SRI LANKA PLAYERS OFF TO COMMONWEALTH TT CHAMPIONSHIPS TOMORROW
The Interim Committee of the Sri Lanka Table Tennis Association has decided to send a team for the 21st Commonwealth TT Championships to be held from July 17 to 22 at the Jawaharlal Indoor Stadium, Cuttack, Odisha, India.
The Sri Lanka team is scheduled to leave tomorrow (July 16). The event is being organised by the Commonwealth TT Federation with the collaboration of the Indian TT Federation.
The Sri Lanka entourage consists of four men’s players, four women’s players and three officials. The men’s team will be led by veteran TT player Rohan Sirisena while Ishara Madurangi will captain the women’s team.
Fourteen countries are set to take part in the competition. They are: Sri Lanka, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Malaysia, Cyprus, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, Scotland, South Africa, Wales and Jersey.
The Sri Lanka team was chosen after a second trial held on June 1 and 2 at S. Thomas’ College Indoor Stadium, Mt. Lavinia.
The Sri Lanka men and women will take part in the
men’s and women’s singles and the men’s and women’s mixed doubles.
At the last Commonwealth TT Championships, Sri Lanka men finished seventh while the women finished fifth.
Chandana Perera is the Manager-cum-delegate. Speaking on the subject he said, “The first target is to protect the places they won in Surat, India in 2017. This time’s tournament will be tough as there are more countries taking part in the event.”
The international match exposure gained at the championships will be beneficial for the team at the South Asian Games (SAG)
“The Sri Lanka team is in good condition and it is hoped that they will do a good job,” concluded Chandana.the international match exposure gained at the championships will be beneficial for the team at the South Asian Games (SAG), which is to be held from December 1 to 10 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Men’s team – Rohan Sirisena (Capt.), Krishan Wickremaratne, Nirmala Jayasinghe and Milinda Lakshitha.
Women’s team – Ishara Madurangi (Capt.), Bimandee Bandara, Chamathsara Fernando and Jithara Warnakulasuriya.
Officials – Chandana Perera (Manager-cum-delegate), Buddhika Dikkumbura (Coach), Priyani Dissanayake (Lady Chaperone).