By Susil Premalal

Muthumali Priyadarshani of Sri Lanka Navy won a thrilling women’s singles final 3-2 against Jithara Warnakulasooriya of Ladies College, Colombo to win the annual Maheepala Herath All Island Table Tennis Challenge Trophy Tournament held at the Kegalle Municipal Council Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

Priyadarshani prevailed over Warnakulasooriya 8/11, 11/8, 7/11, 11/9, 11/2 in a closely contested final. Warnakulasooriya defeated Bimandhi Bandara 3-0 (11/9, 11/9, 11/6) and Priyadarshani beat Ishara Madurangi 3-2 (7/11, 11/9, 11/6, 9/11, 12/10) in the semi-finals.

Under the leadership of Kanaka Herath, State Minister of Plantation and the President of The Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL) and Kegalle District Table Tennis Association, the TTASL commenced conducting its tournaments after a long break owing to the COVID-19 epidemic by adhering to strict safety measures to safeguard the competing players and match officials. Owing to the close proximity of players, the tournament organisers have scrapped the doubles event and have gone ahead with conducting only the singles events for both men and women. 

Kanaka Herath, graced the occasion as the chief guest at the finals and distributed certificates to players reaching quarter-finals and gave away the challenge trophies to the winner and runner-up.