments have been conducted by TTASL and they aim to give more International exposure. several key paddlers are already overseas. TTASL is trying to keep their players here said Dr. Tharinda Werakoon the first-ever women’s TT President who is also a former National player.