Hansani and Lithmina take honours

Hansani Kapugeekiyana of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda and Lithmina Mahanama of Wesley College swept the tables at the Western Province 2012 table tennis championships that was organized and conducted the Department of Information Technology of the University of Jayawardenapura at S. Thomas’ Indoor Stadium recently.

Hanasani Kapugeekiyana who is also a member of the Western Province Table Tennis pool was adjudged the most outstanding player of the entire tournament. She entered four events and emerged champion in all the events.

She began by defeating her school mate Senuri Perera to win the girls under 12 singles, then turned her guns on Denethi Wijegunawardena of Musaeus to win the girls under 15 singles, was partnered by Eromi Kavidya of Holy Family, Kalutara to win the women’s doubles and finally she won the women’s singles defeating Madushani Perera of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura in a two setter.

Wesley College student Lihmini Mahanama also a member of the WP TT pool was nominated the best player of the tournament for having won the boys under 12 and 15 singles finals.

After the championships, both players stated that their performance was mainly due to the training they received at the Western Province TT pool. The Western Province Table Tennis Association had made all the necessary arrangements for pool training of the play- ers at the Lalith Athulathmudali Indoor Stadium, Mount Lavinia.

The other members of the Western Province Table Tennis pool who won their age groups championships were, Dewmith Weerasena under 10 boys singles, Ushiri Perera uner 10 girls champion, Chamathsara Fernando under 18 girls champion and Eroni Kavidya Open Women’s Doubles Champion.

Speaking at the prize distribution at the end of the tournament, Secretary of the Western Province TT Association, Chandana Perera, said the conducting of this tournament by the IT students is a noteworthy example to all other university students.

At a time when most of the university staff and students are involved with various types of union activities, the IT students of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura instead of joining these archaists they engaged themselves to conduct this tournament and set an example for all others to follow.

Awards were distributed by the chief guest Dr. N. L. A. Karunaratne, Vice Chancellor, University of Sri Jayawardenapura, head of the IT Department, Dushyantha Kulathunga and Chandana Perera, Secretary of the Western Province TT Association. Results (finals only) Boys under 8 singles – Kumuditha Lakshan beat Charuka Fonseka 11/6, 11/4.

Girls under 8 – Samsadi Ruwanpura beat Oshadi Umayanga 11/3, 11/4

Boys under 10 singles. Dewmith Weerasena beat Ishwara Dissanayake 11/0, 12/10, 11/5.

Girls under 10 singles. Ushiri Perera beat Anushka Santushi 11/7, 1/11, 11/3.

Boys under 12 singles. Lithmina Mahanama beat Vrunaka Hendahewa 11/1, 7/11, 12/10.

Girls under 12 singles. Hansani Kapugeekiyana beat Senuri Perera 11/4, 11/4.

Boys under 15 singles. Lithmina Maganama beat Sandesh Nissanka 12/10, 12/10.

Girls under 15 singles. Hansani Kapugeekiyana beat Denethi Wijegunawardena 5/11, 11/7, 11/2.

Boys under 18 singles. Rasheed Aziz beat Rumal Intikab 11/6, 11/3, 11/7.

Girls under 18 singles. Chamthsara Fe r n a n d o b e at D e n e t h i Wijegunawardena 11/7, 10/12, 11/9.

Women’s doubles. Hansani Kapugeekiyana and Eroni Kavidya beat Dilani Perer and Chaushalya De Silva9/11, 11/6, 12/10.

Men’s doubl e s. Sure s h Pushpakumara and Thiwanka Theekshana beat Ashan Aswida and Rasika Manoj 11/8, 11/9.

Men’s singles. Y.S. Jayakody beat Thiwanka Theekshana 11/8, 14/12.

Women’s singles. Hansani Kapugeekiyana beat Madushani Perera 11/5, 11/4. (BM).