Triples for Banura and Nipuna at Mahaweli Reach Open
Big-made Banura Jayawardena and diminutive Nipuna Nuwan won triples at the 7th Mahaweli Reach Open Tennis Tournament.
Jayawardena was given a run for his money in the Under-17 event by Akmal Farikdeen. However, his win in the Under-19 event was more comprehensive. Dinuja Palihawadana, his opponent, played the final despite a shoulder injury. Jayawardena and partner Udan Hettiarachchi (who won a double) had it easy in the Under-17 final.
Yohani Herath and Saduni Arambepola, two of the more impressive players among the girls, combined well to take the under 19 title 6-3. Tiara Beneragama, who was all power, swept aside Yohani in the Under-17 Singles event.
Nipuna Nuwan, a student of Mawathagama Central, was probably the best player on view. He won the Under-13 and 15 events as well as the Under-15 Doubles. Nipuna, whose father is a tennis coach, had a good left-handed serve, an effective double-fisted backhand and covered the count well. Not surprisingly, he confided that his idol was Rafael Nadal.
Banura Jayawardena was all power, and in his eagerness to hit the cover off the ball, he tended to over hit. He has potential, but his relative bulk impedes his mobility.
Trinitians Jonathan Thomas, Dinuja Palihawadana and Udan Hettiarachchi featured prominently.
This tournament drew players from places such as Colombo, Kandana, Mawathagama and Matale. This is the only one of its kind in Kandy. An aspiring youngster from outside Colombo has only this tournament, the Janaka Bogollagama event in Kurunegala and the Bandarawela open to showcase his skills. It is worthy of note, that some of the matches were played under lights. All in all, the tournament was a success as the increase in numbers (from 80 to 120) shows.
Boys
Under-10 Singles: Yeshan Ranatunga beat Dimantha Mahavitanage 7-5
Under-11 Singles: Yeshan Ranatunga beat Dinantha Mahavitanage 6-4
Under-13 Singles: Nipuna Nuwan beat Zumri Razmi 6-0
Under-15 Singles: Nipuna Nuwan beat Shamil Akbar 7-2
Under-17 Singles: Banura Jayawardena beat Akmal Farikdeen 7-5
Under-19 Singles: Banura Jayawardena beat Dinuja Palihawadana 10-4
Under-15 Doubles: Nipuna Nuwan, Uvindu Handapangoda beat Akmal Farikdeen, Shamil Akbar 7-4
Under-17 Doubles: Udan Hettiarachchi, Banura Jayawardena beat Shakya Jayawardena, M. Sajithran 6-1
Under-19 Doubles: Udan Hettiarachchi, Naveen Pieris beat Dinuja Palihawadana, Jonathan Thomas 9-5
Girls
Under-11 Singles: Eshana Sureshkumar beat Senuki Weerasekera 6-3
Under-8 Singles: Kavitha Sirimalwatte beat Lochana Wanigasekera 10-5
Under-15 Singles: Tharushi Pelandagama beat Charya Perera 6-0
Under-17 Singles: Tiara Beneragama beat Yohani Herath 6-1
Under-19 Singles: Sanduni Arambepola beat Charya Perera 6-3
Under-8 Doubles: Aila Harris, Kanuli Kiridena beat Lochana Wanigasekera, Senuli Amerasinghe 11-9
Under-10 Doubles: Thumuli Pilapitiya, Kaveesha Sirimanne beat Liyansi Pathiranage, Uthumi Weragoda 6-1
Under-13 Doubles: Sewmini Nimalsha, Sasiduni Wijeweera beat Adriana Kalansuriya, Eshana Sureshkumar 6-0
Under-19 Doubles: Yohani Herath, Sanduni Arambepola beat Kiruli Gamage, Charya Perera 6-3.