Joy for Ananda boys at Kids tennis

Orange Ball boys’ winners Ananda College: Front row-Ranuga Bannachaka, Vihas Vindul, Sanuk Benthotage, Dinsara Madarasinghe, Methuja Nawaratne, Tiran Muthugala. Middle row-Abinu Paragahanga, Rumitha Seneviratne, Abiru Paragahanga, Lisath Dissanayake. Back row- Tharindu Perera (head coach), Sagarika Gunarathna (teacher-in-charge), Pradeep Goonasekara (General Secretary – SLTA), Duminda Pathirana (Sports Coordinator – Primary Section), Preethi Kumari (teacher-in-charge), Sandas Usgodaarachchi (school tennis captain)

By Susil Premalal

Ananda College produced a dominant display in the boys’ categories at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association’s (SLTA) Janaka Bogollagama Memorial All Island Tennis Inter School Kids Play Day winning both the Green Ball and Orange Ball championships.

The tournament, organised by the Sri Lanka Tennis Association, brought together 215 school teams and over 1,100 young players from across the country. Featuring Red Ball, Orange Ball and Green Ball matches, the competition was held at the SLTA courts.

In the boys’ Green Ball final, Ananda College defeated St. Peter’s College 3–0 to clinch the title.

In the semifinals, Ananda recorded a convincing 3–0 victory over Richmond College while St. Peter’s College beat St. Joseph’s College, Negombo 3–1.

Ananda College continued their impressive run and in the boys’ Orange Ball final they overcame Richmond College ‘A’ 3–1 to secure their second title of the tournament.

In the semifinals, Ananda College defeated Nalanda College 3–1 while Richmond College ‘A’ beat Richmond College ‘B’ 3–0.

According to the organisers the event plays a vital role in developing grassroots tennis in Sri Lanka by providing young players with competitive exposure and structured progression through age-appropriate formats 

Green Ball boys’ winners Ananda College: Front row-Thevan Perera, Yenuja Nawaratne, Sasiru Amarasinghe, Yumeth Liyanarachchi, Sasen Tenujaya, Sihath Madanayake. Midle row-Vinuja Dissanayake, Lasitha Pieris, Nadew Tennakoon, Jithula Perera. Back row-Preethi Kumari (teacher-in-charge), Iqbal Bin Issack (president – SLTA), Duminda Pathirana (Sports Coordinator – Primary Section), Sagarika Gunaratne (teacher-in-charge), Hareendra Dodanwela (assistant coach), Sandas Usgodaarachchi (school tennis captain)