Bimandee Bandara, of Hillwood College Kandy and Shafiullah Akram of Trinity College emerged champions of the Junior National Table Tennis Championship concluded at Bandaragama Indoor Stadium.
Bimandee Bandara who was also the defending senior champion once again retained the junior title defeating Shamalsha Dewmi of Holy Cross College Gampaha in three straight sets 11/04, 11/06, 11/04 in the girls under 19 singles final.
Meanwhile the boys under 19 singles final saw more competition between Shafiullah Akram and Amila Udara of Maliyadeva College Kurunegala which extended to a five setter game. The first two sets were won by Shafiullah 11-9, 11-9 but Amila came back to win the third set 11-9. Two finalists had a tough fourth set which became a long battle finished in favour of Shafiullah 14-12 and continued his winning form in the final set 11-7.
Shafiullah partnered with Bimandee won the mixed doubles title and the experienced pair defeated Rehan Senanayake of Ananda College Colombo and Sadinthie Jayasinghe of Musaeus College in the final. Both junior National champions Bimandee and Shafiullah were named Best Players of the tournament.
Chanuki Akshana of Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda won both girls under 11 and 13 singles titles. She outclassed Aveesha Herath of St. Anthony’s College Kandy 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 to win the girls under 11 title while Chanuki made three setter game to beat Nisandi Nimthara of Southland College Galle in the girls under 13 final. Kenura Silva from Nalanda College Colombo showed his potential once again defeating Deranya Kesara, Dharmasoka to win the boys under 11 singles title while Sanon Duljith of Dharmasoka won the boys under 13 singles title defeating Yenul Abeywickrama of Ananda College Colombo.
In the girls under 15 final Yoshini Jayawardane of Mahamaya Girls College Kandy made four setter game to beat Muthuli Sahanya of Southland College Galle (11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11- 5) while Akain Bojith, Dharmasoka won the boys under 15 title defeating his schoolmate Sanon Duljith.
The girls under 17 title was won by Tamadi Kavindya of Devananda College Ambalangoda defeating Shamalsha Dewmi of Holy Cross College Gampaha and the boys under 17 final was won by Diran Hamer of Royal Colombo defeating Shafiullah Akram of Trinity and this final went on to a five setter game 2-11, 11-08, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9. Divya Dharani and Lesnya Sethumadi the Dharmasoka pair won the girls doubles title when they defeated Bimandee Bandara (Hillwood) and Sadinthie Jayasinghe of Musaeus. The boys double title was won by Dewmeth Weerasena (Lyceum, Nugegoda) and Vinuka Gunawardane (Royal) defeating Trinity pair Shafiullah Akram and Akesh Dimantha and this final was also extended for a five setter game 10-12, 11-8, 12-10, 4-11, 11- 7.
The three day event was conducted by the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL).
This year’s tournament, held under the auspices of official equipment from Yinhe, saw over 500 young paddlers making it one of the most exciting and competitive championships in recent years.
The awards ceremony was graced by the chief guest Disna Jayasinghe, Divisional Secretary of Bandaragama, TTASL President Rahal Abeyratne, Secretary Kumudi De Silva, Vice President Chathura Jayandera and former TTASL President Chandana Perera.
