Seven Lankan paddlers for Asian C’ships

Seven Sri Lankan paddlers have qualified to play in the next Asian Table Tennis championship based on their performance at the recently concluded South Asian TT championship in Kathmandu, Nepal.

A seven member team took part at the South Asian TT championship and all seven have qualified for Asian Championship. It’s really a good achievement at this hard period said Table Tennis President Dr Tharinda Weerakoon. “The team went to Nepal amidst difficulties and both two men’s players, Prasad de Silva and Nirmala Jayasinghe have qualified to the Asian level.

Bimandi Bandara, Kasuni Pitigala, Thamali Kavindya, Maneesha Shalindi and Oneli Lehansa are the five women paddlers to get Asian qualification and most of the girls are still in school and they have got maximum exposure after playing in South Asian TT championship, added TT President.

Based on the performance of the South Asian TT championship 16 men’s paddlers and 16 women’s paddlers have qualified and the players from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives are selected for the Asian TT championship.