Junior Paddlers to leave for Junior Asiad 2018 in Myanmar

 

Sri Lanka Junior and Cadet table tennis teams will leave for Myanmar on 12^th August to take part in the 24^th Asian Junior and Cadet table tennis championship 2018.  The championship will be held from 13^th to 18^th August in Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar with the participation of all regional qualified Asian giants. The Asian continent is divided into five regions by the Asian table tennis union namely East Asia, West Asia, Middle Asia, South East Asia and South Asia and held the preliminary qualification tournaments.  Sri Lanka got qualified for the Asian championship in the south Asian regional championship which was held in April this year in Maldives. From the south Asian region, only Sri Lanka and India managed to qualify for the Asian championship after a tough battle with other regional teams. Sri Lanka teams managed to secure 6 silver medals and 6 bronze medals in the regional qualifications thereby securing the second place in the region.

Royalist Nimesh Ranchagoda and Visakhian Hansani Piyumila will lead  the Sri Lanka Junior table tennis teams while Hiruna Warusawithana of Darmashoka College and Jithara Warnakulasuriya of Ladies’ Collage  will give leadership to the  Cadet teams. This is Hansani’s twentieth Sri Lanka representation, including senior and junior categories and, Nimesh’s sixth representation. Mr. Rahal Abeyratne and  Ms. Dilima Udagedara functions as the manager and the lady chaperon for the team respectively.

Under 18 and 15 Team, Under 18 and 15 singles, under 18 doubles and under 18 mixed doubles events will be carried out in the tournament during the six days. Sri Lankan players will have to face the Asian giants in order to move into the main draw of the tournament in each category. The team is well balanced with adequate experience and talent. Asian Championship will provide the most required exposure for the young paddlers to climb the ladder in the world rankings as per the new ranking system introduced by the international table tennis federation.

Junior Boys Team – Under 18

1. Nimesh Ranchagoda(Captain) – Royal College, Colombo
2. Chandupa Alahakoon – Kingswood College, Kandy
3. Isuru Anjana – Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda

 

Junior Girls Team – Under 18

1. Hansani Piyumila (Captain) – Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo
2. D.H.Kolambage – Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda
3. Imasha De Silva – Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda
4. Ayla Chitty – Ladies’ College, Colombo

 

Cadet Boys Team – Under 15

1. Hiruna Warusawithana(Captain) – Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda
2. Chanul Dulsen – Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda
3. Senura Silva – Ananda College , Colombo

 

Cadet Girls Team – Under 15

1. Jithara Warnakulasuriya (Captain) – Ladies’ College, Colombo
2. Sanaya Buddhadasa – Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo
3. Kavishka Kavindi – Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda

 

Team Manager :

1. Rahal Abeyrathne

Lady Chaperon:

1. U.P.D.D. Udagedara