Sri Lanka takes silver, bronze medals at team events

Sri Lanka under 19 boys’ and girls’ teams won silver medals while Sri Lanka under 15 boys’ and girls’ teams won bronze medals at the ongoing South Asian Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship played in Male, Maldives.

After the conclusion of the team events yesterday, Sri Lanka under 19 boys’ team beat Nepal (3/1), Pakistan (3/0), and Maldives (3/0) and after losing a hard-fought match to Bangladesh (2/3) ended up with a silver medal. The strong Indian team couldn’t take part in the under 19 boys’ team event and the Sri Lanka team won second place which was “a very unfortunate result”, a former TT official said.

The National champion 16-year-old Senura Silva couldn’t take part in this tournament due to his O/L exam but was no excuse for Sri Lanka under 19 boys’ team which comprised Chanul Dilshan, Dhanushka Wijesinghe, Thisas Ranchagoda.

Meanwhile, the under 19 girls’ team comprised of Bimandee Bandara, Ayla Chitty, and Maneesha Shalindi, also won the silver medal. They had defeated Bangladesh (3/1) and Maldives (3/2) but lost to India (0/3) in the league round while in the semi-final India again beat Sri Lanka (3/1) to take the silver medal.

The under 15 boys’ team comprised of Dewmeth Weerasena, Janith Batugedera, and Diran Harmer managed to win the bronze medal. They beat Maldives (3/0) but lost to Bangladesh (0/3) and India (0/3) in the semi-finals while Sri Lanka under 15 girls’ team comprised of Lesanya Sethumade, Thamadi Kavindya, and Imalsha Sewmini beat Pakistan (3/0), lost to Maldives (1/3) and Nepal (1/3) at the semi-final to take the bronze.

The two singles and a one-double game were included for the team event.

The 14-member Sri Lanka team is taking part in this event while the two coaches Lakshan Harshana and Buddhika Dikkumbura are with them.

The individual events were scheduled to be played yesterday which stood as the final day of the tournament, organised by the South Asian TT Federation in collaboration with the Maldives TT Association.

Results: (Team events)

Under 19 Boys (Junior Boys)

League Matches

1. SL beat Nepal – 3/1
2. SL beat Pakistan – 3/0
3. SL beat Maldives – 3/0
4. SL lost Bangladesh – 2/3

(Sri Lanka won the silver medal)

Under 19 Girls (Junior Girls)

Group Level

1. SL lost India – 0/3
2. SL beat Bangladesh – 3/1

Semi-Finals

1. SL beat Maldives – 3/2

Final

3. SL lost India -1/3

(Sri Lanka won the silver medal)

Under 15 Boys (Cadet Boys)

Group Level

1. SL beat Maldives – 3/0
2. SL lost Bangladesh – 0/3

Semi-Finals

1. SL lost to India – 0/3

(Sri Lanka won the bronze medal)

Under 15 Girls (Cadet Girls)

Group Level

3. SL beat Pakistan – 3/0
4. SL lost Maldives – 1/3

Semi-Finals

2. SL lost to Nepal – 1/3

(Sri Lanka won the bronze medal)