Boost for Lanka's Tennis
Tennis in Sri Lanka was taken to greater heights lately. The recently concluded Sri Lanka Premier League Tennis played under flood lights, drew hundreds of spectators in all four days. The tournament attracted many non-tennis fans as well. The game of tennis that displayed was in better quality and had all the excitement to the end.
Dharaka Ellawela, a Tennis official and an umpire stated. "It was indeed a successful tournament. It attracted more fans. The carnival atmosphere with live music, and there was never a dull moment. The organisers are planning to continue the Premier League Tennis tournament next year as well. And a similar tournament in same capacity is planned to stage before end of this year. The striking factor was young players having the chance of mingling with senior players- who have won national championships and represented Sri Lanka at Davis Cup level. The youngsters may have learnt many tips in the game of tennis from the seniors."
The interesting fact was this tournament was held in one of Sri Lanka's oldest tennis clubs spanning 150 yearsthe Queens Club courts. The Queens Club together with JAT Holdings, who came as main sponsors to finalise arrangements to conduct the Inaugural championship.
In the final day of the tournament, SLT Tuskers finished as the most successful team out of the four teams. In the final SLT Tuskers came on top against Crown Sharks by winning 26 points to 19. In the first set Nishangan Nadarajah of Tuskers lost to Dineshkanthan Thangarajah 2-6. Then in the set 2, National player Amritha Muttiah of Tuskers defeated Anika Seneviratne 6-5.
In the set 3, Tuskers Avindra Perera came on top against Vibudha Wijebandara 6-3. In the set 4,Tuskers Rukmal Cooray partnering Perumal Ganesh defeated Sohan Patrick and Chammika de Silva 6-1. In the final fifth set,Shalini Perera, Amritha and Nishangan of Tuskers defeated Anika, Janali Manamperi and Dineshkanthan 6-4.
SLT Tuskers gained 79 wins in the four day tournament to finish top. Crown Sharks recorded 76 wins, Cargills Eagles 62 wins and NSB Jaguars 49
wins. Baur’s 224/7 (25); WL 120 all out (19.2) PI 204 all out (25); CEAT 61 all out (18.4) Maliban 337/3 (25); RP 68 all out (15.4) AFC 148/6 (25); CB 152/3 (19.2) PABC ‘B’ 243/9 (25); GMM 59 all out (12.4) CCB 158 all out (22.5); TA 161/6 (23.1) PG 224 all out (25); MH 151/9 (25) TA 194/7 (25); FC 169 all out (24.2) ACL 141/8 (25); Citi Bank 144/5 (24.3)