Defending champs Dinara and Apna enter semis

By M. Shamil Amit

Defending tennis champions in the women’s and men’s open Dinara de Silva and Apna Perera advanced to the semi-finals of the 111th National Tennis Championship  by winning their quarter final encounters played at the SLTA tennis courts at Greenpath, Colombo yesterday.

Dinara who earlier won the Under-18 Girls singles title recorded a comfortable win over Githmi Fernando while Apna overcame Aahil Kaleel with both winning the matches by two sets to nil.

The pair was joined by Yuhansa Peiris, Nesangi Hemakumara and Venuli Jayasinghe in the women’s category and Dumindu Dilum, Ashen Silva and Ganuka Fernando in the men’s category who all won their quarter final encounters.

The semifinals are scheduled to be played today.

Quarter Finals: Singles:

Women’s Open – Dinara de Silva beat Githmi Fernando 2-0 (6/2, 6/1). Yuhansa Peiris beat Dulkini Ranasinghe 2-0 (6/4, 6/3). Nesangi Hemakumara beat Akeesha Silva 2-0 (6/4, 6/1). Venuli Jayasinghe beat Senulya Wijayawardena 2-0 (6/1, 6/0).

Men’s Open – Dumindu Dilum beat Lithum Jayabandu 2-0 (6/1, 6/4). Ashen Silva beat Vichinthya Nilaweera 2-0 (6/3, 6/0). Apna Perera beat Aahil Kaleel 2-0 6/3, 6/2). Ganuka Fernando beat Ashlin de Silva 1-0 rtd.