Lanka’s Commonwealth Games TT participation in doubt
The four member Sri Lanka Table Tennis team to Commonwealth Games already named but two players out of four have already migrated to USA for further training without informing the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka. They have created a very serious issue before the Birmingham Commonwealth Games which scheduled to be held from July 28 to August 8.
The two paddlers Krishan Wickramaratne and Milinda Lakshitha traveled to USA (Texas) last week and Daily News learnt that they have not inform TTASL their departure to the USA. It has created a serious difficulty to Lankan TT team to participate in the Commonwealth Games.
According to the former TTASL senior official the National Federation has conducted selection trails to pick the team for this major Games. In fact Sri Lankan TT team originally not invited to take part the Commonwealth Games. Former National player Rohan Sirisena was the only paddler got qualified to take part at the singles event for the Commonwealth Games. However Rohan has already withdrawn his name and now based in USA for coaching and his chance was given to Supuna Warusawithana. In the meantime due to unavailability of the selected team from other country Sri Lanka men’s team got chance to take part this Bermingham Games. Warusawithna was named for the team without any trails while three other players Krishan Wickramartatne, Milinda Lakshitha and Chameera Ginige were selected for the Commonwealth Games.
All four paddlers were unable to perform well at the National senior TT championship while only Ginige was able to win the mixed double title with Ishara Madurangi. Milinda, Krishan and Supuna were unable to win quarter final games at the National Championship. Now two paddlers Krishan and Milinda already created issue without informing their overseas tour to the TTASL. Both of them so far have not informed their availability for the Commonwealth Games. If two paddlers will not take part in this tour the other two players Chameera and Supuna will also not be able to play the team event at the Commonwealth Games.