S. Thomas’ and Visakha emerge All Island Tennis champions
S. Thomas’ Mt. Lavinia and Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo emerged champions in the boys’ and girls’ sections at the All Island School Games Tennis Championships concluded at the SLTA courts last Monday. The competition was conducted by the Ministry of Education in the age categories of under 13 -19.
Seventeen boys’ teams and 15 girls’ teams took part in the contest.
In the boys’ final S. Thomas’ overcame St. Peter’s 2-0. In the contest for the third place Ananda overcame Royal 2-0.
Virantha Fernando of S. Thomas’ emerged as the best player in the boys’ tournament.
In the boys’ semi-finals S. Thomas’ beat Ananda 2-0 and St. Peter’s beat Royal 2-1. In the quarters S. Thomas’ beat St. Joseph’s Maradana 2-0 and Ananda beat Jaffna St. John’s 2-0. St. Peter’s beat Kandana De Mazenod 2-0 and Royal beat Thurstan 2-0.
This is the third occasion that S. Thomas’ has bagged the All Island Tennis tournament. In2013 and 2015 they emerged champions. In 2014 they were the runners-up.
The Thomian tennis team can be ranked as a side that is coming forward at a terrific pace in tennis. They also emerged champi- ons at the 2016 Public Schools Tennis champions after 23 years. The last time they emerged champions in 1993.
They face another key tennis game when they lock-horns with arch rival Royal on September 17. “Our aim is to win this key encounter as well,” said Thomian tennis coach Anjuna Anthony and the MIC Chandrasiri Fonseka.
In the Royal-Thomian tennis encounters S. Thomas’ has triumphed in 2012, 2013 and 2014. S. Thomas’the encounter in 2014.
The S. Thomas’ team: Avinda Perera, Viranka Fernando, Vihan Herath, Dulitha Ellawela and Sebastian Sansoni.
Visakha Vidyalaya emerged girls’ champions by getting the better of Ladies College 2-0. The third place went to Holy Family Convent who beat Bishop’s 2-0.
The best player in the girls’ contest was Nethmi Waduge of Visakha. In the semifinals Visakha beat Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya 2-0 and Ladies ousted Bishop’s 2-1.
In the quarters Visakha received a walkover from Batticaloa Vincent High School and Ladies beat Jaffna Chundikulam MV 2-0. Bishop’s beat Museaus 2-1 and Holy Family Convent beat Hillwood 2-0.