Royal-Thomian tennis back for 23rd edition

The much-anticipated Royal-Thomian tennis encounter for the EFC Pereira Challenge Trophy returns for its 23rd edition on Saturday commencing at 6:00 pm at the P Nagendran Tennis Complex.

The junior matches are scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm.

Royal College currently leads the overall series 13–5, but the Thomians will enter this year’s encounter with renewed confidence after their memorable 3–1 victory in 2024 on home soil at Mount Lavinia.

This year’s battle will be contested in the Under-20 age group and will follow the traditional format of three singles and two doubles ties. Both sides are evenly matched, setting the stage for an evening of fiercely competitive tennis according to the organisers.

Royal College will be spearheaded by Methvan Wijemanne, who is coming off a remarkable showing at the Sri Lanka Under-18 National Championships, where he clinched both the singles and doubles titles. He will be supported by Renouk Wijemanne, a former Davis Cup player and past coach of the Sri Lanka Davis Cup team, alongside Ruwan Fernando.

The Thomians will be led by captain Shaveen Nanayakkara, with guidance from Sankha Athukorala, the current Sri Lanka Davis Cup head coach. 

Adding to the significance of the occasion, this year’s Chief Guest will be Mr. Dyan Peries, who captained the Royal College tennis team in 1965. His presence will not only inspire the players but also pay tribute to the enduring legacy of the storied encounter.

Speaking ahead of the event, Somanath Fernando, Chairman of the Royal College Union Lawn Tennis Club, said: “We are honoured to host the Thomians for the annual tennis Battle of the Blues encounter this year. We look forward to some good tennis.

“We are very grateful to Cargills and LYCEUM Education for their generous sponsorship, which continues to support the growth of the sport.”