WPTTA All-Island Ranking Table Tennis Tournament Chameera, Ishara win Dhanasiri Amarathunga Challenge Trophies

By Susil Premalal

Chameera Ginige and Ishara Madurangi won the men’s and women’s titles respectively in the All-Island Ranking Table Tennis Tournament organised by the Western Province Table Tennis Association (WPTTA) for the Dhanasiri Amarathunga Challenge Trophies.

In the women’s final Ishara beat Muthumali Priyadarshani 3-0 and in a thrilling men’s final Chameera defeated Senura Silva 3-2.

This is the second All-Island ranking tournament conducted by the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL) under the 2020 calendar that was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The championship attracted 170 competitors consisting of 100 men and 70 women paddlers.

The organisers planned to host events in both Under-18 and Under-15 boys and girls categories in addition to the Open events, but they had to postpone them owing to the massive number of entries received and due to restriction imposed by the Public Health Inspector on the number of players occupying the hall at any given time. Both these events will be worked off at a later date once the situation is assessed and approval received from the area health authorities. 

The tournament was conducted at S. Thomas’ indoor stadium with the organisers following all safety protocols prior to permitting players only to enter the venue.

In the women’s open category, 54 players competed in the qualification rounds with 16 qualifying to play in the main draw and compete against the 16 ranked players. In the men’s open category, 84 players competed in the qualification rounds and 16 qualified to play in the main event playoff with the 16 ranked players.
All matches were evenly contested by the players who had match exposure two weeks back at the championships held in Kegalle.

All players reaching quarter-finals onwards received certificates. The chief guest at the tournament Nilushi Theodore, Brand Executive, Raigam Marketing Services distributed gift packs to the winners and runners-up. The finalists received the champion and runner-up trophies from Srinath Wijethunga, General Secretary, TTASL. Cash awards were gifted by Anura Lal, Managing Director, Githmi Sports, Ambalangoda.

Results

WOMEN’S OPEN

Quarter-finals: 
Ishara Madurangi (SL Ports Authority) beat Ayla Chitty (Ladies College, Colombo) 11/8, 7/11, 11/9, 11/6 
Erandi Warusavithana (Raigam Marketing) beat Bimandi Bandara (Hillwood College, Kandy) 11/8, 4/11, 11/8, 11/7 
Hansani Piyumala (SL Navy) beat Jithara Warnakulasuriya (Ladies College, Colombo) 4/11, 11/7, 11/9, 11/2 
Muthumali Priyadarshani (SL Navy) beat Thanushi Rodrigo 11/6, 11/7, 11/9 

Semi-finals: 
Ishara Madurangi beat Erandi Warusavithana 11/1, 11/3, 11/4 
Muthumali Priyadarshani  beat Hansani Piyumala 11/8, 11/13, 11/5, 11/5 

Final: 
Ishara Madurangi beat Muthumali Priyadarshani 11/6, 11/9, 11/7.

MEN’S OPEN

Quarter-finals: 
Krishan Wickramaratne (VOBSC) beat Imandtha Udanjaya (SL Army) 11/5,11/7, 11/5 
Chameera Ginige (Sri Jayewardenepura University) beat Prasad de Silva (Road Dev) 5/11, 8/11, 11/9, 11/4,11/9 
Supun Warusavithana (Moratuwa University) beat Chanul Dulsen (Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda) 11/5, 11/6, 5/11, 12/10 
Senura Silva (Ananda College, Colombo) beat Milinda Lakshitha (OMBC) 10/12, 11/5, 11/8, 11/9 

Semi-finals: 
Chameera Ginige beat Krishan Wickramaratne 11/8, 3/11, 11/7, 10/12, 11/7 
Senura Silva beat Supun Warusavithana 11/7, 11/9, 10/12, 12/10 

Final: 
Chameera Ginige beat Senura Silva 7/11, 11/9, 11/5, 9/11, 11/8.