Ravindu and Naduni clinch Men and Women’s titles
Top favourites Ravindu Laksiri and Naduni Gunawardane played supremely to win the 10th Air Force Open Squash Championship held at its Squash Complex in Ratmalana. Both Ravindu and Naduni, still school goers clinched the Men’s and Women’s titles respectively, of the tournament which was held from February 7 to 14, where over 300 players took part.
Ravindu of D.S. Senanayake College besides winning the Men's Open also clinched the Boy’s Under-19 championship, thus claiming a double title. The Men’s Open final was a one-sided affair where Ravindu used his vast skills to defeat Shamil Wakeel in straight sets, 11-5, 114, and 11-3.
In the Women's Open final top-seed national champion Mihiliya Methsarani was tactfully handled and brought down by second seed Naduni of Visakha Vidyalaya. Experienced Mihiliya made use of her skills to bring down Naduni in first set by 11-5.
The next three sets gave much-needed enjoyment to spectators who witnessed a closely battled game of squash where Naduni used all her experience and temperament to outplay Mihiliya.
Naduni, who kept attacking on the frail points of Mihiliya and the latter, could do very little against the eventual winner who was much canny with a well executed game plan. Naduni continued her dominance in the rear court by slowing down her shots while her extra lobshots and smooth placement of the ball to opponent’s weaker area proved vital in winning the last three sets by 12- 10, 11- 9 and 12-10.
Mihiliya however went on to beat Fathum Izzadeen to win the Girls’ Under-19 championship. Sameera Deen too performed exceptionally to win a double, the Under-15 and Under-13 Girls’ championships.
The eight-day championship was worked off under 12 different age categories for boys, girls, men and women. They were the Under13, 15, 17, 19, Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men’s Intermediate Over-35, Over-45, Over50, Men’s Novices and Women’s Novices.
This tournament was the first ranking event for the year 2015 conducted by the Sri Lanka Squash Federation.
The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke graced the occasion as the Chief Guest while the Chairman of Sri Lanka Air Force Squash, Air Vice Marshal M.L.K. Perera, Base Commander SLAF Ratmalana, Air Commodore P. D. K. T. Jayasingha, President of the Sri Lanka Squash Federation, Commodore Palitha Weerasinghe and senior officers of the SLAF also graced the awards ceremony.