Six paddlers off to China
View(s):A six member Sri Lanka Table Tennis team left for China yesterday to take part in the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championship to be played at the Suzhou city from today to May 3rd.
Erandi Warusawithana, the reigning women’s national champion from Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda will lead the Women’s team and the Men’s team is led by B. Nirmala B. Jayasinghe of MAS Intimates. Jayasinghe was a quarter finalist at the 68th national championship held in 2014.
Ishara Madurangi and Tharunya Shashini from the Sri Lanka Air Force who ended as Runner-up and Semi Finalist respectively at the last nationals will combine Erandi as the other two members of the Women’s team. Rohan Sirisena (STAG TT Academy) along with Prasad De Silva from Vidyartha College, Kandy along with Jayasinghe will form the Men’s team. Sirisena who finished behind champion Udaya Ranasinghe, the reigning Men’s champion at 2014 nationals while schoolboy Prasad De Silva played in the semi-finals.
All players will play in the singles events of their respective segments while Nirmala Jayasinghe and Prasad De Silva will compete in the Men’s Doubles. Ishara Madurangi and Tharunya Shashini will be in action in the Women’s Doubles. Nirmala Jayasinghe will partner Erandi Warusawithana in one Mixed Double and Rohan Sirisena and Ishara Madurangi are billed to play in the other Mixed Doubles event.
Much is expected from youngsters Erandi Warusawithana and Prasad De Silva as they showed a vast improvement at the nationals exhibiting matured skills in the game.
Sri Lanka peddlers will be with out the services of Udaya Ranasinghe, the National Champion at the 68th Nationals as he is undergoing a Table Tennis training course in Switzerland.
Former national champion Lalith Priyantha (Manager cum Coach) and Kanaka Herath, Vice President of the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka accompanied the squad as officials. – LR